The Journy to The River Sea, Eva Ibbotson Elya

This book is incredible. It is about this girl, who is an orphan, and is living in a girls orphanage in England, until her lawyer finds a very distant relative in the Amazon in Brazil. The governess whom is going to be with Maia for the while she is away, is a harsh but kind thin and black woman. Her and Maia's relationship grows over time, and Maia makes many friends. The family she is staying with is snotty and poor, always hungry for money. The mother, a fat and bug freak kind of woman, who sprays every single centimeter of the house with bug repellent, and insect away stuff. Maia makes some important friends, who help her in the end, and make sure that she is safe. I have left out most of the book, so you will need to see for yourself.