Betsy Byars

You can't always decide where life will take you--especially when you're a kid. Carlie knows she's got no say in what happens to her. Stuck in a foster home with two other kids, Harvey and Thomas J, she's just a pinball being bounced from bumper to bumper. As soon as you get settled, somebody puts another coin in the machine and off you go again. But against her will and her better judgment, Carlie and the boys become friends. And all three of them start to see that they can take control of their own Iives. Carlie knows she's got no say in what happens to her. Stuck in a foster home with two other kids, Harvey and Thomas J, she's just a pinball being bounced from bumper to bumper. As soon as you get settled, somebody puts another coin in the machine and off you go again. But against her will and her beter judgement, Carlie and the boys become friends. And all three of them start to see that they can take control of their own lives.

The Pinballs

Amen McBee, the youngest of the four McBee sisters, is fascinated by the mysterious man who lives in their woods and tames doves to eat from his hand--a man Papa says is harmless, but when the family pet dies, Amen has her doubts.

Keeper of the Doves

Benjie and his friend Ezzie have escape plans for every emergency, including lion attacks and quicksand, but no clue what to do about the class bully So what if Benjie “Mouse” Fawley likes practical jokes? He’s a good kid who never meant to harm anyone. The same cannot be said for Marv Hammerman, a boy in Benjie’s middle school who is as big as a high-schooler but has the temper of a two-year-old. When Benjie (in a fit of insanity) writes a joke about Marv for all to see, he soon realizes he’s stumbled into the biggest emergency he’s ever faced. Now Benjie must decide whether to stay at school and face a clobbering, or run off and live the rest of his life hiding in the woods. The 18th Emergency is a hilarious account of the trials of surviving the school bully. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Betsy Byars including rare images from the author’s personal collection.

The 18th Emergency

Two boys make up a series of treasure hunts for each other , with disastrous and hilarious results.

The Seven Treasure Hunts

Betsy Duffey

Laurie Myers

At the first annual meeting of WOOF--Words of Our Friends--assorted dogs preserve their heritage by sharing tales of canines throughout history, including Abu, who ruled all of Egypt except for one pesky cat, and Zippy, who simply must find the squeaky toy.

Secret Writings of the WOOF Society

Dog Diaries

A tornado appears in the distance, and Pete, the farmhand, gathers everyone into the storm cellar. While they wait for the storm to pass,he tells the family about the dog dropped down by a tornado when Pete was a boy. Named Tornado, Pete′s pet was no ordinary dog -- he played card tricks, saved a turtle′s life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. By the time Pete tells all of Tornado′s lively stories, the storm has passed, and another family has been entertained by this very special dog.

Tornado

The Not-just-anybody Family

A panel of three judges has to decide which dog out of eight finalists deserves to win the title of My Hero.

My Dog, My Hero

This atmospheric and heartfelt story is one of Betsy Byars' best-loved classics. 'And then, this afternoon,' Uncle Fred said to me, 'you and I'll go after the fox.' Tom, a town boy, is horrified when his parents tell him he has to stay on Aunt Millie's farm while they are away. He finds country life every bit as strange and uncomfortable as he feared. But soon, he discovers a rare black fox with green eyes, living with her cubs in the forest. Suddenly, the aummer is full of excitement. That is, until Uncle Fred decides to go after the fox - will Tom save her and her family in time?

The Midnight Fox

When Herculeah discovers a mysterious letter inside the lining of a secondhand coat, she suspects it's a desperate cry for help. If so, what happened to the person who wrote it? Herculeah thinks she knows the answer. What she doesn't know is that someone is watching her-someone who will do anything to keep her quiet.

Dead Letter

Retta, Johnny and Roy are the night swimmers: three children whose father leaves them alone while he performs as a singer.. A Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, An American Book Award, Parents' Choice Award, A Child Study Children's Book Committee: Children's Book of the Year, An IRA-CBC Children's Choice, A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year.

The Night Swimmers

The Moon that inspires Betsy Byars's memoir isn't the one in the sky, but a huge, harmless blacksnake she finds in the rafters of her porch. This meeting begins an exploration of the writing process. With energy, wit, and delight, the Newbery medalist shows how "the good scraps" of her life, from a bully named Bubba to a gift-wrapped dime, weave into her work.

The Moon and I

Meet Ant, the little brother who's big on laughs. In four upbeat stories, Ant and his big brother confront the monster under the bed, recreate the story of the three little pigs, and write a letter to Santa—in July! Sometimes funny, always endearing, Ant is invariably entertaining.? "A great storyteller and a great illustrator are at their very best in this tender, funny easy-to-read."—Booklist, starred review

My Brother, Ant

A funny introduction to pioneer life, perfect for classrooms and homeschoolers The Golly Sisters are heading west. They’ve got new dresses and the best show on either side of the Mississippi. But can they keep their act together long enough to get this show on the road? Find out in this hilarious tale of the old west! The Golly Sisters Go West by Newbery medalist Betsy Byars is a Level Three I Can Read, which means it contains a complex plot and challenging vocabulary—just right for the newly independent reader. As Carol Hurst's BooksInTheClassroom site comments: "Byars has the ability to construct believable, often loveable characters who face some of life's greatest hurdles. Her humor is visible everywhere as is her empathy with the difficulties faced by many children. She writes for many ages and her easy to read books are wonderful fare."

The Golly Sisters Go West

"A dinosaur! A new dinosaur!" Boo shouted. "This dinosaur left me a big surprise." Boo is excited to receive a giant egg—and to find out what's inside! Her brother, Sammy, is not—but he is still willing to help her after the egg hatches into a lovable baby dinosaur. Is it all Boo's imagination or not? The youngest chapter book reader will want to find out in this wonderfully imaginative sequel to Boo's Dinosaur.

Boo's Surprise

A Newbery Medal Winner All summer Sara Godfrey has fretted over herself, her impossible body, her terrible new haircut. One moment she's elated, the next, she's in tears. And she can't figure out why. Maybe her wildly changing moods are tied to the sudden and unaccountable appearance of the swans, which hold the rapt attention of Charlie, Sara's mentally handicapped brother, who she loves far more than herself these days. In fact, it will be the sudden disappearance of Charlie that will compel Sara to abandon her own small, annoying miseries, and lose herself in searching for him. In her anguish, Sara turns to Joe Melby, whom she has long despised, and together they search through the dense woods and rough fields to find him. Sara knows that she will never be the same again. "A compelling story."—Publishers Weekly

The Summer of the Swans

Together with her best friend and reluctant sidekick, Meat, Herculeah Jones meets a famous mystery author, Mathias King, aka the Murder King. King's novels mirror gruesome, real-life murders, particularly A Slash of Life, which is about an unsolved local stabbing. Some people believe Mathias King isn't making up the details, could he actually be responsible for the crime? Herculeah's sure she can find out. But Meat seems too busy with his new girlfriend to give Herculeah much of a hand. Can Herculeah solve this mystery on her own, or will Meat's dating be this sleuth's downfall?

King of Murder

Jimmie Little is scared of life. Ever since his father died, the world seems frightening and unpredictable. Jimmie worries so much he's even nicknamed himself Chicken Little. Then one day Uncle Pete has a terrible accident. Jimmie's nightmares have come true; and, even worse, he blames himself. But when his mother gives a very unusual party for all the relatives, Jimmie begins to realize that his own zany, fun-loving, and sometimes embarrassing family can help him say good-bye to Chicken Little-forever.

Good-bye, Chicken Little

An early chapter book from Newbery Medal winner Betsy Byars When Boo brings home a dinosaur that only she can see, her brother Sammy, doesn't want to encourage her antics. Boo and her dinosaur are inseparable until Boo says good-bye to the dino quite suddenly. When Sammy sees how sad his sister is, he understands Boo's need for her dinosaur more than he wants to admit. So much so that he almost believes it . . . almost. Betsy Byars has written many chapter books, including Little Horse and Little Horse on His Own. Her language, perfectly tailored to beginning readers, combines with Erik Brooks's charming illustrations to make a delightful book for children who are just starting to read. Boo's Dinosaur is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Boo's Dinosaur

From the depths of the sewers comes a monster so gargantuan that no fishbowl can hold it Warren Otis wants to make horror films when he grows up. But as an eight-year-old boy, he has to settle for imagining movies instead of making them. He’s thought up some real nightmares, including Bubbles, an innocent goldfish flushed down the toilet and exposed to a chemical that turned her into a one-ton monster. Warren’s life sometimes feels like it’s a bad movie. He hasn’t seen his mom for three years, since she’s a fugitive from the FBI. His grandmother’s cranky and his sister’s acting mysterious. When things get too strange, Warren escapes into his imagination and writes one more scene featuring Bubbles. But will he ever get a chance to share his story with the people he loves? This ebook features an illustrated biography of Betsy Byars including rare images from the author’s personal collection.

Betsy Byars

About

Books

Join the club