The Summer of the Swans
Byers, Betsy
Readability: 6
Newbery Award Winner
Setting: West Virginia hill country
Age of Main Characters: 14, 10

Charlie, Sara's mentally impaired brother, who was small for his age--10, was getting tired, and he knew something was wrong. He must find his way home. He ran awkwardly, thrashing at weeds. He rushed about like a wild animal caught in a maze. He ran blindly until he plunged into a wire fence that cut him sharply across the chest. He limped because he had lost one of his bedroom slippers. He sat down finally and buried his head in his hands. Would Sara never find him? He must learn to wait patiently.

Sara, age 14, felt that she was never alone. Either it was her sister, 19, that she shared her room with or Charlie, her ten-year-old brother, whom she had to take every place she went. She seemed to have only one thing in the house completely to herself--one drawer. Sara resented her sister, her brother, her looks, and her big feet. Ncthing seemed to be just right for her. She had accused Joe of stealing Charlie's watch when he hadn't. She had to apologize to Joe for this mistake.

The night Charlie disappeared, Sara had to forget her own troubles. She discovered that she, too, needed help.

Questions:

1. What is the main idea of the story?


2. Why did Charlie have the problems that he did?


3. Why did Sara think Joe Melby had taken Charlie's watch?


4. What seemed to be Sara's biggest problem?


5. Would you judge Sara as a "good" sister? Why?