Q&A with Betsy Byars and her children Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers
Q: Betsy B., what book do you remember reading to your children? Laurie and Betsy D, what book do you remember being read? How do you think those books influenced all of your writing?
Betsy Byars: The book I remember reading to Laurie and Betsy was Millions of Cats. I’ve read it to the grandkids, too. I never dared read a manuscript I’d written because the girls were firm about wanting to hear “real books”. Later they became my first editors. They’d read a manuscript until they lost interest and then they would put a down-pointing arrow in the margin. A down-pointing arrow in the margin of a manuscript said it all.
Betsy Duffey: My mother prepared me to write all my life although I didn’t realize it at the time. A writer has listened to stories long before they begin to read them. And they read themselves long before they dare to write something of their own.
One of my most vivid memories of reading was with my mother. I had not yet started school when I started reading picture books like Millions of Cats and Mike Mulligan. I remember climbing up on the sofa beside my mother who, as usual, was reading. I put down my book and asked her to show me how to read her book. She tipped her book down and ran her finger across the first line of words. They were the same words! If I could read Millions of Cats and Mike Mulligan’s Steam Shovel, I could read anything. The world of reading opened for me and I have been a reader all my life.
Q: Describe the collaborative writing process. Do you create an outline then divvy-up stories? Do you each write stories then evaluate how they fit into the general ark? How do you create one book from three authors?
Laurie Myers: First, we decide on the general idea/plot of the book – rescue stories with dogs, children in SOS situations, the diaries of dogs, etc. Then, we write our stories separately. This can take several months or longer. When we are finished the fun begins – reading each other’s stories. I am amazed at the great variety that results in the stories. We often take very different approaches to the same idea. Next, we meet several more times writing the beginning and the end. This is always fun because my mother and sister are two of the funniest people I know. When we get together there is lots of joking and laughing involved.
The key to writing together is to get an idea that uses for different points of view throughout the book. We hope it does not sound like one author but different characters. When we edit we each have a complete copy of the manuscript and we sit around my mother’s dining room table and go through it page by page. Occasionally we use email.
Betsy Duffey: We have a good time when we get together. It’s important to the three of us to have the right atmosphere for writing together. For the last book this involved a trip to the beach. We write our individual stories separately and then meet for a day or weekend to compile the stories and write the introduction and ending. We share the same sense of humor which, I believe, makes our style of writing similar. We are all three interested in people. We like to figure out how people think and what they are going to do next.
Betsy Byars: We get an idea that we’re all excited about, and then we go our separate ways. There are a lot of short, emphatic phone calls. “I’ve got dibs on Snowball.” We do our own stories and then we meet at my house, which is midway between Atlanta and Augusta, sit around the table, and put the stories in order. We don’t edit each other’s stories and change them. These collaborations are not like writing, they’re like a vacation from writing.
Q: When did you decide to begin writing books together? What influenced your decision to do that?
Laurie Myers: We wrote separately for years. We had often thought it would be fun to work together but a novel would be difficult with the different “voices” coming out. We even talked about a round robin novel once, but decided that would never work because we each like to have the last word so the story would never end. My Dog My Hero was our first book and the it happened over a BBQ rib dinner. We were talking about ideas for books. I had been researching another book and reading stories about heroic dogs. We began brainstorming about how a book like that might work and soon realized that it would be the perfect collaborative idea.
Q: What stage of writing is more difficult for you: the initial putting down or the editing?
Laurie Myers: The biggest challenge is to come up with the right idea, an idea where there will be several points of view. After that the writing is easy.
Betsy Byars: The first stage of writing is exhilarating. I type a title page and I’m off. I write fast because until I have something on paper I don’t have anything to work with. I print it, work on it, enter my changes and print it again. I keep doing this. I want it to look simple, as if I haven’t worked on it at all. If it looks like I’ve worked on it, I go back and work on it some more.
Q: Dog Diaries is your second book that brings readers the voices of dogs. What influenced how you created your dogs’ voices?
Laurie Myers: We have owned dozens of dogs over the years and they have appeared throughout the pages of our books. When you have a lot of dogs, you realize how unique they are. You learn something from each dog and appreciate their individuality.
Betsy Byars: My children grew up with a wide variety of dogs. At one point we had three dogs, two cats and a guinea pig who whistled when he heard someone open the refrigerator door. Our dogs were mostly mongrels so they were different in looks and personalities. That gave us on edge on creating different dog’s voices for The Dog Diaries.
Q: Were there any surprises for you in terms of plot development as you were writing the book, or did you have it all planned out/outlined in advance?
Betsy Byars: We also had a variety of cats, so maybe the next collaboration will be The Cat Diaries.
Laurie Myers: We enjoy writing together and plan to continue as long as the ideas flow. The Dog Diaries gives a hint about what our next effort will be.
For further information about Betsy, click here.Reviews
The SOS File
Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey, Laurie Myers
Illustrated by Arthur Howard
Betsy Byars and her two daughters have teamed up to create a simple chapter book using the theme of small disasters that happen to children. Mr. Margo invites his students to write about an SOS experience with the promise of extra credit for those that do. Each of the chapters consists of a child's adventure. Marcie tells about ending up with her arm in a sling and Band-Aids on her legs when the brakes on her Pink Panther go-cart fail to work. Randy relates his fears about playing baseball and his less than distinguished record which became an even bigger problem when his dad finally decides to come to a game. Jerry confesses to eating all forty of the chocolate bars he was supposed to sell for the baseball fundraiser. Abraham Lincoln saves Augustus' life when a bear appears in the woods. And so the stories continue. Mr. Margo surprises the class with his own SOS experience at the end. Howard's black and white line drawings capture the emotions of the tales and add to the humor. 2004, Henry Holt, $15.95. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2004; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award Noteworthy 2005 Transitional Fiction United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, 2007; Nominee; United States
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 2-3; Michigan
Great Stone Face Award, 2005-2006; Nominee; New Hampshire
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2006-2007; Nominee; Grades 3-6; Texas
West Virginia Children's Book Award, 2006-2007; Master Booklist; West Virginia
ISBN: 0-8050-6888-0
Dog Diaries
Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers
Illustrated by Erik Brooks
Do you ever wonder what your dog is thinking and perhaps even more interestingly what your dog and others might communicate to each other? The authors of this chapter book have given the dogs personalities, brains and furthermore they belong to WOOF Society where they meet to share stories about their history, heroic exploits and contemporary issues. It is just like a meeting that one would expect among humans, perhaps a bit more civilized and well run. As the dogs come forward, they relate their stories which comprise the different chapters. There is the tale of Abu, the dog who ruled Egypt; another about a dog that escaped from Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted; a account from a Bassett hound who helps his master discover gold; a more contemporary tale about Tidbit who becomes a friend of the great country western singer Johnny Cash; and another dog who thwarts a bank robber. The black and white illustrations are wonderful and full of humor themselves. There are lesson about history, getting along in this world, right and wrong behavior, and it all is done in such an entertaining way that kids will not even realize that they are absorbing all this information. The good news is that if you are not a dog lover, then look for the next set of stories from the cat society MEOW, which I am sure will be just as entertaining. 2007, Henry Holt, Ages 6 to 10, $15.95. REVIEWER: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7957-9
ISBN: 0-8050-7957-2
The Keeper of the Doves
Betsy Byars
Told from the viewpoint of a young girl trying to make sense of her world, this story revolves around a well-to-do family in 1899 whose insular world is on the brink of change. Amen is a sensitive soul who is bullied by her elder, insensitive twin sisters (the Bellas: Arabella and Annabella). A poet, Amen sees the world very differently from her other sisters. Over a period of a few short months one summer, Amen's world changes and the impact on Amen is pivotal. Mama has her seventh infant and first son, their dog, Scout, dies under mysterious conditions, and Mr. Tominksi is finally revealed to Amen. Many years earlier, Mr. Tominski saved Papa's life and Papa has looked after him ever since that time. Mr. Tominski is an enigmatic, reclusive man of Polish descent who does not speak English and who appears to be mentally challenged. Amen and her siblings are frightened of this strange man who lives on their property and lurks on the periphery of their lives. It is that fear born of misunderstanding that causes Amen to realize that a person is made up of many facets and can therefore be defined in many different ways. It is seeing those facets of a person that allows one to understand a person and their actions. This is a nicely written story about a young girl trying to make sense of the world around her and then moving forward in that world with self assurance. I liked Byars' use of the girls' fear of Mr. Tominski (Boo Radley-like character) because he looks and acts different. In fact, his "work" is as keeper of the doves. He feeds and nurtures doves, the emblem of peace and tranquility, which serves as a nice counterpoint to the frightening countenance the girls react to. 2002, Viking, $14.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Joan Kindig, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2003; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Booklist Book Review Stars, Oct. 1, 2002; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts, 2003; NCTE Children's Literature Assembly; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, August 19, 2002; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Reading List, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Arkansas
Delaware Diamonds, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Delaware
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Vermont
Emphasis on Reading, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Alabama
Sequoyah Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Children's; Oklahoma
William Allen White Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Kansas
ISBN: 0-670-03576-9
Midnight Fox
Betsy Byars
Illustrated by Ann Grifalconi
This book holds one of my favorite characters, city bred Tom, who is doomed to spend the summer on his uncle's farm when his parents decide to take a long bicycle trip. Tom doesn't like animals, and they don't like him. But through quiet afternoons spent exploring the forest and fields, Tom becomes more aware of, and finally more comfortable, with the power and beauty of the natural world, and in the end acts to save a part of that world. 1981 (orig. 1968), Viking, $3.99. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
ISBN: 0-140-31450-4
The Pinballs
Betsy Byars
Byars tackles the tough issues of child abandonment and abuse through a close look at three foster children who have to keep moving like pinballs and never get to settle. Byars' skillful storytelling never downplays the pain inherent in these situations at the same time that she presents resilient characters who eventually connect with one another and with their caretakers. 1996 (orig. 1977), HarperCollins, $14.89, $4.50 and $2.25. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Winner 1980 Arkansas
Children's Book Award Winner 1977 United States
Georgia Children's Book Award Winner 1979 Georgia Children's Book Awards Georgia
Mark Twain Award Winner 1980 Missouri
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award Winner 1981 Minnesota
William Allen White Children's Book Award Winner 1980 Kansas
ISBN: 0-06-020918-6
ISBN: 0-06-440198-7
ISBN: 0-06-447150-0
The Summer of the Swans
Betsy Byars
This Newbery Medal winner begins with 14-year-old Sara despondently outfitting the old family dog in an effort to enliven her own self-critical mood. Depending on how Sara ties her sister's good scarf, the dog Boysie becomes "Boysie the Russian Peasant Woman" or "Boysie the Inscrutable Hindu." And from there Sara goes on to complain about her big feet...What young-teen girl wouldn't identify with this portrait? Byars has the ability to render her young protagonists' problems and situations with both poignancy and humor. 1997 (orig. 1970), Viking/Scholastic, $15.99, $3.99, $3.95 and $1.95. Ages 12 up. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Books for You: An Annotated Booklist for Senior High, Sixth Edition, 1976; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle And Junior High School Library Catalog, Eighth Edition, 2000; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005; H.W. Wilson; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
John Newbery Medal Winner 1971 United States
ISBN: 0-670-68190-3
ISBN: 0-14-031420-2
ISBN: 0-590-37363-3
Tornado
Betsy Byars
Illustrations by Doron Ben-Ami
Pete, a farmhand-storyteller, comforts and amuses a boy and his family while they anxiously wait out a tornado in their storm cellar. He tells them tales of his dog, Tornado, so named because the dog and his doghouse were blown into Pete's yard during a twister when Pete was a boy. While the storm rages above, Pete describes how Tornado almost swallowed a pet turtle and how he performed his one card trick. The seven, brief chapters, written in simple but humorous language, make this a good beginning chapter book. 1996, HarperCollins, $13.95, $13.89 and $3.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Gisela Jernigan, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 1996; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Children's Choices, 1997; International Reading Association; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
Teachers' Choices, 1997; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award Honor 1998-1999 Arkansas
North Carolina Children's Book Award Winner 2000 Junior North Carolina
South Carolina Association of School Librarians Book Award Winner 1999 Children's South Carolina
South Carolina Children's Book Award Winner 1999 South Carolina
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Winner 1997-1998 Florida
Texas Bluebonnet Award Winner 1998 Texas
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Reading List, 1998-1999; Nominee; Arkansas
Children's Crown Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Grades 3-6; United States
Great Stone Face Award, 1997-1998; Nominee; New Hampshire
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Iowa
Maud Hart Lovelace Book Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Minnesota
Prairie Pasque Award, 1999; Nominee; South Dakota
Sasquatch Reading Award, 2000; Nominee; United States
South Carolina Book Awards, 1999; Nominee; Children's Book; South Carolina
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 1997-1998; Nominee; N/A; Texas
Texas Reading Club, 2002; Texas
Utah Children's Book Awards, 1998; Nominee; Children's Fiction; Utah
Young Hoosier Book Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Intermediate Grades 4-6; Indiana
ISBN: 0-06-026449-7
ISBN: 0-06-026452-7
Earthquake in the Third Grade
Laurie Myers
Illustrated by Karen Ritz
What are they to do? Three friends and classmates learn that their favorite teacher is leaving. Humor and suspense abound as the children put their heads together and scheme to deal with this threatening change in their lives. The upheaval is parallel to the disaster that occurs when one friend's ant farm gets knocked over. 1993, Clarion, $14.95. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Mary Clayton Rowen (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K--Grade 6, 1997; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Children's Choices, 1994; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-395-65360-6
Guinea Pigs Don't Talk
Laurie Myers
Illustrated by Cheryl Taylor
It is always difficult to move into a new school and fit in with the kids, especially when you make enemies the first day. Often revenge is a never-ending circle, but in this case, read how a yummy tummy cream cake, high tech electronics and a guinea pig named Squeaky bring four kids together. 1994, Clarion Books, $13.95. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Mary Sue Preissner (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-395-68967-8
Lewis and Clark and Me: A Dog's Tale
Laurie Myers
Illustrations by Michael Dooling
Although the title is reminiscent of Robert Lawson's Ben and Me (a story told by a mouse who lived in Benjamin Franklin's hat), this tale is told by Seaman, a black Newfoundland dog who existed in fact, and who accompanied Meriwether Lewis on the famous journey to the Pacific and back. The concepts are necessarily limited to the perceptions, sounds, and smells experienced by a dog, but still we learn something of the comradeship of dog and man, of the joys and terrors of the journey, and the breadth and magnificence of the wilderness of 1803-06. Each chapter describes events such as Seaman's hunting or his saving of the men from a rampaging buffalo. His almost mortal injury by a wounded beaver is concluded by a corresponding, dated entry from Lewis's own journal. In an afterword, the author traces what facts are known of Seaman's origins and death. Clearly a dog lover, Myers (daughter of author Betsy Byars) conveys through simple language, with humor and sincerity, the implied relationship between the explorer and his devoted and courageous dog. The attractive format features realistic full-page (sometimes double-page) illustrations from paintings in oil on canvas, while each chapter is headed by a silhouette appropriate to the story and the period. Preparing for this assignment, artist Dooling spent time with a group reenacting the Lewis and Clark expedition. Young readers can enjoy a tale both exciting and endearing, based solidly in fact, and perhaps leading them to further research about this significant early exploration. 2002, Holt, $16.95. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, Supplement, 2003; H.W. Wilson; United States
Teachers' Choices, 2003; International Reading Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Cochecho Readers' Award Winner 2003-2004 Dover, New Hampshire
Great Lakes Great Book Award Honor Book 2004 Grades 4-5 Michigan
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award Winner 2004 Grades 3-6 Pennsylvania
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Arizona Young Readers' Award, 2005; Nominee; Intermediate Books; Arizona
Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; Oregon
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Maryland
Children's Crown Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-6; United States
Cochecho Readers' Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Dover, New Hampshire
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 4-5; Michigan
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2005; Nominee; Louisiana
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2006; Nominee; Young Reader; Nevada
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Grades 3 - 6; Pennsylvania
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2005-2006; Master List; Grades 3-5; Florida
Texas Bluebonnet Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; Grades 3-6; Texas
West Virginia Children's Book Award, 2004-2005; Nominee; West Virginia
ISBN: 0-8050-6368-4
Surviving Brick Johnson
Laurie Myers
Illustrated by Dan Yaccarino
Alex made fun of Brick Johnson in the lunchroom by doing an imitation. Brick saw him and came over and said, "At my other school, a boy did an imitation of me and..." He was interrupted by the coach and Alex's imagination moves into a fever pitch. He believes that Brick will do him bodily harm. The story involves his subsequent avoidance of Brick, enrollment in a Karate class, and sharing his fear and baseball card hobby with his younger brother Bob. There are some amusing incidents, the baseball cards will interest young boys, a normal family and siblings who get along, and the final resolution without violence make this a very different and very pleasant story. The text is liberally sprinkled with Yaccarino's black-and-white gouache illustrations. A good choice for reluctant readers. 2000, Clarion, $15.00. Ages 8 to 10. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2001; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Notable Books for Children, 2001; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001; Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media, Inc.; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Grades 4 - 6; Maryland
Cochecho Readers' Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Dover, New Hampshire
Great Stone Face Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; New Hampshire
Iowa Children's Choice Award, 2003-2004; Nominee; Iowa
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award, 2003; Nominee; Louisiana
Prairie Pasque Award, 2003; Nominee; South Dakota
Sequoyah Book Award, 2003; Nominee; Children's Book; Oklahoma
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Grades 3-5; Florida
Utah Children's Book Awards, 2002; Nominee; Children's Book; Utah
Virginia State Young Readers' Award, 2003; Nominee; Elementary School Level, Grades 3-5; Virginia
ISBN: 0-395-98031-3
Cody Unplugged
Betsy Duffey
Illustrated by Ellen Thompson
Cody Michaels is back. This time the nine-year-old is anxiety stricken over a planned trip to Camp Bear--planned by his mother, that is. She went to Camp Bear when she was a kid, and embarrasses Cody by hollering the camp cheer. How will Cody survive being "unplugged," with no computer games, videos or television? Arts and crafts and the swim test bring new opportunities for Cody to make a fool of himself. This entry in the continuing saga of Cody Michaels is a bit more formulaic than the previous volumes (Cody discovers the camp bully's soft spot, etc.), but as usual, Duffey captures the fears and concerns of a nine-year-old perfectly. 1999, Viking, $14.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Adventuring with Books: A Booklist for Pre-K-Grade 6 13th Edition, 2002; National Council of Teachers of English; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award Winner 2003 Grades 4-6 Maryland
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003; Nominee; Grades 4 - 6; Maryland
Cochecho Readers' Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Dover, New Hampshire
Cochecho Readers' Award, 2000-2001; Nominee; Dover, New Hampshire
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 2002; Nominee; Massachusetts
Sasquatch Reading Award, 2003; Nominee; Washington
Young Hoosier Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Grades 4-6; Indiana
ISBN: 0-670-88592-4
How to Be Cool in Third Grade
Betsy Duffey
Illustrated by Janet Wilson
This book cleverly deals with the first awareness of growing up and making one's own choices. Robert Hayes York is older now that he is entering third grade and wants some changes in his life. How can he tell his Mom that it is so uncool to be kissed at the school bus stop without hurting her feelings? Plus convince her that he should be wearing blue jeans to school and not shorts and be called Rob instead of Robbie. Rob learns a great lesson in relationships with his parents and the class bully. I plan on using this as a read-aloud in third grade. 1993, Penquin Putnam Books for Young Readers, $3.99. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Barbara Youngblood (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Choices, 1994; International Reading Association; United States
ISBN: 0-14-130466-9
Virtual Cody
Betsy Duffey
Illustrated by Ellen Thompson
Cody is convinced he was named after Buffalo Bill Cody, at least that's what he writes in his "cyberjournal" under the moniker "Virtual Cody." Everyone in class must give an oral report explaining the origin of his name. Cody's parents are strangely reluctant to explain his name, until finally, he discovers the truth while snooping through an old photo album. Cody's fear of humiliation in front of his peers and ongoing rivalry with one of the girls in his class is realistically captured, and the climax of the story is hilarious, making this sequel to Hey, New Kid! an enjoyable family read-aloud or early chapter book. 1997, Viking, $13.99. Ages 6 to 11. Reviewer: Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 1998; Bank Street College of Education; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
South Carolina Book Awards, 2000; Nominee; Children's Book; South Carolina
Young Hoosier Book Award, 1999-2000; Nominee; Intermediate Grades 4-6; Indiana
ISBN: 0-670-87470-1
Cody's Secret Admirer
Betsy Duffey
Illustrated by Ellen Thompson
Cody is a typical third grader, more interested in computers than girls. Shortly before Valentine's Day, the mail brings a card signed "Your Secret Admirer." Cody launches a spy mission to discover the identity of his secret admirer. Of course, the mission ends up a near disaster. Cody's troubles deepen when he snoops and reads a letter written to his parents that seems to indicate that a marriage is being arranged for Cody. What nine-year-old wants to be married off? As in the two previous books featuring Cody (Hey, New Kid! and Virtual Cody), Duffey aptly captures the worries and fears of this awkward age with lots of humor. 1998, Viking, $13.99. Ages 7 to 11. Dr. Judy Rowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-670-87400-0
Updated 05/23/07
To stay up to date on new books by this author, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you’re interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.