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Ages 8-12 • Intermediate Independent Reads
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120
Betsy Byars
THE 18TH EMERGENCY
“Thoughtful and sensitive, The 18th
Emergency is as serious and as real as
bloody noses, bullies, and tests of honor
in a small boy’s life.”
—The New York Times
Rec: BL, C, CE, E, H, HG, LC, NYT, SLJ, TE, W
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 128 pp. 1981
978-0-14-031451-9 $4.99
AFTER THE GOAT MAN
“In what might well be her finest work
to date, Ms. Byars again exhibits perception
and imagination almost unparalleled
in the world of young adult fiction. Harold
and his friends attempt to reconcile
Figgy’s grandfather (the Goat Man) to
the evils of progress.”
—Publishers Weekly
Rec: AN, BL, C, CE, CS, H, LC, PW, SLJ, TE, W
4 3/8 x 7 1/8 128 pp. 1982
978-0-14-031533-2 $5.99
THE CARTOONIST
Alfie spends every free moment in his
private attic room, where he can draw his
cartoons. So when Alfie’s older brother
decides to move back home and take
over the attic, Alfie comes up with a
drastic plan to keep the room for himself.
If only he could be sure that staying
there would solve all his problems....
“Another spare, biting story from Betsy
Byars—moving, darkly amusing, and
unusual for its detailed rendering of the
pictures in the mind of a very young
satirist.” —School Library Journal
Rec: BL, C, CE, E, H, LC, SLJ, TE, W
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 128 pp. 1987
978-0-14-032309-2 $5.99
THE COMPUTER NUT
When Kate sits down at the computer,
nothing seems out of the ordinary. But
suddenly a mysterious message flashes
up on the screen. A stranger is trying to
contact her! It doesn’t take long for Kate
to figure out what’s going on...but what
do you do when you’re about to make
headlines—and no one believes you?
“Byars’ unerring talent for shaping true
characterizations is especially apparent....
Young readers will be easily hooked on
the fascinating sci-fi premise that underlies
the story.” —Booklist
Rec: BL, H, SLJ
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 160 pp. 1986
978-0-14-032086-2 $5.99
CRACKER JACKSON
Twelve-year-old Cracker is desperately
aware that his ex-babysitter Alma is in
terrible danger when domestic violence
threatens her world. “Believable kids,
acutely captured adults, perfect pitch dialogue—a
page-turner all the way....The
best of middle-grade fiction to highlight
the problems of wife-battering and child
abuse.” —School Library Journal
Rec: AN, BKL, BL, C, CE, E, H, HG, NC, R, SLJ, W
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 160 pp. 1986
978-0-14-031881-4 $5.99
THE CYBIL WAR
Fourth-graders Simon and Tony discover
that friendship and loyalty are not
absolute as they enter into battle for the
affections of schoolmate Cybil Ackerman.
“Young love, fifth-grade variety,
portrayed with warmth and humor and
that extra, penetrating touch one expects
of Byars.” —Kirkus
Rec: AN, BL, C, CE, H, K, R, SLJ, TE, W
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 128 pp. 1990
978-0-14-034356-4 $5.99
THE GLORY GIRL
A young girl discovers her own selfworth
amid the tensions of life in a
performing family. “The story moves
quickly, vignette to vignette, and the taut
finish gives readers a message that’s easy
to ponder.”
Rec: BL, E, H
—Booklist
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 144 pp. 1985
978-0-14-031785-5 $4.99
KEEPER OF THE DOVES
“Betsy Byars’ family saga of one summer
in the life of a family at the turn of the
century is a simple story, but it contains
a powerful message. The book’s theme
revolves around words, their beauty and
their power to change lives…The result
is a wonderful portrait of family life at
the end of the 19th century, as well as a
thought-provoking tale about judging
people and the sometimes elusive quality
of truth.” —School Library Journal
Rec: BLH, HH K, SLJ
5 x 8 128 pp. 2004
978-0-14-240063-0 $5.99
McMUMMY
While Professor Orloff is away, it’s
Mozie’s job to look after his greenhouse.
Mozie is afraid to go inside. The
oversized vegetables are creepy, and the
air is thick. But he finds himself moving
like a zombie, drawn deep among the
enormous plants, until he’s face-to-stem
with the humming, mummy-shaped, human-sized
pod! “Signature Byars...good
natured and goofy.” —Bulletin of the
Center for Children’s Books
Rec: BL, PC, PWH, SLJ, TE
5 1/16 x 7 3/4 160 pp. 1995
978-0-14-036439-0 $4.99