Five Run Away Together

Reach for this book when your child is starting to crave independence or expressing frustration with unfair adult authority. It is a classic survival adventure that speaks directly to the childhood desire for autonomy and the need to protect those we love when the grown-ups in charge fail to do so. After George's mother falls ill, the children find themselves under the thumb of a mean-spirited temporary cook who mistreats George's beloved dog, Timmy. To protect Timmy and reclaim their freedom, the cousins run away to Kirrin Island to live off the land. While the story is a thrilling mystery involving smugglers and secret caches, it is rooted in the emotional reality of standing up for oneself and finding strength in a peer group. It is a perfect choice for 7 to 12 year olds who enjoy outdoor adventures and stories where children are the capable heroes of their own lives.