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Blossom Family #4
A Blossom Promise
For the Blossom family it's the best day of their lives -- and the worst. Maggie, out west with her mother, is about to become the newest Blossom on the rodeo circuit. And now that the rain has finally stopped, Junior can at last visit his friend Mad Mary in her cave in the woods.
These two weeks of rain have been like an answer to a prayer for Vern and his friend Michael. Together they planned and built a perfect raft, and now, with everyone out watching the waters rise over the banks of the Snake River, they're sure their great voyage downstream will be witnessed with cheers.
Vern's grandfather, Pap, is watching the river and dreaming about his old days as a rodeo star. Suddenly he hears screams from the river and runs to the rescue. What will Pap find? How will the Blossom family pull together?
These two weeks of rain have been like an answer to a prayer for Vern and his friend Michael. Together they planned and built a perfect raft, and now, with everyone out watching the waters rise over the banks of the Snake River, they're sure their great voyage downstream will be witnessed with cheers.
Vern's grandfather, Pap, is watching the river and dreaming about his old days as a rodeo star. Suddenly he hears screams from the river and runs to the rescue. What will Pap find? How will the Blossom family pull together?
145 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Betsy Byars
140 books160 followersBetsy Byars was an American author of children's books. She wrote over sixty books for young people. Her first novel was published in 1962. Her novel Summer of the Swans won the 1971 Newbery Medal. She also received a National Book Award for Young People's Literature for The Night Swimmers and an Edgar Award for Wanted ... Mud Blossom!!
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
Daughters Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers are also writers.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 6, 2022
My kids really like these books! The characters are great and my kids are invested in them. The mom does some…interesting…things in this book and my kids were commenting on her parenting, which was quite illuminating to me! Ha ha! My kids beg to read these and as soon as we finish one they’re begging to start the next one.
December 20, 2016
It's almost like SF about aliens, or like a daytime talk show. I do not understand these people, but I am still fascinated by them.
June 4, 2017
These Blossom books are deceptive in their simplicity. Byars carefully spins several plot threads here and then draws them together in a genuinely moving and satisfying way.
July 2, 2017
Not a good stand alone read. character development was weak -hard to tell they are a family. With 4 different storylines, a little hard to keep them straight. didn't hold attention-plot also weak.
December 3, 2020
This one was my favorite, so far. It’s fun seeing the characters grow. This story had a lot of emotion and deeper topics that were interesting to discuss with my kids. Also, I just love Ralphie.
Want to Read
March 18, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13132395
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13132395
December 28, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
As the fourth Blossom adventure begins, the town of Alderson has been flooded by recent heavy rainstorms. Junior is excited that the sun is finally shining because Pap has promised to bring him to Mad Mary’s cave for an overnight visit. While he waits impatiently at home with his dog, Dump, Pap is off enjoying the water with his dog, Mud, and Vern and his best friend Michael are setting sail on a dangerous homemade raft. In the meantime, Maggie and her mother are riding in the rodeo, and Maggie is struggling to come to grips with her mother’s interest in a new man. When Vern gets himself into trouble, and Pap collapses running to his rescue, Junior is the only one available to save the day.
This book is probably the most action-oriented of the series. In the first three books, there are elements of danger and excitement, but in this story, there are real issues of life and death. Byars’s writing, though concise and relatively quick and easy to read, is filled with beautiful imagery. In my mind, the story passes by as a series of moments, each of which I can picture as clearly as if it were playing on a movie screen. I can see the creek swelling, the boys desperately paddling their raft, and Pap trying to swing his lasso and instead falling to the ground. I can picture the rodeo scenes, and empathize completely with Maggie’s excitement as she performs in her first true trick ride. I can even imagine Dump digging for frogs under the porch of the house, and Mud, crumpled on his side as he worries about the fate of his master. Byars is a wonderful storyteller, and the events of her books, and the emotions of her characters, have a tendency to stick with me indefinitely.
At the time of its publication, A Blossom Promise was the final book of the Blossoms series, and I think it provided a fitting conclusion for each character that would have left me perfectly satisfied. Several years after this book was published, however, Betsy Byars wrote a fifth book, Wanted… Mud Blossom, published in 1991, turning the series into a quintet.
As the fourth Blossom adventure begins, the town of Alderson has been flooded by recent heavy rainstorms. Junior is excited that the sun is finally shining because Pap has promised to bring him to Mad Mary’s cave for an overnight visit. While he waits impatiently at home with his dog, Dump, Pap is off enjoying the water with his dog, Mud, and Vern and his best friend Michael are setting sail on a dangerous homemade raft. In the meantime, Maggie and her mother are riding in the rodeo, and Maggie is struggling to come to grips with her mother’s interest in a new man. When Vern gets himself into trouble, and Pap collapses running to his rescue, Junior is the only one available to save the day.
This book is probably the most action-oriented of the series. In the first three books, there are elements of danger and excitement, but in this story, there are real issues of life and death. Byars’s writing, though concise and relatively quick and easy to read, is filled with beautiful imagery. In my mind, the story passes by as a series of moments, each of which I can picture as clearly as if it were playing on a movie screen. I can see the creek swelling, the boys desperately paddling their raft, and Pap trying to swing his lasso and instead falling to the ground. I can picture the rodeo scenes, and empathize completely with Maggie’s excitement as she performs in her first true trick ride. I can even imagine Dump digging for frogs under the porch of the house, and Mud, crumpled on his side as he worries about the fate of his master. Byars is a wonderful storyteller, and the events of her books, and the emotions of her characters, have a tendency to stick with me indefinitely.
At the time of its publication, A Blossom Promise was the final book of the Blossoms series, and I think it provided a fitting conclusion for each character that would have left me perfectly satisfied. Several years after this book was published, however, Betsy Byars wrote a fifth book, Wanted… Mud Blossom, published in 1991, turning the series into a quintet.
February 14, 2024
The Snake River is swollen with flood waters. For a week Vern and his friend, Michael, have collected boards swept along in the flood. They lash the boards together and make a raft. Soon after they launch the raft into the rain swollen river, they realize that they are in danger. Pap hears their screaming, grabs a long lariat and throws it over both boys. Just as he begins to tighten the loop, Pap suffers a heart attack. Junior, sitting on the front porch, sees Pap fall and sees the raft, with the boys still abroad, sail downstream. He becomes hysterical. Soon after, Mad Mary arrives, gets Pap to the hospital, and spends the night with Junior. Meanwhile, Vern and Michael find a tree across the river and hang on for dear life. They manage to crawl to shore. While all this excitement takes place at home, Vicki and Maggie Blossom are at a rodeo many miles from home. They are part of a stunt act called the Wrangler Riders. Pap's sudden attack brings them home. Vicki is forced to make some tough decisions about the family’s future.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
September 8, 2014
5 STARS
"For the Blossom family it's the best day of their lives -- and the worst. Maggie, out west with her mother, is about to become the newest Blossom on the rodeo circuit. And now that the rain has finally stopped, Junior can at last visit his friend Mad Mary in her cave in the woods.
These two weeks of rain have been like an answer to a prayer for Vern and his friend Michael. Together they planned and built a perfect raft, and now, with everyone out watching the waters rise over the banks of the Snake River, they're sure their great voyage downstream will be witnessed with cheers.
Vern's grandfather, Pap, is watching the river and dreaming about his old days as a rodeo star. Suddenly he hears screams from the river and runs to the rescue. What will Pap find? How will the Blossom family pull together?" (From Amazon)
My favourite of the the Blossom books. I loved the Blossom family as they were crazier than my own family. I still remember reading this series one summer outside on the deck. I would start reading after lunch and chores until it became too dark to read anymore.
"For the Blossom family it's the best day of their lives -- and the worst. Maggie, out west with her mother, is about to become the newest Blossom on the rodeo circuit. And now that the rain has finally stopped, Junior can at last visit his friend Mad Mary in her cave in the woods.
These two weeks of rain have been like an answer to a prayer for Vern and his friend Michael. Together they planned and built a perfect raft, and now, with everyone out watching the waters rise over the banks of the Snake River, they're sure their great voyage downstream will be witnessed with cheers.
Vern's grandfather, Pap, is watching the river and dreaming about his old days as a rodeo star. Suddenly he hears screams from the river and runs to the rescue. What will Pap find? How will the Blossom family pull together?" (From Amazon)
My favourite of the the Blossom books. I loved the Blossom family as they were crazier than my own family. I still remember reading this series one summer outside on the deck. I would start reading after lunch and chores until it became too dark to read anymore.
April 15, 2008
Another fine book in the Blossom series. The valley is suffering from flooding. Vern and his friend Michael decide to build a raft, with disasterous consequences. Vicki and Maggie Blossom are out on the rodeo circuit, when Maggie realizes her mom has a boyfriend. Maggie is NOT pleased. Pap is practicing up his roping skills in hopes of going back on the rodeo circuit for the summer. Little does he know his roping will be needed. Mud and Dump, the Blossom's dogs, have adventures of their own as usual, and Mad Mary, the hermit who lives in the woods, comes to the rescue of the whole family. Adventure and fun. This was supposed to be the fourth and final book in the Blossom series, but she ended up writing one more.
December 21, 2021
I read this book when I was put in a special reading class in Middle School, and this is the first book I read for that class. This book means so much to me, because this is where I found my hidden passion for reading from a very supportive teacher. I am forever thankful for my teacher and suggesting this book to me. This book holds a special place in my heart.
Read
October 5, 2007Byars, Betsy PB
Read
January 22, 2009JAR4-Bya
April 25, 2009
Junior's dog is bitten by a snake, Vern is caught on a raft in a flood, Maggie is upset that her mother has a new boyfriend and Pop has a heart attack in this fourth book about the Blossoms.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews