Title: We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea
Author: Arthur Ransome
Series: Swallows and Amazons, book 7
Major Themes: Sailing, Storms, Survival, Family
Synopsis: Mother allowed the children to spend a night on a friend’s boat, but they were not to leave the harbour under any circumstances.
Soon after we moved to this country fifteen years ago, a neighbor gave us a boxful of books she was discarding. I sorted through them, and read the ones that seemed most likely to be books I wouldn’t mind my children reading. I kept a few, among them We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea. When I heard about the Swallows and Amazons series, I realized this was one of them, although to this day I haven’t read any others. The book has sat on our shelf since then, being read once in all those years. However, one of my sons now goes for older books, and he recently chose this one for me to read aloud, which I was delighted with.
Publisher’s description:
Arthur Ransome invites readers on another thrilling adventure with the Swallows and Amazons as they find themselves unexpectedly crossing the high seas. When a coastal holiday turns into a daring voyage across the North Sea, the young crew must rely on their wit, courage, and friendship to navigate treacherous waters and outsmart unforeseen challenges. Set against the backdrop of the rugged English coastline, this timeless tale captures the essence of childhood curiosity and the spirit of exploration. As the children encounter storms, pirates, and unexpected allies, they discover the true meaning of bravery and camaraderie. With its vivid storytelling and memorable characters, We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea is a classic adventure that will captivate readers of all ages.
My thoughts:
This was not the favorite book of the four we had going at the same time, but we certainly enjoyed it! We figured out quickly what would happen, and since it is a fiction story, we knew it would turn out well—but how? How would the children survive their ordeal? I liked that they wanted to obey their mother and worried about her feelings. I loved seeing the way they worked together to survive, and how the older children took care of the younger ones, and I really liked the respect they all showed to adults. So, while I certainly hope nothing like this ever happens to my own children, this story offers good role models of responsibility, respect, and ingenuity. It is a good book to have on the shelf, and I will be watching for more books in the series. Though We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea is part of a series, it worked fine for us as a stand-alone story, although there were obvious references to previous adventures. It is a wonderful picture of the way life was in England in the 1930s, when children were able to have adventures.
WARNING: Gosh many times, jove once.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
Leave a Reply