Animal, the Vegetable, and John D Jones [Paperback]

Betsy Byars (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1983 | Age Level: 9 and up

It was supposed to be a great vacation for  everyone. Clara and Deanie were thrilled about spending  time with their father now that the divorce was  final. But they're surprised and horrified at  having to share Dad with his girl friend and her  stuck-up son right in the same beach house! And for his  part, John D. Jones can't stand the arrangement  either, especially the squabbling girls, whom he dubs  the Animal and the  Vegetable.



When Clara falls asleep on her plastic raft and is  washed out to sea, everyone is hopeful until the  float turns up without her. It's the first time  they've all pulled together But is it too late to  reveal their true feelings?

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

It was supposed to be a great vacation for everyone. Clara and Deanie were thrilled about spending time with their father now that the divorce was final. But they're surprised and horrified at having to share Dad with his girl friend and her stuck-up son right in the same beach house! And for his part, John D. Jones can't stand the arrangement either, especially the squabbling girls, whom he dubs the Animal and the Vegetable.

When Clara falls asleep on her plastic raft and is washed out to sea, everyone is hopeful until the float turns up without her. It's the first time they've all pulled together But is it too late to reveal their true feelings?

From the Inside Flap

It was supposed to be a great vacation for  everyone. Clara and Deanie were thrilled about spending  time with their father now that the divorce was  final. But they're surprised and horrified at  having to share Dad with his girl friend and her  stuck-up son right in the same beach house! And for his  part, John D. Jones can't stand the arrangement  either, especially the squabbling girls, whom he dubs  the Animal and the  Vegetable.



When Clara falls asleep on her plastic raft and is  washed out to sea, everyone is hopeful until the  float turns up without her. It's the first time  they've all pulled together But is it too late to  reveal their true feelings?

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (August 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440403561
• ISBN-13: 978-0440403562
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,292,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Betsy Byars began her writing career rather late in life First, she married and started a family. The writing career didn't emerge until she was 28, a mother of two children, and living in a small place she called the barracks apartment, in Urbana, Illinois. She and her husband, Ed, had moved there in 1956 so he could attend graduate school at the University of Illinois. She was bored, had no friends, and so turned to writing to fill her time. Byars started writing articles for The Saturday Evening Post, Look,and other magazines. As her family grew and her children started to read, she began to write books for young people and, fortunately for her readers, discovered that there was more to being a writer than sitting in front of a typewriter. "Once a wanderer came by my house and showed me how to brush my teeth with a cherry twig; that went in The House of WingsThe Summer of the Swans." Since that time, Byars has written more than 45 books for young readers and has won numerous awards, including The American Book Award, which she received in 1981 for The Night Swimmers. The humor, compassion, and insight Byars brings to each of her books won her a large audience of admirers both in the United States and abroad. Six of her novels were presented on national television, and her books are translated into nine languages. Six of Byars' novels have been named ALA Notable Books, and in 1971, The Summer of the Swans -- a story about a 14-year-old girl and her mentally retarded brother -- won the Newbery Award as the most distinguished contribution to literature for children in the year of its publication. Byars was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 7, 1928. Unlike many of the characters in her books, Byars grew up in a normal, loving family. Her father was an engineer and worked as a bookkeeper in a cotton mill. He was stern and hardworking and had a strong sense of humor. Her mother was a lively woman who loved acting and music. Byars's sister, Nancy, two years older, was sometimes an inspiration and sometimes an evil nemesis. Byars has always been adventurous and never allows a few setbacks to prevent her from doing things she wants to experience, like petting a blacksnake and flying planes. The snake was named Moon and became the subject of her 1991 autobiography, The Moon and I. Betsy Byars and her husband live on an air strip in South Carolina, and have traveled widely throughout the United States in pursuit of their interest in gliding and antique airplanes. They have four grown children and seven grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Review of 'The Animal, the Vegetable, and John D. Jones, January 1, 2001

By 

Mrs. R. Golding (Shropshire) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal, the Vegetable, and John D Jones (Paperback)

This book contains some extremely well-developed characters. It also has an excellent storyline. It is about two sisters whose father is 'dating' a woman with a son-John D. Jones. The girls are very resentful of these newcomers. The sisters feel that John and his mother have invaded their privacy, especially when their father invites them to go on holiday with the family. The girls and John get on very badly. The two sisters are determined to make life for him and his mother as difficult as possible. I will not give away the ending completely but John does something which convinces the girls to give him a chance. I thought that this book was very gripping, as I was worried about what would happen-would the girls drive John and his mother away, or would they brave it? A good read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Never Forgotten, June 9, 2005

By 

Penny Lane (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Animal, the Vegetable, and John D Jones (Paperback)

I haven't read this book in years, but I'm going to give it the best review for a children's book I know. I'm 28 years old and I remember this book, not even all of the title, but enough to make me try a search on Amazon. I loved this book in grade school, and checked it out of the library countless times. It ranks right up there with The Dog Hotel, A Word to the Wise, and Wild Horse Running (also grade school favorites, give them a try).

5.0 out of 5 stars excitement, October 19, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Animal, the Vegetable, and John D Jones (Paperback)

This is a trip for Clara and deanie spending their time at the beach with their father having a good time. Their father was at his final divorce and he wanted his time alone with his two daughters.