Eva Ibbotson's books: a guide

Eva Ibbotson’s best known and most beloved novel, Journey to the River Sea is an award-winning adventure story set in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest. For orphan Maia, travelling deep into the Amazon is finally going to give her the family she’s always longed for, so when she finds herself living with two mean cousins who hate the rainforest’s abundant nature, she’s more than a little disappointed. Venturing out to explore her spellbinding new home, she meets a young boy who lives alone in the jungle and the pair set off on an adventure behind Maia’s wildest dreams. 

For Arriman, having a reputation of being the most fearsome wizard in all the land makes finding love tricky, so he decides to hold a spell-casting competition to help him meet the witch of his dreams. Good witch Belladonna has always dreamed of being an evil enchantress, but her spells always end up going wrong. Will the pair be a match made in magic? A funny magical chapter book, Which Witch? is a perfect read for newly independent readers who love Isadora Moon and The Worst Witch books. 

A spooky adventure novel for middle grade readers, complete with a cover design by Alex T. Smith, The Great Ghost Rescue is the story of Humphrey the Horrible, a skeleton who isn’t very scary at all. Dreaming of being as fearsome as his scary skull brother and his vampire-bat cousins, he tries to scare everyone, but all they do is laugh. When Humphrey discovers that someone is trying to exorcise his whole family, he realises that maybe his good nature could help him save the day. 

When an ogre, a witch, a fey and a young hag set off across London to find the stolen baby prince from their magical island, the last thing they expect is to find a spoiled human boy who doesn’t want to be rescued! Will they be able to reform Raymond Trottle and convince him that he really is the prince of a magical kingdom? A story for any child who dreams of opening a door to a magical world, The Secret of Platform 13 is a must-read middle-grade fantasy story. 

Return to the fantastical world of Platform 13 in this modern, magical story by children’s author and Eva Ibbotson superfan, Sibéal Pounder. Determined to discover why the magical mist that shrouds their home is disappearing, Odge Gribble and Prince Ben hatch a plan from their hiding place. Travelling to Vienna to find an expert who can help Odge befriends Lina, a young girl with as sense of adventure, who offers to help him solve the mystery. Will Odge, Lina and their friends bring the mist back and keep their island home from being lost forever? 

Beautiful and full of adventure, Escape to the River Sea is Emma Carroll's compelling novel inspired by Eva Ibbotson's classic masterpiece, Journey to the River Sea. 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 new chapter in the story tells of the next generation and the growing threats to the Amazon rainforest that continue to this day.

Accidentally left behind when her family are forced to leave England after the Nazis invade their native Vienna, eighteen-year-old Ruth’s life is turned upside down. Desperate to leave, she accepts a young English professor’s offer of marriage to secure her safe passage to London. Increasingly torn between her first love back home and her new husband, will Ruth ever find happiness? This edition of The Morning Gift features an introduction by bestselling author, Sarra Manning. 

When the 1917 revolution tears Russia apart, young countess Anna Grazinsky has to say goodbye to her grand home in St Petersburg and embark on a new life as a housekeeper in England. Hired to maintain the Earl of Westerholme’s crumbling mansion, Anna settles into her new world, until the day the young Earl returns from the war, and a spark is ignited.

Dreaming of a life less ordinary, Ellen Carr accepts a position as a housekeeper at a school in Austria, and finds herself in a world very different from the London she knows. Ellen soon catches the eye of mysterious gardener Marek, who shares his secrets and sweeps her off her feet. With the threat of war on the horizon, will Ellen get the happiness she dreams of? A sun-soaked love story set against the backdrop of war, this edition of A Song for Summer is introduced by Eva Ibbotson superfan, writer Ella Risbridger.

A collection of eighteen romantic short stories that blend great passions with shrewd observations on everyday life. Great Uncle Max is paralysed with indecision between the captivating glove shop assistant Susie and his devoted opera-singing wife, Miss Bennet organises the nativity play at a quiet primary school and makes a miraculous discovery in the search for a baby Jesus, and the lonely dreamer Edwin finds cast-out ballerina Kira on the winter streets of St. Petersburg. 

Comical, satirical, romantic and characteristically unpredictable, these enchanting stories are a delight from start to finish.

This award-winning Macmillan Collector's Library edition of Journey to the River Sea has everything Ibbotson’s stories are best known for: an epic journey into the unknown, memorable characters, and a fantastic setting. The tale of a young girl who is tragically orphaned and sent to live with distant relatives in the depths of the Amazon jungle, Journey to the River Sea is filled with mystery and fun.