Escape to Murray River || The Adventures Down Under Series#1 || A Book Review

I love trips down memory lane. This book was just that. Back in 2006, as a 9/10-year-old girl, I was introduced to this series. My oldest sister started reading this book to me, and as things got busy, she gave it to me. I was instantly hooked, even if I somehow turned the name Michael into the name Mitchel 😊 I just reread the first book in the series and I am excited to share my review of it with you today! Without further ado, let’s get to the review! *This Review is not Sponsored*

Escape to Murray River
By Robert Elmer
The Adventures Down Under Series #1
(1997)
|| Amazon || Thrift Books ||

About the Book ||

Alone in a wild land, thousands of miles from home…

Twelve-year-old Patrick McWaid’s world is turned upside down when his father is framed for a crime and sent on the last prison ship to Australia in 1867. Desperate to keep his family together, the McWaids decide to find passage on another ship headed “down under.” But leaving Dublin, Ireland, means leaving the only home they’ve ever known. And what will they do when they reach Australia?

Then Patrick learns his grandfather was sent to Australia thirty years earlier. No one has heard from him in years, but perhaps the senior McWaid might help them—if only they can find him. Their hopes high, Patrick and his family set sail. What kind of new life will they find?

About the Author ||

Robert Elmer is a former reporter and ad copywriter who writes part-time from his home in the Pacific Northwest. He is the author of over fifty books, including nine contemporary novels for the adult Christian audience, two nonfiction titles, and seven series for younger readers… Among kids, he is best known for his "Young Underground" and "Adventures Down Under" books. When he's not at the keyboard, he enjoys sailing and hiking with his wife, and spending time with their three kids--plus a growing number of little grandchildren.
*From Amazon Author Page*

My Review ||

This book! Where do I even start??? With it starting in Ireland, I was instantly intrigued. I’ve never been a fan of how England treated…well, any of their properties, and Ireland and Australia are no exception. While the story is fiction, it was interesting and exciting to see what might have happened if an innocent person were accused of treason. The setting, the characters, the plot, it was all expertly done! The action was believable and well set up.

Jefferson, though not the main character, was probably my favorite, even if a particular person in the story thought he was a know it all. 😉 And little Michael and his fascination with animals was just darling!

The spiritual lessons taught were light and certainly not shoved down one’s throat, but personally, I would have liked a little more. It was present and never far from the main story, but not as strong as I prefer in stories. That said, it was well done!

My only complaints were a hint of romance and mentions that the sister turns many a head with her natural beauty and that the scriptures were not transcribed correctly. They were supposed to be King James but sounded like a paraphrase. They also insinuated that because Jeff was southern, he thought he was too good to address a black boy, which was not accurate or practical, especially since he made it clear his family didn’t own slaves. Perhaps there will be some more backstory to this attitude, though it was resolved with that particular character he mistreated in this book.

I loved this book even better than when I was a child, and highly recommend it to readers of all ages, especially as a family read!

That's all for now! Hope you have a lovely week in the Lord!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22