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Book Review By Katharine Schwab
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson

Maia Fielding is an orphan. Her only guardian is a lawyer, named Mr. Murray, whose only duty is to manage the small fortune her parents have left her. Then, word reaches him that Maia's father's second cousin's family, the Carters, would be willing to take her in. When a note written by the Carter twins, Gwendolyn and Beatrice, arrives, Maia makes up her mind to go live with the Carters in their house on the Amazon. She travels there with Miss Minton, her new governess. On the boat from England, she meets Clovis King, a struggling child actor. The two become fast friends. Maia is very excited to live with the Carters. She imagines that she and the twins will become the best of friends and they will have a wonderful time exploring in the forest and swimming in the river. But it was not to be.
The only reason the Carters took Maia in was her money. In reality, Gwendolyn and Beatrice are selfish pigs and hate Maia before they even know her. She feels like staying with the Carters is like a being in prison. Soon, however, she meets Finn Taverner, who is running away from a pair of private detectives known as “the crows.” They are trying to force Finn to return to England and claim his inheritance.
When Clovis's voice cracks in the middle of the play he's in, he goes to Maia for help because his acting company fires him. She and Finn hide him in the hidden lagoon where Finn lives and devise a plan to get Clovis back to England. Finn, Maia, and Clovis plan to have Maia “accidentally” tell the twins Clovis's hiding place. The “crows” will take Clovis instead of Finn, and both boys will be where they want to be. But what will happen if the plan doesn't unfold how it's supposed to? Who really is Miss Minton? Will Maia ever get away from the evil Carters and their prison-like mansion?



Plot & Themes
Tone of book? - upbeat
Time/era of story - 1980's-1999
Family, struggle with Yes
Struggle with: - Cousin
Is this an adult or child's book? - Age 11-14

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - a teen
Ethnicity/Nationality

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - a teen
Profession/status:
Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes
Eccentric:
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - below average

Setting
How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 ()
The Americas (not US): Yes
The Americas: - South
Jungles? Yes
Misc setting

Writing Style
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
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