We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea — Arthur Ransome

Four siblings go on an accidental adventure when they're swept across the sea -- all the way to Holland -- in this entry from the classic children's series.

The Swallows only meant to sail within an estuary on a borrowed boat. They didn't mean to get stranded in the fog, lose their anchor in a storm, and be driven out into the North Sea. John is nearly swept overboard, their ship almost capsizes -- and Susan really regrets not doing as their mother asked. And their father, Navy Commander Ted Walker, is due back from his posting in Hong Kong any time and they might miss seeing him . . .

Family, resourcefulness, and sailing, too: Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons series has stood the test of time. More than just great stories, each one celebrates independence and initiative with a colorful, large cast of characters. We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea (originally published in 1937) is the seventh title in the Swallows and Amazons series, books for children or grownups, anyone captivated by a world of adventure, exploration, and imagination.