Can you recommend books similar to Swallows and Amazons/Little House on the Prairie

[travellingfamily]

DS loves stories about children/families living in situations where they have to do everything themselves. We have the whole Swallows and Amazons series, he also loves the Little House books, and Heidi, and is currently reading the Children of the New Forest. Any recommendations? He is 8 and I want to limit the violence if possible (I think you have to accept some guns and axes in books like that, but he is not ready, for example, for Lord of the Flies!) Anything on farming/life in the wilder parts of the world/any other classics/historical fiction?

Famous Five
Swiss Family Robinson
Some of the E Nesbitt books - 5 children and it, Phoenix and the carpet etc

The silver sword is a good one

Thank you! Yes famous 5 goes down well, Swiss Family Robinson was next on my list. I will look the The Silver Sword and 5 children and it, thank you.

Monica Edwards has some good ones-adults are there, but the children are leading it. perhaps Midnight Horse for camping out, although ds preferred the more adventure ones-White Riders and Cargo of horses.

Also Malcolm Saville Lone Pine are similar style of children on their own, but they're mystery/adventure rather than just time on their own.

if you can get a copy "The Children who lived in a Barn" is very much on their own, and the fell farm series are again on their own.

Children's version of Robinson Crusoe- plenty to choose from, according to age / reading ability

The Saturdays and the four story mistake - Elizabeth Enright

A couple of Noel streatfield's books. Caldicott place and the growing summer.

Lucy Boston green knowe series.

Maybe James Aldridge but I'd probably offer that in a few years.

I'm sure there is more, will come back.

Actually, I just realised no one has suggested the series of unfortunate events. My just turned 9 adored that series a few months ago. The violence is pantomime variety.

Also if Peter Pan not yet on list I'd add that.

Gillian Cross' Demon Headmaster series. They can have rather lurid covers, but they aren't really violent.

Just realised, they're not living on their own, but it is very much a band of children coming together to save the day on their own while grown ups just don't understand the situation.

E Nesbit. It's an obvious one, but chronicles of Narnia? I'd miss out the Magicians Nephew and stop at Dawn Treader at his age.

Pippi longstocking also awesome at that age.

And the original parent trap book. I think the latest versions use that name.

In fact, all Erich kastner books are good at that age.

How to Train your Dragon? There are adults but they're fairly useless ... as is traditional in children's fiction

Philippa Pearce books such as Tom's Midnight Garden, Minnow on the Say, A Dog so Small?

early Harry Potter?

Roald Dahl of course

Caddie Woodlawn, The All of A Kind Family, the Casson Family books by Hilary McKay (not self-sufficient but lots of working together as a family), Sarah Plain and Tall. Olivia Fitzroy is like Swallows and Amazons but her books are very hard to find. Sally's Family by Gwendoline Courtney.

I loved a book called The Kerry Caravan by Patricia Lynch. Some children have to fend for themselves (cannot remember why) and travel round Ireland in a caravan finding food and making ovens out of hay boxes (that bit always puzzled me). It's out of print but not hugely expensive on amazon.

Also The Family at Red Roofs - Enid Blyton. Mum and dad are ill or away and the kids have to run the family. Really old school but that was another favourite.

The family from one end street (adults don't do much)

In a year or two, Brendon Chase by 'B.B'. There also a book 'My Side of the Mountain' that I loved, but again it may be better for age 10+.

Hollow Tree House by Enid Blyton. Plus The Secret Island by Blyton again.
There's a whole series called The Roman Mysteries but I can't recall the author at the moment.

Oh, and The Children of Cherry Tree Farm, plus the sequel of Willow Farm by Blyton is good too.

We are reading Pippi out loud (dds. 8 and 10) and laughing out loud.

Just William?

Also Nancy Drew, and I remember reading the Hardy Boys at the same age.

The Boxcar Children

The Green Knowe books
Wolves of Willoughby Chase/Blackhearts in Battersea
Eva Ibbotson books - any of them!
My daughter has also been enjoying the Young Bond books and Ruby Redford.

Ruby Redfort

Cynthia Voigt's Homecoming might work - 4 children walk across America after their mother disappears, trying to get to a relative.

Homecoming is heartbreaking, def not for an 8yo!

Children Who Lived in a Barn

And lots of the Noel Streatfeild books have self-reliant children who stick together - When The Siren Wailed, White Boots.

Not classics( yet) but you could try Ally Kennen's Midnight Pirates, about some children who after a series of mishaps are left on their own in a seaside hotel and outwit a gang of villains. Ali Sparkes is another good author for this age group. Frozen in Time is about two children from the 1950s who have been in suspended animation and wake up today. Quite fun contrast between their attitudes and those of the modern children. Dark Summer also very good.