Secret Water (Swallows and Amazons, No 8)

In the eighth book in Arthur Ransome's beloved Swallows and Amazons series, the five Walker children are left on a desert island by their parents with provisions for a long stay and a blank map to fill in. Like all of Ransome's books, this is at once a real adventure and a lesson in the practicalities of exploring - in this case, of surveying the inlets, coves, mudflats, and estuaries of Walker Island. Naturally, there are enemies to overcome (another clan named The Eels ) and friends to meet (who else but the intrepid Amazons? ). And, as always, the children do it all solo.