First up thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book. This one sounded amazing... but sadly I just couldn't continue. It was just too unbelievable that a couple of kids would be able to go to Brazil. It was just too coincidental that one of the boys had the money and could apparently just grab it whenever he wanted (wtf, if I had a kid and they had lots of money I would make sure they cannot just take from it whenever they want, they would have to discuss things first and then we would together get the money and buy that thing) and the other had a grandfather who was messy/confused and would, without wondering, just sign whatever they needed. I also found the plan incredibly weird and it almost seemed like it was done without thinking. And so quickly? Hello, whut? And come on, part of a plan is to let no one know it because someone is going to blab. Either intentionally or accidentally. Not to mention, how the hell are these kids going to be in Brazil? They don't speak the language, they can't just check in hotels or such because they are underage, they can't just buy anything. It just all didn't work for me the way it does at times work in other books. Because I have read books with wild plans like this but that just seemed a tad better written than this one. Better planned out. Even unbelievable made believable.
I also don't like how the parents hid this stuff from him. How they thought they were silent when discussing it. You have a kid, there is a 90% chance they hear what you are saying in one way or another. Better to just go to them and talk. Tell them what is up.

So this one... just not for me.

This was absolutely incredible. Truly. I loved it from start to finish. It was so exciting and emotional and a whole lot of words I can’t even think of right now because I’m just blown away. I’m a little bit obsessed with Lucia, she’s brilliant, but all the characters were wonderfully written. The world-building and description was amazing, particularly of Brazil and the Amazon, you really can imagine yourself right there. I can see children getting completely lost in this book and I know it will be a big hit!

My Name is River is a gripping, page turner that left me desperately wanting to read more.

This is a story filled with adventure, courage, friendship and a quest for social justice.

It feels like a story of our time; where young people seem better able to see the environmental battles our world faces, better than many adults.

Dylan and Floyd both have family issues that they want to resolve and which sees them travel half-way around the world.

Tense in places, this story will have you hooked and willing the lead characters to overcome the challenges that they are faced with.

You can't help but fall in love with the characters in My Name is River: Dylan, a 12-year-old headstrong and determined boy, plans to save his family farm when it is threatened by a global company and Lucia, a sassy street girl who talks like she has swallowed the thesaurus.

In his quest to save his home, Dylan venture across the world to to the depths of the Amazon, where he, Floyd (a friend from home, he is not quite sure about) and Lucia uncover dark and dangerous secrets.. A fantastic adventure story filled with loss, friendship, determination and courage. An immersive story brimming with vivid and intricate descriptions putting the reader in the middle of the action.

Loved this! Adventure, heartfelt drama and characters you really feel for and want to do well.
I loved the idea of sneaking off to another continent on a mission to do good!!

Will definitely add to my collection of rainforest themed stories and books when teaching it as a topic next year.

I thoroughly enjoyed My Name is River – an ecological adventure story set in the Amazon. It’s a real page-turner and I was hooked from the start. The pacing is great and there’s lots of excitement and tension. I really couldn’t put it down.

The story begins in Wales on eleven-year-old Dylan’s family farm. His family have worked the farm for generations and Dylan has his future mapped out there. When BlueBird, a large pharmaceutical company, outbids Dylan’s parents and purchases the farm, Dylan decides he must speak to the CEO of BlueBird and convince him to change his mind. Dylan and his friend Floyd hatch a plan to save the farm and weeks later (unbeknownst to their parents) they are on a flight to Brazil where the BlueBird headquarters are.

However, when they get to Salvador things don’t go quite to plan. The two boys are separated. There’s kidnap, armed gangs, unpleasant henchmen and a power-hungry villain. Luckily, Lucia – a streetwise street kid from the city’s slums – saves Dylan’s life and the two of them venture deep into the Amazon to uncover the truth about BlueBird. The children face very real danger and use their wits to survive.

I absolutely love the character of Lucia! She’s feisty, extremely intelligent and a real force to be reckoned with. Having survived without parents, she’s brave and resourceful. Above all she has the most amazing way with words. She’s taught herself English from reading anything she can get her hands on and she treasures her thesaurus, always opting for the “higher register” words when she speaks. As a consequence, her unnatural speech is often endearingly comical.

The theme of friendship is extremely important throughout the book. There’s the very close friendship – with roots in early childhood – between Dylan and his friends from school. These boys have shared history, a shared sense of humour, and shared places that they’ve come to regard as theirs. It’s a genuine, unbreakable bond. Then there’s the friendship between Dylan and Floyd which develops during the story. Initially, Dylan isn’t quite sure what to make of Floyd as he seems cold and closed-off and it was good to see this friendship evolve. Finally there’s the friendship between Dylan and Lucia, the homeless street girl from the favela. Theirs is a relationship forged in peril and it’s by far my favourite dynamic of the book. There’s a terrific chemistry between Dylan and Lucia and the two make a great partnership.

I really liked how the book explores the connectedness of places. Dylan comes to realise how the natural world is interconnected. He thinks of the water cycle and reflects on how water from a river in Wales might eventually end up falling as rain in the Amazon. Nature is a significant force in the book. For Dylan, nature has the power to comfort and reassure. He is grounded and centred by it.

I love a female villain and in Miss Crassy we have been given a scheming, ruthless mastermind. Her sinister plans, when they are finally revealed, are actually rather shocking: a “scandalising travesty of the highest order”, as Lucia puts it.

Another aspect of the book that I loved were the evocative descriptions of Salvador and the Amazonian rainforest. Emma Rea has travelled to both and she’s brought them vividly to life on the page. Salvador is a city of contrasts – the colours and the hustle and bustle of city life and the darker danger of the slums. In the scenes set in the Amazon, you really get a sense of the rich biodiversity of the rainforest: pink river dolphins, howler monkeys, sloths, tree frogs and toucans are just some of the creatures that Dylan and Lucia encounter.

I particularly enjoyed Dylan’s original description of the Amazon River as he looked down at it from the aeroplane:

“Strangely, it was two-tone, split down its length: one half was black, the other sandy. It was as if one half were made of molasses, the thick brown sweet treacle Mum made gingerbread with, and the other half of fudge.”

My Name is River is an exciting ecological adventure that’s full of heart. It’s extremely topical and will strike a chord with young readers concerned about the future of our planet.

Each book is home to thousands of words and when all of these words come together in the right order, sometimes, just sometimes, something magical can be created... Something like My Name is River.

Dylan has his whole life planned: he loves every inch of his family’s farm and cannot wait to spend the rest of his days working the land like his grandfathers before him. The river, like the rest of the land, runs through his veins and he has no desire to ever leave. Until an unexpected turn of events lead him, and his friends, to a vastly different river, with a whole other set of problems.

I loved every single word of this book. It is a fast-paced and thought-provoking adventure story, with some great one-liners thrown in for good measure!

Emma Rea has captured something truly special within the pages of this story. The characters are very likeable: I lost my heart to Lucia, empathised with Floyd and cheered Dylan every step of the way. The story, though incredibly far-fetched, became believable. It hooked me from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down; I devoured each word, hungry for more.

My Name is River serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of fighting to protect nature. How each and every tree is home to a multitude of creatures and how each and every one of us, no matter how small, can make a difference.

I will absolutely be sharing this book with my Year 5 class. We will use it as part of our unit on the Amazon Rainforest and I know they will love it just as much as I do. Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a pre-release copy of this fantastic book.

Eleven-year-old Dylan dreams of a wonderful future – a future where he grows up on his family’s farm in Wales, builds a treehouse and plays with his friends by the river. Then, suddenly, one phone call changes everything. A huge pharmaceutical company wants to buy the farm and his family will have to leave. Dylan knows he doesn’t have long to come up with a plan to save the farm so he and his family can stay in the village where they are so happy.

Teaming up with his friend, Floyd, the boys concoct a plan that will lead them deep into the Brazilian rainforest – over 5000 miles away from home! Faced with challenge after challenge, they must use every ounce of confidence, courage and determination to discover the truth about Bluebird Pharmaceuticals, Floyd’s missing family, and how they can possibly save the farm. The adventure turns dangerous when the boys meet real-life villains, hungry piranhas and threatening street gangs. Hopefully, with the help of some new friends, Dylan and Floyd will make it back home before their luck runs out.

This book is fantastic for exploring numerous global issues – from the protection of the rainforest and its animals to medical ethics and animal testing, there is so much to discuss. The question of “science for good” vs “science for evil” is sure to draw readers in and promote analysis and debate. The reality of life for street children in Brazil is presented in an engaging manner, showing how two completely different sets of skills and knowledge are equally valuable.

The Amazon Rainforest comes to life through detailed description of the flora and fauna. The intensity of the colours and hum of the wildlife envelop the children as they try to make sense of their surroundings. David is in awe as he finds himself in the home of piranhas, sloths, pink river dolphins and howler monkeys .

Readers need to hang on tight for this heart-stopping rainforest adventure. Dylan and Floyd show just how strong kids can be when they keep their wits about them, use all of their observation skills and are determined to succeed!

I didn't know anything about this before reading, except that it looked a bit wild and I liked the title, but I wasn't disappointed.

Dylan's family farm has been sold to BlueBird - a huge, multinational pharmaceutical company and he's devastated.

Floyd's dad has disappeared with his younger brother on a work trip (for BlueBird) to Brazil.

Dylan and Floyd know each other from school but aren't really friends. Now though, they join forces to go looking for answers to their problems.

With some inspired forged letters, signatures and perfectly pitched excuses and plans Dylan and Floyd are off to Brazil while their parents think they’re at camp and school think they’re sick at home. It’s a classic and will ignite children’s imaginations fantastically – what child hasn’t dreamed up madcap plans like this?!

Two young boys travelling to Brazil in secret to save their family and farm when neither speaks the language or knows anyone there or anything about where they’re going – it should be the most ridiculous, unbelievable plot to never make it to a book BUT it’s just brilliant!

This book has it all – friendship and family; adventure, peril and humour; the environment and a fantastic setting; power, class and poverty; other countries, cultures and ways of life…

Dylan and Floyd make a great pair of very loyal and likeable protagonists, but when they’re joined by Lucia it’s she who steals the show! With her passion for learning, an impressive sense of determination and self-belief and a love of languages that is matched only by her flamboyant and fantastic use of English words and phrases. She is a star.

There is a thoroughly detestable baddie in one of those we-can-see-it-coming-before-the-characters-can roles which works perfectly and makes for a very enjoyable and gripping read. There is, however, an element of mystery about what exactly they are doing which means we’re hooked and kept guessing til a dramatic reveal at the end!

The book addresses environmental and social issues as well as looking at our similarities and differences with others, helping readers to explore and consider the way we treat our planet, each other and what it means to be a global citizen.

The settings on the book are well-drawn and immersive, again helping the reader to both feel in the midst of the action but also to really see the contrasts – from the Welsh farm to Manaus’ busy streets to the slums to the lush Amazonian rainforests (particularly vivid in their description).

This is a book that crossed genres and covered wide themes, and will have wide appeal. A hugely enjoyable, funny and moving adventure with a love of the natural world and the importance of seeing our place in the wider world woven through it. I can’t wait to see more from this author.

Two boys go on a trip to Brazil, one to find his younger brother and the other to speak to the CEO of the multinational pharmaceutical company that has bought his family’s farm in Wales. Without their parents’ knowledge they board a plane and embark on an incredible adventure.

Somehow, the author makes this sound totally believable. The plot is well crafted and kept me enthralled throughout. I loved many of the characters, in particular Lucia, a street child Dylan meets in Salvador, who teaches him that education is something to be valued.

The descriptions of the Amazon rainforest are detailed and vivid. The importance of conservation is a theme running through the book, concerning not just the rainforest but Dylan’s farm in Wales. This would be an excellent book for teaching a topic on the rainforest or environmental issues. It also touches on the plight of Brazil’s street children and life in the shanty towns and favelas surrounding many major cities.

Above all, it is a great adventure story which will be enjoyed by children aged 9+

Wow, what a page-turner of an adventure! Home-loving Dylan has never been on a plane before, let alone travelled halfway across the world to tackle a giant corporation. But getting to Brazil turns out to be the easy bit....
'My Name is River' is expertly paced and bursting with excitement. I loved the vivid descriptions of the Amazonian rainforest and Lucia is truly a force to be reckoned with. Brilliant!

Dylan, unbeknownst to all, finds himself on an adventure to beat all adventures. His school thinks he’s at home and his family thinks he’s in school but he is in actual fact in the sky, travelling, all the way to Brazil because he’s heard his home has been sold to a pharmaceutical company and he wants to make them change their mind. Here we see deception through the eyes of a child. We see the disadvantaged in the street child who saves his life. And we see how multinationals get away with so much because the weak and voiceless are powerless in their paths. We loved this book. It created so many talking points and presented so many opportunities for further research.

Dylan loves the family farm, helping on the land and planning to train his sheepdog puppy Megs to become a champion. His dreams are shattered however when his parents’ near certain deal to buy the farm is overturned by a better offer from a multi-national company who want to grow moss on the land. Furthermore, his classmate Floyd’s dad is a scientist with the company, but when he tries to talk him about it, he discovers that both he and Floyd’s younger brother have failed to return from a trip to Brazil, and that there has been no contact from them. Despite not being particularly good friends, they devise a plan to fly to Salvador and bring back Floyd’s brother, and are plunged into a dangerous adventure in the heart of the Amazon, unsure of who to trust.
This is a very mature and timely novel for young readers, encompassing a range of important issues that chime with adults and children alike. Dylan and Floyd are entangled in an unfamiliar world where human life and environmental destruction are secondary to corporate greed and individual ambition, and companies with commendable ideals are too big to control what is happening at grass roots level. Poverty and social injustice are brought into sharp focus by Dylan’s encounter with a group of street children and the determined and resourceful Lucia, who has taught herself English from a thesaurus, and whose fierce love for her abducted puppy drives her to help him. The main characters are propelled into action by compassion for animals and other people, loyalty and the compulsion to do what they believe to be right.
This is an absorbing, thought-provoking novel and a thrilling and satisfying adventure story.

The devastating news that his family farm is being sold to a huge company is hard for Dylan to learn about. Doing some searching, he discovers that new kid Floyd has a connection to this company through his Dad. Dylan enlists Floyd's help to stop the sale of the farm unable to realise just how dangerous their mission will be.
Floyd's dad and little brother Joe have been living in Brazil, and Floyd and his mum are missing them and haven't heard from them in weeks.
A plan begins to take shape which involves the boys missing their half term school trip and flying to Brazil instead on the hunt for Floyd's Dad as well as the CEO of the company so Dylan can convince him not to buy the farm.
A chance encounter on the plane there gives Dylan hope that they will find all their answers. Arriving in Salvador, the boys are unable to find Joe or Floyd's dad- they haven't been in their apartment for ages judging by the stack of mail. Dylan recalls his meeting on the plane and calls for help. Miss Crassy comes to the rescue and promises to take Floyd to his Dad. Dylan meanwhile is taken to a favela and left by Miss Crassy's evil henchman.
The plot thickens and gets dangerous for both boys...
Dylan meets Lucia, an interesting girl with an incredible vocabulary. She saves him from the favela and they work together to get back to Floyd.
There is a sinister plan to use healthy animals and children to create a potion that is said to provide youth...all led by someone evil within the company.
Dylan, Floyd, Lucia and a boy who helps them survive the jungle for a night are the only ones who can expose this plan and save Floyd's dad and brother, not to mention Dylan still wants to save his farm...
Kids versus evil adults....we know who will win!

A tale of friendship, eco warriors and standing up for what you believe in!
Learning who to trust and being brave enough to take those first steps is all Floyd and Dylan can do in this exciting book.