Betsy Byars facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Betsy Byars
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| Born | Betsy Cromer August 7, 1928 Charlotte, North Carolina, US |
| Died | February 26, 2020 (aged 91) Seneca, South Carolina, US |
| Occupation | Children's author, novelist, freelance writer |
| Education |
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| Period | 1962–2010 |
| Genre | Children's fiction, Young adult fiction, Historical fiction, Realistic fiction |
| Notable works |
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| Notable awards | Newbery Medal 1971 National Book Award 1981 |
Betsy Byars (born Betsy Cromer; August 7, 1928 – February 26, 2020) was an American author who wrote many popular children's books. She won several big awards for her stories. Her novel Summer of the Swans received the important 1971 Newbery Medal. She also won a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers in 1980. Later, she earned an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom in 1991.
Many people thought Betsy Byars was one of the best writers for kids. Nancy Chambers, an editor of a British book journal, called her "one of the ten best writers for children in the world." In 1987, she received the Regina Medal for all her amazing work over the years. Because her books were so loved by young readers, she was named one of the top 100 authors by the Educational Paperback Association.
Contents
About Betsy Byars
Betsy Cromer Byars was born on August 7, 1928. Her hometown was Charlotte, North Carolina. Her dad, George Guy, worked in a cotton mill. Her mom, Nan Cromer, was a homemaker. Betsy grew up during the Great Depression, a time when many people faced tough economic challenges.
She went to Furman University from 1946 to 1948. Then she moved to Queens College in Charlotte. She finished college in 1950 with a degree in English.
After college, Betsy met Edward Ford Byars. He was studying engineering at Clemson University. They got married on June 24, 1950. They had four children: Laurie, Betsy Ann, Nan, and Guy. Their children were born between 1951 and 1958.
In 1956, the family moved to Urbana, Illinois. Edward continued his studies at the University of Illinois. He later became an engineering professor at West Virginia University in 1960. While Edward was busy with his studies, Betsy started writing for magazines. Her articles appeared in famous magazines like The Saturday Evening Post and TV Guide.
Her first novel, Clementine, was published in 1962. Betsy and Edward Byars both learned to fly airplanes. They even lived on an airstrip in Seneca, South Carolina. The bottom floor of their house was a hangar for their plane!
Two of her daughters, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers, also became children's writers. Betsy Byars moved back to Seneca in 1980. She stopped writing in 1990. She passed away in Seneca on February 26, 2020.
Books by Betsy Byars
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Book Series
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Books with Her Daughters
Betsy Byars also wrote books with her daughters, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers.
- 2000 My Dog, My Hero
- 2004 The SOS File
- 2007 Dog Diaries
- 2010 Cat Diaries
Her Own Story
- 1991 The Moon and I (This is a memoir, which means it's a book about her own life experiences.)
Short Stories
- Look back at the Sea
