Cracker Jackson (Puffin Story Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Betsy Byars (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Puffin Story Books

Jackson Hunter has various problems in life, but when his beloved ex-babysitter Alma sends him a note warning him to keep away, he knows something is terribly wrong and can think of nothing else. By the author of "The Computer Nut", "The Cybil Wars" and "The Glory Girls".

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 7, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 014031881X
• ISBN-13: 978-0140318814
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #320,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Byars, Betsy
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Dysfunctional Relationships
  • #67 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Social Issues > Abuse

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!, February 22, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cracker Jackson (Puffin Story Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this as a class and at the end we all said "wow!"It is a great book about jackson, who is trying to help his ex-babysitter. It also has a lot of humor and auther's craft. It is a touching story with some funny moments too. I really like this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cracker Jackson, January 31, 2001

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Cracker Jackson (Puffin Story Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is by Betsy Byars. The main character is Cracker Jackson. His old babysitter is in trouble.Her husband is beating up on her. Alma his babysitter does not want to leave until Billy throws little Nicole their daughter into her crib. Then Cracker makes the biggest decision he'll ever make. He is going to drive Nicole and Alma to a place where someone will take care of them. Alma says she wants to go home before Billy finds out. I liked this book because it shows kids can help. I think the theme of this book is:sometimes a problem is too big to handle but you have to keep going and get help from someone who can handle it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cracker Jackson, February 11, 2004

By 

Danielle (New York City, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cracker Jackson (Puffin Story Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

Cracker Jackson was a very good book. It explained the importance of telling someone about an abusive family. Cracker showed that he really cared about his baby-sitter to go through all the trouble of sneaking to her house and checking on her. I thought Cracker was smart for confronting an adult about the situation before the matters became worse. This book kept you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happened next. I couldn't put the book down! This book shows you how Betsy Byars took a horrible situation and turned it into something special. The book teaches you that just by caring about someone you can save their life. After all the hard work Cracker has been through to help Alma has paid off and now Alma can forget about the past and go on to a bigger and better future.