Journey to the River Sea cover art

Journey to the River Sea

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free + £10 Audible voucher

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Journey to the River Sea

By: Eva Ibbotson
Narrated by: Imelda Staunton
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £5.02

Buy Now for £5.02

An Amazon adventure set in the wilderness of Brazil, Journey to the River Sea is filled with mystery and memorable characters, read by actress Imelda Staunton.

It is 1910 and Maia, tragically orphaned at thirteen, has been sent from England to start a new life with distant relatives in Manaus, hundreds of miles up the Amazon. She is accompanied by an eccentric and mysterious governess who has secret reasons of her own for making the journey. Both soon discover an exotic world bursting with new experiences in Journey to the River Sea, Eva Ibbotson's highly colourful, joyous adventure.

Winner of the Smarties Gold Medal.
Shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Award.

Action & Adventure Geography & Cultures Historical Historical Fiction Literature & Fiction
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

Exciting, adventurous, exotic. A book for people who like stories with brilliant ideas and interesting places. The main character is brave, kind and loves reading!
All stars
Most relevant
This is such a beautiful book. Wonderful for anyone seeking adventure. Loved it since childhood

Beautiful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What did you like most about Journey to the River Sea?

The story of Maia's journey from Victorian boarding school to the wilds of the Amazon is exciting and full of unexpected adventure. It kept us hooked, wanting to know what happened next. Despite the protagonist being a girl, my 10 year old son loved this story, particularly enjoying the excitements with Finn & Clovis, and it transported us to another time, and another world. Utterly absorbing.

What did you like best about this story?

Maia's awakening to the wonders of the Amazon jungle, its people and all the possibilities away from the stultifying confines of school and the Carter family. The plot meanders as dramatically as the Amazon river itself, from the strange and obsessive Carter parents and their terrible twins to the excitement, drama and fun that Maia has with Finn and Clovis.

Which character – as performed by Imelda Staunton – was your favourite?

Miss Minton. She appears to be dour and terrifying at the outset, but turns out to be a dark horse, with an intriguing secret past. She has an ability to teach Maia everything from the delights of the magical jungle to the virtues of kindness, loyalty, friendship and love. She is an inspiration in so many ways, holding Maia's hand on her journey growing up & discovering so much about the world.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this to any 9+ reader. Eva Ibbotson's books are delightful, beautifully written and would keep any young reader hooked. I would also recommend One Boy and his Dog.

an enchanting adventure

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I absolutely loved it such a fantastic piece of work the story is but clenching and heart wrenching all at the same time

Fantastic 😊

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.