SECRET WATER
By
The creator of Swallows and Amazons once again tells the story of his young heroes and heroines on vacation. Frankly, I found Secret Water disappointing. There is less of the nautical flavor that has won young seafarers to the Ransome banner. The children are deliberately ""marooned"" on an island, to fend more or less for themselves, and to map the island and the outlying waters. They have mild adventures -- and anyone who feels that the children are old friends will want to read it. But I don't think it will stand on its own feet, as its predecessors do.