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<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>Betsy Byars brings one of today's most complex issues (spousal abuse) into compassionate focus, while sending readers on a breakneck roller coaster ride. An ALA Notable Book of the Year. Young Adult.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br><b>A backlist gem from a Newbery-winning author!</b> <p/>Cracker Jackson has a problem. A big, serious, adult problem. When he receives an anonymous note in the mail, he finds out that his old babysitter, Alma, is in danger. Cracker's the only one who can help her. But what can an eleven-year-old do in a situation that most adults couldn't cope with? Cracker will do anything to protect his beloved Alma. But the situation is already moving beyond his control... <p/> An ALA Notable Book <br>Winner of the Parents' Choice Award <br>An IRA-CBC Children's Choice<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Author </b></p></br></br><b>Betsy Byars</b> has written over sixty books for young people. Her first published in 1962 and since then she has published regularly. Her books have been translated into nineteen languages and she gets thousands of letters from readers in the United States and from all over the world. <p/> She has won many awards. Among them are the Newbery Medal in 1971 for her novel <i>The Summer of the Swans</i>, the American Book Award in 1981 for <i>The Night Swimmers</i>, The Edgar (for the best mystery for young people) in 1992 for <i>Wanted...Mud Blossom</i> and the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association for the body of her work. She especially values her many state awards which were voted on by the readers of the state. <p/> Betsy attended public schools in North Carolina and graduated from Queens College in Charlotte, NC with a major in English. She began her writing career five years after her graduation by publishing short magazine articles. As she began to read to her children, her interest in writing for young people began. <p/> Betsy lives with her husband Ed on an air strip in South Carolina. They are both pilots, and the bottom floor of their house is a hangar so they can taxi out and take off, almost from their front yard. The top floor of the house? Betsy's studio!

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