Module 4- SLIS 5420

The Summer of the Swans
by Betsy Byars

Byars, B. (1970). The summer of the swans. London: Puffin.

Summary

As Sara enters into her teenage years, she is confused and riddled with the same teenage angst that all girls encounter. Her feet are too big, her legs are too long, and she is now having to live with her bossy aunt after the death of her mother. However, this particular summer turns out to be more eye-opening that Sara could ever dream. After her younger brother, who has special needs, disappears one night in an attempt to view the swans that have flown to the lake nearby, Sara's world is turned upside down. As she searches for Charlie, she finds herself and comes to discover that things aren't always as they seem and that our problems aren't as big as we thought.

Impressions

I enjoyed reading this book and could easily relate to the feelings and emotions that Sara experienced. I feel this story's portrayal of a young person with a special needs sibling was also very poignant. Having no personal experience with this, I still was able to understand Sara's feelings and worry in relation to Charlie. It gave me a small glimpse of what it would be like to be responsible for someone who couldn't do things that most of us take for granted. It's a difficult concept to present, and I feel that Byars did well with her presentation of Charlie and his feelings and emotions.

Reviews

When her mentally retarded brother Charlie disappears, it's during the search for him that Sara begins to deal with her own emotions about family, friends, and the opposite sex. This story is very much about inner feelings, and although there is a search for a lost boy, the emotional struggles that Sara goes through are really at the heart of the tale.

Braun, L. W. (1996). Audiovisual review: Recordings. School Library Journal, 42(4), 89.

The author's writing was so descriptive I felt like I knew the characters and what they were feeling. I really think it's nice that you can enjoy a book and learn a lot from it too. Betsy Byars writes about real feelings that other girls are likely to also have. This book is filled with lots of emotions: happy, sad, surprising, disappointing, kind, sweet, and funny.

Review by Lauren Ferrando (2004) can be found at http://www.buildingrainbows.com/bookreview/reviewid/5131

Suggestions for Use

As a read-aloud for older students, this story could open up discussion about a topic that is rarely discussed-special needs. Though we can't really know the thoughts and exact feelings of special needs students, this book is a good starting point for teaching about the importance of respecting others and having compassion for those who aren't "normal" like us. As a librarian working at a campus with many special needs students, I see the importance of these issues, and reading a story like this one helps provide insight for the kids.