We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (Swallows and Amazons Book 7)

For anyone who loves sailing and adventure, Arthur Ransome's classic Swallows and Amazons series stands alone. Originally published in the UK over a half century ago, these books are still eagerly read by children, despite their length and their decidedly British protagonists. We attribute their success to two facts: first, Ransome is a skilled storyteller and, second, he writes from first-hand experience. Independence and initiative, virtues celebrated in each installment of this collection, are qualities any child can understand and every adult covets.

In We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea, the seventh adventure in the series (following Pigeon Post, winner of the Carnegie Medal), the Walker family awaits Commander Walker's return in Harwich. As usual, the children can't stay away from boats, leading to their discovery of young Jim Brading, skipper of the well-found sloop Goblin. But fun turns to high drama when the anchor drags, and the four young sailors find themselves drifting out to sea—sweeping across to Holland in the midst of a full gale! As in all of Ransome's books, the emphasis is on self-reliance, courage, and resourcefulness. We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea is a story to warm any mariner’s or young adventurer’s heart. Full of nautical lore and escapades, it will appeal to young armchair sailors and seasoned sailors alike.