Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Alice-Miranda #4

Alice-Miranda at Sea

Rate this book
Mystery and intrigue above deck and below!

Alice-Miranda is set for a luxurious cruise aboard the royal yacht Octavia, where Aunty Gee is hosting the wedding of Aunt Charlotte and Lawrence Ridley. Even Ambrosia Headlington-Bear has come along, much to her daughter Jacinta’s surprise. Wild weather and rumours of a jewel thief throw the travellers into turmoil, but something else is giving Alice-Miranda one of her strange feelings. Why does the ship’s doctor look so familiar? And who is the shy blond boy hiding in one of the suites? When Alice-Miranda seeks help from an unexpected source, will they manage to set things to rights in time for the celebrations?

400 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2011

33 people are currently reading
339 people want to read

About the author

Jacqueline Harvey

135 books309 followers
Jacqueline Harvey has combined a successful career in education with her love of a good story. She is the author of many novels for younger readers and a picture book, THE SOUND OF THE SEA, which was awarded Honour Book in the 2006 Australian Children’s Book Council Awards.

Jacqueline taught in Infants and Primary schools and was Deputy Head of Abbotsleigh Junior School (an independent day and boarding school for girls) in Sydney Australia for seven and a half years before taking up the position of Director of Development at Abbotsleigh in 2010. In October 2012 she resigned to become a full time writer and speaker.

Jacqueline’s bestselling Alice-Miranda and Clementine Rose series’ centre on the adventures of two young girls.

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones is a perpetually positive and determined seven year old who takes herself off to boarding school because it appeals to her sense of adventure.

Clementine Rose is a sweet little girl, who brings much joy to her family and the friends she makes along the way in her journeys through the first five books of the series. A star of the show is Clementine Rose’s pet, an adorable teacup pig called Lavender.

Her newest series is called Kensy and Max about twins who learn that their grandmother is head of the world's most important spy organisation, Pharos.

Current Books in the Series’
Clementine Rose and the Seaside Escape April 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda In Japan March 1, 2014 Shortlisted Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIAs) 2015

Alice-Miranda Shines Bright September 1, 2013
Selected for the 2013 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can’t Put down)

Clementine Rose and the Perfect Present May 1, 2013

Clementine Rose and the Farm Fiasco August 1, 2013

Alice-Miranda In Paris March 1, 2013
Shortlisted 2014 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year 8-14 years category
Shortlisted 2014 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT.

Clementine Rose and the Pet Day Disaster January 1, 2012

Alice-Miranda in New York February 1, 2012
Winner Random House Australia Children’s Book of the Year

Clementine Rose and the Surprise Visitor September 1, 2012
Selected for the 2012 Get Reading Program (50 Books You Can't Put Down)
Voted #50 Dymocks Top 51 Kid’s Books 2013

Alice-Miranda Shows the Way August 1, 2012
Shortlisted for 2013 REAL awards which are the Children’s’ Choice awards KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria and COOL in the ACT
Awarded Honour Book KOALA awards

Alice-Miranda At Sea August 1, 2012
Longlisted for DAVITT awards (Crime fiction in Junior Category) 2012

Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead February 1, 2011
Named Australian Children's Book of the Year 2011 as voted by the members of the NSW Independent Booksellers Group.


Alice-Miranda On Holiday August 1, 2010

Alice-Miranda at School February 1, 2010
Voted #9 Dymocks Top 51 Books for Kids 2013
Winner 2012 YABBA (Young Australian's Best Book Award in Victoria)
Awarded Honour Book KOALAs
Shortlisted for 2012 REAL awards which are the Children’s Choice Awards – KOALA’s in NSW, YABBA’s in Victoria, WAYRBA in Western Australia and COOL in the ACT
Shortlisted for the 2011 Australian Peace Award.

Kensy and Max: Breaking News March 2018 Shortlisted for Red Dot Book Awards Singapore 2020, YABBA, KOALA and KROC Children's Choice Awards Victoria, NSW and NT 202, Shortlisted West Australian Young Readers' Book Awards 2020

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
409 (53%)
4 stars
234 (30%)
3 stars
97 (12%)
2 stars
22 (2%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Cindy Xia.
1 review
April 14, 2013
I thought that this story was structured well, especially with the boy, Neville at the start, which caught my attention as being something mysterious. When I read the first few chapters' first lines, there was a word, "limosoine". Later, it was introduced that the main character, Alice-Miranda, was 7 years old. I thought, 'this child must be from a wealthy family!' and she was. She had relations to many famous people. At the start Alice-Miranda is really friendly, introducing herself to every staff member on the boat when they boarded with a handshake and a self-introduction, and because of that, she ends up softening the hearts of people on board the ship with her honest and free heart through other events, such as she did with Dr Lush, Alex and Chef Vladimir, Mr Winterstone and more. It was pretty touching, reading the story of such a young child and seeing her change people's hearts, and more importantly, solving mysteries and gaining new companions.
So regarding the story, I thought that it was really quite clever of J.H to give Prendergast a twin brother, and that he was a convicted armed robber that just finished his sentence. It was extremely well thought of, that she got him to cut squares of paper at the start of the story, that most readers would have dismissed, and later referred back to it as the blackmail notes that the victims had received when their precious jewels were gone, all because of that guy.
What I really liked about this book was was that the chapters were short and snappy, so things didn't drag out. Although the climax of the story was quite later on in the text, the reader would be surprised that there was so much to do on the ship, and so much to read about Alice-Miranda and her adventures around the ship and with her friends, and how there were so many personalities of the ship's passengers.
For an example, Jacinta's mother had an 'uncaring' attitude towards her child, Jacinta. But when, at the end, she learns of her daughter getting kidnapped, and was overtaken by tears and realized how much her daughter meant to her. She was a famous person after all, and was used to telling other people orders, but after the incident, Jacinta would tell her mother orders instead, and she wasn't used to it, though now she's paying more attention to her child.
Oh yes, the Queen was on board too. The Queen, also known as Aunty Gee or Queen Georgiana, is actually one funny woman! She's not like other old ladies, but someone in a completely different league. That's why I like her character.
More about the writing style/technique now...The author, J.H, actually put a lot of evident things in there that are easy to spot for older readers who read the book. For example, there are similes here and there, but they're not very evident, but still able to know that it's a simile. Another is the repetition of certain words. J.H had repeated a lot of words, such as 'delicious' by Alice-Miranda, who always says it here and there in the funniest ways, such as 'Isn't this party delicious?' which I found quite strange yet interesting. Another would be 'very good' or something along the lines, for butlers and the crew on board.
They main character had a very polite behavior toward everyone as well, and knew many words that other kids her age wouldn't have known, and spoke older than she should. But that may be because of her education, maybe? It did mention that she goes to a private girls school...
Profile Image for Remy.
687 reviews21 followers
December 15, 2025
Something else was going on too. She just had to work out what it was.

This is the most perfect Alice-Miranda book as well as my favourite. Well, as of right now, but I've had this since I was 11 years old and it never loses its wild romping sense of adventure and sheer sprawling goodwill, against all its opulence and luxury and a hell lot of jewels on a wedding cruise.

I think it's high time I gave this plot its flowers for just how LAYERED it manages to be. This all happens on a secret cruise for Aunt Charlotte and Lawrence's opulent wedding. There's an unintentional stowaway situation that goes undetected because Neville and Jacinta's father share the same name. There are two brothers on board who have an identical trumpet case to Neville's, except there are no trumpets. There's a jewel thief and a seriously mistaken case of identity. There's another gun and quick-thinking schemes made by children in order to save one of their own from danger. There's a redemption arc for Sloane Sykes. There's a shellfish tablet about to kill the Queen. This has EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING. And when all is said and done, I think this book may be one of my first exposures to just how interconnected a plot can truly be. Everything is just so satisfyingly good at the end, especially in the last bit when we discover exactly who Neville's internet friend is.

Reading this after such a long time and also as an adult actually shocked me for just how involved and nosy Alice-Miranda got with the grouchy, albeit highly professional crew of the Octavia. Though, also, its her fourth adventure and entirely par for the course. It's also great to reread this in a new light after having read the previous three adventures of hers before this one to see everything from before being referenced... the part about the guns absolutely takes me out. And also to see just how well it holds up, which I am very, very glad to say... extremely well. No seasickness from me!
3 reviews
October 1, 2021
Interesting new characters appear...
Hope to see Neville in the future... 😉
Profile Image for Veronica.
18 reviews
June 8, 2022
I loved this book, and I loved when Alice-Miranda met Neville. This book was a great read.
9 reviews
January 4, 2023
Fantastic book, definitely recommend but make sure to have read the first 3 in the series or it wont make sense.
25 reviews
August 14, 2023
I love how Alice Miranda solved the mystery of the book, (like, I mean that it is in the book you read,)
And saves someone, (no spoilers!)
Profile Image for Shelley Gingrich.
187 reviews7 followers
February 6, 2024
I loved this book! I wish Alice-Miranda had been around for my childhood, but this grandma is now planning to read every one of her adventures!
Profile Image for Theo.
267 reviews3 followers
read-to-my-daughter
April 23, 2025
I really hate these books.
Profile Image for Angela.
12 reviews7 followers
August 19, 2011
Alice-Miranda at Sea

Jacqueline Harvey
Random House

ISBN:9781864718485
Format:Trade Paperback
Imprint:Random House Australia
Published:01/08/11
Subject:Child Fiction : Independent Readers
RRP: $15.95
A Bug in a Book review by Angela Hall.

Never before has there been a miniature hero quite like Alice-Miranda. She is proof that you don’t have to be a tough as nails, rough around the edges, ready to get into fisty-cuffs kind of hero. No, not this pocket rocket. Alice-Miranda is quite the opposite in fact. She is delicate and petite, well dressed, polite and considerate, completely non-judgmental and absolutely adorable. Even so she has a good handle on those niggly senses of things not being right and the ability to bring out the best in people around her.
Alice-Miranda comes from quite a unique family (please excuse my ignorance as I am yet to read the first three) at first I though WOW that is going to be hard to relate to but, I was wrong. Despite her rich and famous friends and family (Especially Aunty Gee – The Queen, who I love by the way) Alice-Miranda is a fun story that shares a bit of the celebrity life style while making the regal wonderfully normal and fabulously fun. If anybody can make the rigid loosen up and enjoy themselves Alice-Miranda can!
In Alice-Miranda at Sea we take a voyage in Her Majesties ship the Octavia for a grand wedding. Oh what fun to be had exploring the resort like ship with her friends. What with the parties, the swimming, the games and the feasting. What more could you want? Well an adventure of course! Luckily just such an adventure stepped onto the wrong ship by the name of Neville Nordstrom. On his own personal quest of high importance’s and laced with a whole lot of telling off once his parents find out, Neville sets off to meet with someone very important, a someone who is the only one who can make a difference on his quest. Sorry for being vague, I don’t want to give it away! Meanwhile there is trouble brewing on the ship as the very glamorous and bejewelled find themselves less dazzling when their diamonds and pearls disappear.
Alice-Miranda has completely won me over, like she does with even those hardened folk like the Russian chef (oh you will have to read it). She is a sweet and wholesome character, never fear parents, this little lass won’t lead your kids astray, they might even learn a few more adorable mannerisms with which to show their impeccable upbringing.
Alice-Miranda is a great mystery story which will have the reader enthralled til the last page. Alice Miranda at Sea by Jacqueline Harvey Jacqueline Harvey
Profile Image for Barbara.
15.1k reviews314 followers
November 26, 2014
When Alice-Miranda's Aunty Gee hosts a shipboard wedding, she and her friends are among the wedding guests, which delights Alice-Miranda. There's probably no kinder, more thoughtful heroine than this protagonist who manages to tame a grumpy Russian chef with her personality while keeping a shy stowaway out of trouble, reuniting her friend Jacinta with her self-absorbed mother, and thwarting a jewel heist, among other accomplishments. Although the amounts of food and wealth that are described here are almost overwhelming, the fact that most of the characters are unaware of their privilege may (or may not) make up for it. It's hard to resist this charming young girl who never met a stranger. It helps to have read the earlier titles in the series, but this one stands just fine on its own.
Profile Image for melodie | readingwithmelodie.
524 reviews4 followers
October 3, 2022
NEVILEEEEEEEE

oh how I remember finding him extremely annoying the first times I’ve read this, but after Scotland 👀👀 it’s honestly a crime that we barely get anything with him in it between this and then

also I really like how this has some really good continuation from the last book, we still get Sloane’s POV and we get a hella good character arc, even though she’s barely a MC

also I find it utterly hilarious (and karmaaa) that the entire sykeses family *but* September attended the wedding

my 2022 reread so far! (look at me being in order this year)
1. Alice Miranda in Scotland (#17)
2. Alice Miranda in Egypt (#20)
3. Alice Miranda at School (#1)
4. Alice Miranda in Holiday (#2)
5. Alice Miranda Takes the Lead (#3)
6. Alice Miranda at Set (#4)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
281 reviews
July 13, 2014
Banal, although if I'd persisted I might have appreciated that there seemed to be some satire and piss taking. However this would probably not endear it to the age level it is aimed at. The author is having a lot of fun with upper crust English names and class and the experience of cruise lining., but I found the story boring.
15 reviews
June 9, 2016
I actually wasn't going to read this book but when I went on holiday my mum insisted I bring it. It started a new revolution and now I want to read all the Alice Miranda series. Totally a mysterious yet childish story great for a easy- intermediate read. Worth reading love how you feel like your actually on the boat. Great story for 8-11 year olds. Give it a try!!
Profile Image for Emma.
7 reviews
April 27, 2012
this is a cool intersting book and i really want ot read this
Profile Image for sophie.
64 reviews
November 29, 2016
I like how Alice miranda helps Neville with his case though i thought he was pretty surprised when he found out that a dead women lied in there.
Profile Image for xanthe.
134 reviews
May 19, 2022
um yes lol i’m still going with these… cute and fun, i would definitely appreciate being invited to a weeklong holiday/wedding on the queens cruise.
Profile Image for Olivia.
11 reviews
April 6, 2025
Amazing, one of my favourite book, highly recommend.
Profile Image for Kim Heimbuch.
592 reviews16 followers
June 6, 2014
3.5 Stars
Will post review once it posts at its place of origin.
Profile Image for Lara.
42 reviews
April 16, 2015
I love the Alice Miranda books and this one was great with the thief of the jewels
Profile Image for Tiffany.
40 reviews1 follower
September 14, 2015
Currently at book #7 of the Alice Miranda series and not a single page has made me bored
Profile Image for Aniah.
6 reviews
Read
July 3, 2017
she goes on sea because her aunt and uncle are having a wedding called the Ocativia.and more mystery in it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.