The Moon and I

Betsy Byars, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Summer of the Swans, presents this delightful and inspiring memoir, which also offers an insightful look at her writing process.

The Moon that inspires this memoir isn't the one found in the night sky, but instead Bety’s eponymous reptile companion—a huge (and harmless) blacksnake that she found in the rafters of her porch.

Using this serendipitous meeting as a springboard for an exploration of her life and her art, Betsy Byar’s memoir is filled with energy, wit, and joy. She shows how "the good scraps" of her life, from a bully named Bubba to a gift-wrapped dime, weave into her work.

An ALA Notable Book

“Pure pleasure.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Extraordinarily skillful. A must.”—Kirkus (stared review)

The Moon that inspires Betsy Byars's memoir isn't the one in the sky, but a huge, harmless blacksnake she finds in the rafters of her porch. This meeting begins an exploration of the writing process. With energy, wit, and delight, the Newbery medalist shows how "the good scraps" of her life, from a bully named Bubba to a gift-wrapped dime, weave into her work.

★ “An adroit blend of telling experiences from Byars’s life and ingenuous confidences about her writing. This ebullient self-portrait is so delightfully informal that it may seem artless; actually, the dovetailing of the several elements is extraordinarily skillful, the comments on writing as sage as they are succinct. A must.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

★”It is pure pleasure and privilege to be invited into the world of such a warm and engaging artist. This goes far beyond most memoirs in its ability to engage the reader.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ “An adroit blend of telling experiences from Byars’s life and ingenuous confidences about her writing. This ebullient self-portrait is so delightfully informal that it may seem artless; actually, the dovetailing of the several elements is extraordinarily skillful, the comments on writing as sage as they are succinct.” - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)