Description

Beautiful and full of adventure, Escape to the River Sea is Emma Carroll’s compelling novel inspired by Eva Ibbotson’s bestselling, classic masterpiece, Journey to the River Sea.

‘A joyously animal-packed adventure.’ – Hilary McKay, Costa Award-winning author of The Skylark’s War

In 1946, Rosa Sweetman, a young Kindertransport girl, is longing for her family to claim her. The war in Europe is over and she is the only child left at Westwood, a rambling country estate in the north of England, where she’d taken refuge seven years earlier.

The arrival of a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, starts an adventure that will take Rosa deep into the lush beauty of the Amazon rainforest in search of jaguars, ancient giant sloths and somewhere to belong. What she finds is Yara’s lively, welcoming family on the banks of the river and, together, they face a danger greater than she could ever have imagined.

Featuring places and characters known and loved by fans of Journey to the River Sea (including, among others, Maia, Finn, Miss Minton and Clovis) this spectacular story tells of the next generation and the growing threats to the Amazon rainforest that continue to this day.

Publisher Review

Richly imagined and packed with adventure Escape to the River Sea is Carroll's finest novel to date -- Charlotte Eyre * Editor's Choice, The Bookseller * Lively, skilled storytelling -- Nicolette Jones * Sunday Times * It's a joy to rediscover Ibbotson's original characters Maia and Finn alongside a new generation in this gripping adventure * The Daily Mail * Emma Carroll's Escape to the River Sea is not only a joyously animal-packed adventure story, but also a mesmerising evocation of the original Journey to the River Sea. This is unputdownable story telling. I loved it. -- Hilary McKay What a joy it is to return to the River Sea! Emma Carroll's thoughtful tribute to Eva Ibbotson's much-loved classic is perfectly pitched. Full of glorious adventure, it's a true delight. -- Katherine Woodfine A book that is as thrilling, adventurous and exhilarating as the Amazon itself. This glorious story has been woven together by a master-storyteller. I'm in awe. -- Lisa Thompson All the magic, heart and scope of Ibbotson's classic adventure - I read it in one breathless sitting -- Natasha Farrant, Costa Award-winning author of Voyage of the Sparrowhawk Carroll has created something truly magical and seeming impossible - a book that is both the perfect follow-up to Ibbotson's classic, and yet entirely original. Rich, beautiful and compelling - I read it in one go. Absolutely brilliant. -- Katya Balen Likeable (and very unlikeable characters) with depth of personality, engaging personal journeys, a beautiful setting and heart-stopping adventure come together to create a captivating story. Escape to the River Sea will now be at the top of my suggestion list. A modern story with a classic feel -- Kate Heap * https://scopeforimagination.co.uk * Heartwarming, atmospheric and full of magic * Book of the Week - The Week Junior * (Escape To The River Sea) takes the reader on a colourful and thrill-packed journey, as Rosa and her young friends battle to thwart the bad guys. The book pays fitting homage to the late Eva Ibbotson, whose own work and life inspired this story. -- Roddy Brooks, Associated Press