Escape to the River Sea (Journey to the River Sea, 2)

Initially I thought the author was doing a good job...but flow of plot got jumpy; too many predictable character appearances, and lacking charm. Got this book for someone who loved Journey to the River Sea - and read it myself too. Oddly disappointing.

I am a huge fan of Emma Carroll, despite being in my 30s, and I always look forward to her new releases. Escape to the River Sea certainly didn't disappoint. I hadn't actually read Eva Ibbotson's work before, so I read it afterwards - I think it works just as well if you read them the other way round, or even as standalone books, but it was a delight to discover that Carroll had continued some of the themes and told the stories of some of the characters from Ibbotson's book. Carroll has a way of writing that brings the scenery and characters to life, without making descriptions feel lengthy or a chore to read - somehow, her simple choice of words conjures up incredibly vibrant images in your mind. Plenty of current themes are addressed gently and considering modern sensibilities, offering the opportunity for discussion starters for those reading it with children. Overall a really enjoyable read that is as lush and vibrant as the places in the Amazon that are being described!

I loved Journey to the River Sea so was delighted when it was announced Emma Carroll was writing this companion novel set in the same world and it didn't disappoint. Set just after World War II, we follow Rosa Sweetman, one of the Kindertransport, as she travels from the UK to the Amazon on the trail of a Giant Sloth. Along the way, she meets all kinds of strange characters and slowly pieces together what is going on.I loved how so many different parts of post-WWII history were woven together and there were so many points for discussion or further exploration with children. It didn't shy away from complicated topics but dealt with them sensitively and honestly. It was lovely to see so many familiar characters come back and it was a perfect development of the original book by Eva Ibbotson (one of my all time favourites!) Would whole-heartedly recommend this.

I loved this, as much as the original, getting swept up by the new characters and story, and enjoyed catching up with the old characters too, although briefly. I would love to read more of their adventures. True to Eva Ibbotson, a great book, I would read again.