The Summer of the Swans

"The Summer of the swans" by Betsy Byars won the John Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for Children in 1970. Sara Godfrey, 14 years old, has a younger brother named Charlie who is mentally impaired from a childhood illness. Wanda, her older sister, is 19 years old. Their mother died and their Aunt Wanda is their caretaker. Their father is alive, but working away from home in Ohio, distant both physically and emotionally. The story takes places in the summer in West Virginia.



Sara struggles with self-image and selfishness, but that preoccupation is quickly forgotten when the focus sharply turns onto Charlie who becomes lost after deciding to leave home in the middle of the night to look for the "swan" lake where Sara and he had visitited earlier in the day. Sara is consumed with finding Charlie along with the townsfolk! Sara is befriended by Joe, a former enemy, who is as intent as she is. The author draws the reader into the search for Charlie and takes us to the mountain top where a discovery is made. Discover the result for yourself. I recommend this book.