Coast to Coast [Hardcover]

Betsy Byars (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Realizing that sending her grandfather, Pop, to live in a nursing home will kill his already dying spirit, Birch urges Pop to take the cross-country plane flight he has always dreamed of, and to take Birch with him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Byars, a licensed amateur pilot, brings her knowledge of and enthusiasm for flying to this novel of the cross-country flight an impetuous 13-year-old and her grandfather make in his Piper Cub. As they traverse unfamiliar landscapes Birch ventures into new emotional territory as well, going on her first date, learning the truth about an old family secret and seeing herself, her loved ones, and life itself with new clarity and force. These elements lend substance to the jaunty narrative, but what distinguishes it most of all is Birch's infectious exuberance and her unquenchable spirit. This teenager's sheer delight in flight and her candid, spontaneous responses to the world at large--to its jewels and its warts--make this trip well worth the ride. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-- Birch, 13, makes the journey of a lifetime when she and her crusty, widowed grandfather fly from South Carolina to California in his beloved Piper Cub, its last trip before he sells the airplane and moves to a retirement home. The story's premise is a bit thin: Birch and her grandfather make a hasty escape from her mother (his daughter), who is left cleaning out his house before it is sold. The dual story of Birch's discovery that her twin had died at birth is also strained, as readers are sure to wonder why it's such a big secret, and why her parents were so reluctant to tell her. Birch's breathless narration is perfect for her melodramatic personality, but the dialogue often reads like a forced flow of information about flying. In spite of its imperfections, however, the book does capture the excitement of the adventure and the vivid personalities of the old man and his granddaughter. While not one of Byars's best efforts, once airborn, the story does take off and her fine characterization shines through. --Trev Jones, School Library Journal
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 164 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038530787X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385307871
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,971,438 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

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Had to read for school, November 16, 2001

By 

Douglas Frink (Rocklin, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coast to Coast (Paperback)

There are few books I read for school that I don't partially enjoy. This was the first exception. I hated this book! The character of the daughter is bratty and a control freak, while the grandfather seems to be to the daughter nothing more than a remembrance of the good old days. (...)The children are VERY stereotypical and they are always feeling sorry for themselves. Another thing I noticed, the plot seems to get nowhere: (...)

4.0 out of 5 stars My 5 year old loved this book, July 31, 2010

By 

Ben Ben (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coast to Coast (Paperback)

My 5 year old was excited for me to read a few more chapters to her each night. She followed every detail of the story. The characters don't have the most cheerful outlook on life, so I docked it a star.