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Title: The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars ISBN: 0-14-031420-2 Publisher: Puffin Pub. Date: June, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.93 (56 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: The Sibling Bond
Comment: The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars is an emotion-grabbing tale of a fourteen-year-old girl named Sarah who was the only one who really understood her little brother Charlie. Charlie, who was mentally handicapped, developed a very special bond with Sarah throughout the book. Even so, Sarah feels alone and that she has no one to talk to. Sarah's relationships with her siblings and friends play a very significant role in the plot of the book. She thinks of her older sister Wanda as bossy, sassy and rude, as any fourteen year old does to an older sibling. When Charlie gets lost in the middle of the night and cannot be found, it is then she realizes just how much she needs him and depends on him needing her and decides to go look for him on her own. It is then she realizes she is not alone. She finds Joe, a neighbor boy who she thinks is up to no good but was actually her friend she had along; she just wasn't looking for him. Throughout this brave adventure, Sarah realizes how she much she cares for him and she also learns a few things about herself. This emotional roller coaster takes the reader on a ride that has a happy ending.
Sarah's personality is very realistic for that of a fourteen-year-old girl. She wants loved, but wants independence. Wants needed, but doesn't want to be bothered. The story is set in many views to attract the reader. The third-person point of view helps to visualize everything that happened, but there are also views from Sarah and Charlie to help better understand where they are coming from and their thoughts. The stories themes ring over and over throughout the book. The reader is shown that he/she must give everyone a chance like Sarah gave Joe or they will not know what they may be missing out on. They are shown to love and appreciate the things that they have because one never knows when they might be gone.
The plot really brings several ideas together. Byars did a great job at formatting words together that weren't too challenging to make it impossible, but throwing in a few tougher vocabulary words to keep readers on their feet. Her main focus was her themes. In teaching lower elementary, a teacher knows that core subjects are important, but that is also a critical time for establishing values. Byars took this opportunity to work on both.
This book was definitely worthy of the Newbery Medal. It really concentrated on the things a young pre-teen goes through during such hard times as these. The book ends with a happy ending and a burst of confidence so that they are eager to go home and try to help someone also.
Ideas for Activities to use with this book: I would use this opportunity to incorporate family involvement into the picture. Ask the kids to think of a time that something good came out of a bad thing that happened in their life. Have them write a short "book" on it and illustrate it. These would be great for assessments or as a bulletin board demonstration also! Student might also enjoy looking up books to read on topics (difficulties in their lives) they have overcome. Grade-3rd-6th
Rating: 3
Summary: Summer of the Swans
Comment: "Charlie's missing. I'm going to see if he's down by the lake." Sara said to her best friend Mary. The Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars is a book that anyone who likes family stories would love.
Sara the main character, is a person who criticizes herself over everything wrong with herself. "I have the biggest feet in my school." She said. Wanda, Sara's older sister, is perfect in Sara's eyes. Nevertheless, she's still an older sister that's supportve of her siblings. "You should ignore the things that are wrong with you." Wanda told Sara. Aunt Willie, their grandma, is loving and caring but can sometimes be a little overprotective. "Wanda's not going anywhere on that motorcycle." Even though it was a harmless motor scoter. And then there's Sara and Wanda's brother, Charlie. He's mentally challenged and doesn't talk, but is loved anyway.
The plot of the story is that Charlie dissapears. After Charlie and Sara sees the swans, Charlie gets fascinated by them. Sara had to haul Charlie from the lake. "Well, let's go home." "Come on, Charlie." "Come on." She finally stayed for five more minutes. He got so interested that in the morning, when he was gone, everyone suspected to find him by the lake. But was he?
The symbolism in this story is Sara compared to the swans. An infant swan is very unsightly and blunt. This is how Sara felt at the beginning of the book. Towards the end, she thinks she's more loved and attractive. Just like a swan. Lovely and charming. I recommend this book to anyone ages 8-12 and a RL of 4.6. My overall opinion of this book on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the best, I'd give it a 6.
Rating: 4
Summary: Touching
Comment: A touching novel. It's hard to describe how you will feel after reading it, as you have to read it to feel the emotion. Perhaps you can describe it as a nostalgic type of feeling after reading the book.
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Title: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Donna Diamond ISBN: 0064401847 Publisher: HarperTrophy Pub. Date: 17 June, 1987 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell ISBN: 0440439884 Publisher: Random House Children's Books Pub. Date: 15 March, 1971 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: Number the Stars by Lois Lowry ISBN: 0440227534 Publisher: Laure Leaf Pub. Date: 09 February, 1998 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech ISBN: 0064405176 Publisher: HarperTrophy Pub. Date: 30 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg ISBN: 0440431808 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 15 October, 1977 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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