Betsy Byars books in order
American children's writer
- Lived
- 1928–2020
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 55
Betsy Byars published 1 novel, 9 novellas, 1 short story collection, 43 children's books and 1 other book, beginning with The Midnight Fox (1968). The best-known is Summer of the Swans (1970).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Betsy Byars
Start here
Summer of the Swans
Betsy Byars's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
The Lace Snail (1975)
Novellas in order
Rama, the Gypsy Cat (1966)
The Midnight Fox (1968)
Trouble River (1969)
The Cybil War (1981)
The Computer Nut (1984)
Bingo Brown and the Language of Love (1989)
Bingo Brown's Guide to Romance (1992)
Me Tarzan (2000)
Keeper of the Doves (2002)
Short story collections in order
Top Teen Stories (2004)
Children's books in order
Summer of the Swans (1970)
The House of Wings (1972)
The 18th Emergency (1973)
The Winged Colt of Casa Mia (1973)
After the Goat Man (1974)
The Tv Kid (1974)
The Pinballs (1977)
The Cartoonist (1978)
Good-bye, Chicken Little (1979)
Go and Hush the Baby (1980)
Perfect, the Pig (1980)
The Night Swimmers (1980)
The Animal, the Vegetable, and John D. Jones (1982)
The Two-thousand-pound Goldfish (1982)
The Glory Girl (1983)
Cracker Jackson (1985)
The Golly Sisters Go West (1985)
Blossoms Meet the Vulture Lady (Blossom Family) (1986)
The Not-just-anybody Family (1986)
Blossom Promise (Blossom Family) (1987)
The Blossoms and the Green Phantom (1987)
The Burning Questions of Bingo Brown (1988)
Bingo Brown, Gypsy Lover (1990)
Hooray for the Golly Sisters! (1990)
The Seven Treasure Hunts (1991)
Wanted...Mud Blossom (1991)
Coast to Coast (1992)
McMummy (1993)
The Dark Stairs (1994)
The Golly Sisters Ride Again (1994)
Tarot Says Beware (1995)
Dead Letter (Herculeah Jones Mystery) (1996)
The Moon and I (1996)
Ant Plays Bear (1997)
Death's Door (Herculeah Jones Mystery) (1997)
Disappearing Acts (1998)
Classic Teen Stories (Story Library) (1999)
My Dog, My Hero (2000)
The Sos File (2004)
Boo's Dinosaur (2006)
King of Murder (2006)
The Black Tower (2006)
Boo's Surprise (2009)
Other books in order
The Dancing Camel (1965)
About Betsy Byars
Betsy Byars was an American author of children's books. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She has also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers (1980) and an Edgar Award for Wanted... Mud Blossom (1991).
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Betsy Byars FAQ
- How many books has Betsy Byars written?
- Betsy Byars published 1 novel, 9 novellas, 1 short story collection, 43 children's books and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Betsy Byars's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Summer of the Swans.
- What is Betsy Byars's last book?
- Top Teen Stories (2004).
- What is Betsy Byars's most famous book?
- Summer of the Swans (1970) is Betsy Byars's most widely read book.
Authors like Betsy Byars
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.