Helpful Score: 3
ISBN 0140314202 - Put Betsy Byars and the Newbery Award on the cover of a book and you've already reeled me in - so to be disappointed is a bigger letdown than you'd think! Not a bad book, just not a great book.
Sara is the middle child, between mute Charlie and pretty Wanda. Their parents, one dead and one very absent, have tasked Aunt Willie with the care of the children and all seems fairly standard - a little bickering, a "you can't tell me what to do" argument, etc - until the day Sara takes Charlie to see the swans. Charlie finds the swans fascinating and soothing and doesn't want to leave, so when he looks out his window that night and sees something white moving, he is sure they have come to find him. Leaving the house in the darkness, Charlie becomes lost and Sara discovers things about herself, her brother and others in the hours after he is discovered missing.
For the first time, I find Byars' character's speech a bit off for their age. Sara's use of the word "bloomers" and the sentence "I just acted too hastily." don't seem to fit a girl in her early teens in the 1970s, although the reference to TV game shows of the time was amusing. Sara may be just "coming of age" but she ends up seeming, at times, like a much older adult - and not in the "mature for her age" sense. If you're looking to read all the Newbery winners, then you'll want to read this one. For a really good book, or even for the best Byars offers, this isn't it.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Sara is the middle child, between mute Charlie and pretty Wanda. Their parents, one dead and one very absent, have tasked Aunt Willie with the care of the children and all seems fairly standard - a little bickering, a "you can't tell me what to do" argument, etc - until the day Sara takes Charlie to see the swans. Charlie finds the swans fascinating and soothing and doesn't want to leave, so when he looks out his window that night and sees something white moving, he is sure they have come to find him. Leaving the house in the darkness, Charlie becomes lost and Sara discovers things about herself, her brother and others in the hours after he is discovered missing.
For the first time, I find Byars' character's speech a bit off for their age. Sara's use of the word "bloomers" and the sentence "I just acted too hastily." don't seem to fit a girl in her early teens in the 1970s, although the reference to TV game shows of the time was amusing. Sara may be just "coming of age" but she ends up seeming, at times, like a much older adult - and not in the "mature for her age" sense. If you're looking to read all the Newbery winners, then you'll want to read this one. For a really good book, or even for the best Byars offers, this isn't it.
- AnnaLovesBooks
Helpful Score: 2
A remarkable Newberry award book written for young teens, but also a story that sticks in the mind of adults. I would recommend this book to anyone who screens books before giving them to young people.
Sara's fourteenth summer was turning out to be the most confusing time of her life. Up until then, things had flowed smoothly, like the gliding swans on the lake. now she wanted to fly away from everything--her beautiful older sister, her bossy Aunt Willie, her remote father, and, most of all, from herself.
But could she fly away from Charlie? She love her younger brother in a way she couldn't understand, though sometimes she grew tired of his neediness. But when Charlie himself took flight, Sara suddenly knew what she had to do...
But could she fly away from Charlie? She love her younger brother in a way she couldn't understand, though sometimes she grew tired of his neediness. But when Charlie himself took flight, Sara suddenly knew what she had to do...
The writer creates some interesting, multi-dimensional characters. Quite a bit of inter-family squabbling.
This book caught my attention right away. It was one of the best stories i have read in an extremely long time. Anyone who takes time to sit down and really read this book will love it straight away. I would recommend it for early teens and begginer readers. Byars is a wonderful auther who really knows how to write a good book.
Sara's fourteenth summer was turning out to be the most confusing time of her life. Up until this summer, things had flowed smoothly, like the gliding swans on the lake. Now she wants to fly away from everything-her beautiful older sister, her bossy Aunt Willie, her remote father, and most of all, herself. But can she fly away from Charlie? Sara loves her brother so much, and in a way she can't stand his neediness. But when Charlie himself flies away, Sara knows what she must do. . . .
Sara's fourteenth summer was turning out to be the most confusing time of her life. Up until this summer, things had flowed smoothly, like the gliding swans on the lake. Now she wants to fly away from everything-her beautiful older sister, her bossy Aunt Willie, her remote father and most of all, herself. But can she fly away from Charlie? Sara loves her brother so much, and in a way she can't understand, though sometimes she can't stand his neediness. But when Charlie himself flies away, Sara knows what she must do.
"A compelling story of the longest day in a fourteen-year-old's life." Publishers Weekly
"A compelling story of the longest day in a fourteen-year-old's life." Publishers Weekly
A young girl coming of age during the summer...because of her brother's disapperance...she realizes many of her complaints are trivial in the course of growing up...she has held a grudge against the boy who helps her find her brother for months...only to find that she didn't have all the facts and was wrong...I would recommend this book for beginning chapter readers 10+ years of age...
Newbery award winning book.
Must have classic
Sara's fourteenth summer was turning out to be the most confusing time of her life.
