Captivating

Escape To The River Sea by Emma Carroll is an exciting children’s historical novel that is guaranteed to entertain all those aged eight years and over.

The novel is set at the end of World War II as we follow a young girl who was sent to England from Austria before war started as she was Jewish. Her mother and sister were left behind. Now war is over, and she is looking and waiting for the post with a letter to say her mum and sister survived. The reader can ‘feel’ the tension and disappointment as each day passes with no news. However, she still clings to hope.

There was another search running parallel. This takes the characters and the reader to the Amazon to look for the famed Giant Sloth. We are treated to the sights and sounds of the jungle under the skillful pen of Emma Carroll.

The author portrays the bond between the young girl and a magnificent jaguar, who along with other zoo animals was also evacuated to the crumbling mansion in the countryside. This is to be a bond that will forever remain and is beautiful to see. All the pent-up love finds a release as the young girls pours her love into the big cat.

Family is important. We all want to belong. Family may not be perfect but it is where we long to be.

Escape To The River Sea was a very entertaining read. I was enthralled from the start. Emma Carroll captures and fires up the reader’s imagination with her stories.

I received a free copy via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON