The Cybil War [Paperback]

Betsy Byars (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

As soon as Cybil grins and crosses her eyes at Simon, he's in love. But the road to Cybil's heart is bumpy--mainly because of Simon's best friend, Tony, whose outrageous lies keep Cybil and Simon apart. "Young love, fifth-grade variety, portrayed with warmth and humor and that extra, penetrating touch one expects of Byars."--Kirkus Reviews. 10 illustrations.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (April 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140343563
• ISBN-13: 978-0140343564
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,720 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Byars, Betsy

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

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a classic!, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Cybil War (Paperback)

This book has always been one of my favorites since childhood - and I still find myself rereading it occasionally when I have a spare half-hour! I don't know if the illustrations have been redone, but the pencils in the original printing were beautiful, and they really captured the different emotional tones of the book. True, it's a simple plot (two boys fight over girl), but the way Simon deals with his father's abandonment and the complexity of Tony's personality (sometimes cruel, sometimes sweet) is very mature. BCB doesn't patronize her readers; the intensity of emotions that Simon feels concerning "trivial" ten-year-old matters (his best friend's lying is The Absolute Betrayal) is the best representation of childhood you'll find in such a brief book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Two guys and a girl, September 3, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Cybil War (Paperback)

This book was easy to read. This book is so typical in the life of a fith grader. The plot is two boys like the same girl and the main character,in this case Simon, always gets the girl. It was love at first sight for Simon. He had to work hard to get her. He lost his B.F. (best friend) in the process.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cybil War Review, January 10, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Cybil War (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (School & Library Binding)

This story is about Simon and Tony fighting over a girl named Cybil. The main characters are Cybil, Tony, and Simon. The story takes place in Simon's home town in present day. Simon and Tony are best friends. Simon has been in love with a girl named Cybil for 3 years. Then Tony decides he loves Cybil so Tony tries to get Cybil to hate Simon. Simon finds this out and prevents her from hating him. Read this book to see who gets Cybil.
I think this story is funny when Tony said his grandma told him his brother`s small shoes were magic shoes. It was also funny when Tony said Simon had to go out with a fat girl named Harriet Haywood. It is also funny when Simon was bragging that he won the war for Cybil. That's why this book is funny.