Summer of the Swans
Encyclopedia
Summer of the Swans is a novel by Betsy Byars
that won the Newbery Medal
in 1971 about fourteen-year-old Sara Godfrey's search for her missing, mentally challenged brother Charlie.
Summer of the Swans was filmed as Sara's Summer of the Swans for an ABC Afterschool Special
.
Charlie Godfrey: Sara's ten-year-old brother, mentally handicapped since his brain was ravaged by a high fever at the age of three. He cannot speak, although he can understand all that is said to him and can nod or shake his head in response. Although ten, he cannot draw and writes certain letters backwards. He enjoys listening to the ticking of the watch he always wears, although he cannot tell time. He loves watching the swans in the lake near their house; this eventually leads to his disappearance. Of all the members of his family, he appears closest to Sara.
Wanda Godfrey: Sara's nineteen-year-old sister. Sara is very jealous of her, as she believes Wanda is beautiful (though it is Aunt Willie's opinion that they look exactly alike). Wanda works at a hospital, and had a boyfriend called Frank. She is generally exasperated by Sara's constant self-criticism.
Aunt Willie: Sara's aunt, her father's sister, who has been looking after her nieces and nephew since the death of their mother six years previously. Aunt Willie seldom listens to what the children have to say, and is extremely stubborn when it comes to changing her mind. It is implied that her age is somewhere above forty.
Joe Melby: a boy around Sara's age who attends the same school as her. Sara has hated him ever since an incident where Charlie's watch went missing, and she believed Joe had taken it. Eventually she discovers she was wrong and forgives him. Joe helps Sara find Charlie, and at the end of the book invites her to a party.
Mary Weicek: Sara's best friend who helps her out with everything possible.
Sam Godfrey: Sara's father, who works in Ohio and only visits on occasional weekends. Sara views her father as she would a stranger. He's not the same loving person he was.
Betsy Byars
Betsy Cromer Byars is an American author of children's books. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal...
that won the Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
in 1971 about fourteen-year-old Sara Godfrey's search for her missing, mentally challenged brother Charlie.
Summer of the Swans was filmed as Sara's Summer of the Swans for an ABC Afterschool Special
ABC Afterschool Special
The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were...
.
Characters
Sara Godfrey: the protagonist, who is convinced that her fourteenth summer is "the worst summer of her life". She and her two siblings have been living with their Aunt Willie ever since their mother died six years before (their father works far away and only visits on weekends.) Sara is portrayed as a very superficial girl, obsessed with the way things (especially her body) look, and constantly frets about her feet, which she believes are too large. She seems to hold grudges easily; for example, her grudge against Joe Melby. Sara is the closest in her family to her younger brother, Charlie (She is very protective of him and sometimes has to defend him against bullies.), and resents her sister Wanda's beauty.Charlie Godfrey: Sara's ten-year-old brother, mentally handicapped since his brain was ravaged by a high fever at the age of three. He cannot speak, although he can understand all that is said to him and can nod or shake his head in response. Although ten, he cannot draw and writes certain letters backwards. He enjoys listening to the ticking of the watch he always wears, although he cannot tell time. He loves watching the swans in the lake near their house; this eventually leads to his disappearance. Of all the members of his family, he appears closest to Sara.
Wanda Godfrey: Sara's nineteen-year-old sister. Sara is very jealous of her, as she believes Wanda is beautiful (though it is Aunt Willie's opinion that they look exactly alike). Wanda works at a hospital, and had a boyfriend called Frank. She is generally exasperated by Sara's constant self-criticism.
Aunt Willie: Sara's aunt, her father's sister, who has been looking after her nieces and nephew since the death of their mother six years previously. Aunt Willie seldom listens to what the children have to say, and is extremely stubborn when it comes to changing her mind. It is implied that her age is somewhere above forty.
Joe Melby: a boy around Sara's age who attends the same school as her. Sara has hated him ever since an incident where Charlie's watch went missing, and she believed Joe had taken it. Eventually she discovers she was wrong and forgives him. Joe helps Sara find Charlie, and at the end of the book invites her to a party.
Mary Weicek: Sara's best friend who helps her out with everything possible.
Sam Godfrey: Sara's father, who works in Ohio and only visits on occasional weekends. Sara views her father as she would a stranger. He's not the same loving person he was.