The Pinballs

Betsy Byars

Jul 2012 · Harper Collins

About this ebook

From Newbery-winning author Betsy Byars comes a story full of "poignancy, perception, and humor" (The Chicago Tribune), about three foster kids who learn what it takes to make a family. 

You can't always decide where life will take you—especially when you're a kid.

Carlie knows she's got no say in what happens to her. Stuck in a foster home with two other kids, Harvey and Thomas J, she's just a pinball being bounced from bumper to bumper. As soon as you get settled, somebody puts another coin in the machine and off you go again.

But against her will and her better judgment, Carlie and the boys become friends. And all three of them start to see that they can take control of their own lives.

Ratings and reviews

This book is about 3 kids ( carlie , harvey , and thomas j ) the had prombles with their parents so the goverment took them to a foster home.....there's where the story beggings

Wow i just loved this book. My class did a skit for this book and my group made thomas j inherit the farm, and harvey and carlie found harveys mom and they both got adopted. And harvey is the CEO of KFC! Lol! Great book. One of my all time favorites

Love her she was so good now I'm in 4th grade

About the author

Betsy Byars is the author of many award-winning books for children, including The Summer of the Swans, a Newbery Medal winner. The Pinballs was an ALA Notable Book. She is also the author of Goodbye, Chicken Little; The Two-Thousand-Pound Goldfish; and the popular Golly Sisters trilogy.