The Moon and I [Paperback]

Betsy Byars (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

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

The Moon that inspires Betsy Byars's memoir isn't the one in the sky, but a huge, harmless blacksnake she finds in the rafters of her porch. This meeting begins an exploration of the writing process. With energy, wit, and delight, the Newbery medalist shows how "the good scraps" of her life, from a bully named Bubba to a gift-wrapped dime, weave into her work.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

For Byars, meeting an enormous blacksnake on her front porch becomes a springboard for tracing her lifelong love of animals, and also her likes and dislikes, successes and failures as a writer. The result is an appealingly idiosyncratic narrative that seamlessly weaves together the Newbery winner's life and art. In a personable, highly conversational style studded with wry observations and shot through with humility and perspective, Byars shares her views on the relative significance of various elements of a story; the importance of names in inventing characters ("I never had any trouble creating a terrible character as long as his name was Bubba"); the necessity for "lots and lots of good scraps" from real life; and the impossibility of writing when one is being watched, even by a snake. She uses lists, questions, examples from several of her works and even excerpts from fan letters--flattering and not--to illustrate her points. And, of course, she traces her developing friendship with Moon in its often hilarious ups and downs. It is pure pleasure and privilege to be thus invited into the world of such a warm and engaging artist. This goes far beyond most memoirs in its ability to engage the reader. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-- In this lively personal narrative, Byars focuses on the humorous results of her recent encounter with a very large, slightly mysterious black snake. Readers are thereafter treated to many interesting facts about snakes, and the elusive reptile becomes the key that opens the door to the author's happy childhood, the writing process, and the woman herself. The snake as centerpiece is a truly inspired choice; readers will be hooked into learning not only about such creatures and their habits, but also about Byars. In a witty, conversational style marked by short sentences and paragraphs and a deceptively simple use of dialogue to capture the humor or irony of the moment, this writer tells how she has arrives at the ideas for her books. Children will love this offering. It is very special nonfiction that truly entertains as it informs. --Phyllis Graves, Creekwood Middle School, Kingwood, TX
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 20, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688137040
• ISBN-13: 978-0688137045
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #273,365 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( B ) > Byars, Betsy
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Biographies > Literary
  • #79 in Books > Children's Books > Biographies > Literary

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

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The moon and I review, March 10, 2000

By 

alan lefenfeld (Cleveland,Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon and I (Paperback)

"The Moon and I" is an excellent book that tells the life of the famous author, Betsy Byars. It is a good autobiography. It has vivid descriptions. Betsy writes about her life and how she met a black snake, Moon. I like this book because it makes me feel like I'm with her in her life. What I dislike about this book is that the title was a little misleading. I thought it was about a moon! I recommend this book to anyone; it is for all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool Book!, March 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Moon and I (Paperback)

In this excellently written book, Betsy Byars describes her friendship with moon (a snake she finds),tells bits of her childhood adventures, and gives helpful writing tips. A book that most anyone will enjoy. Betsy Byars has an amazing way with words! I had never read any of her books, but now am rushing to the library to check some out. I really enjoyed this book because it is well written and interesting. It is also inspiring as I want to be an author.

4.0 out of 5 stars the moon and i, January 16, 2006

By 

stephanie porter "stephanie" (lawrence, ma usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Moon and I (Paperback)

this book has absolutely nothing to do with the moon. this is a story about betsy byars life. she tells about some points in her life that inspired some of her books. and she explains how a snake made her think about it all. this is the first book i've read by her. if all of her books are writen like this, then i would love to read others.