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Cracker Jackson
A backlist gem from a Newbery-winning author!
Cracker Jackson has a problem. A big, serious, adult problem. When he receives an anonymous note in the mail, he finds out that his old babysitter, Alma, is in danger. Cracker's the only one who can help her. But what can an eleven-year-old do in a situation that most adults couldn't cope with? Cracker will do anything to protect his beloved Alma. But the situation is already moving beyond his control...
An ALA Notable Book
Winner of the Parents' Choice Award
An IRA-CBC Children's Choice
Cracker Jackson has a problem. A big, serious, adult problem. When he receives an anonymous note in the mail, he finds out that his old babysitter, Alma, is in danger. Cracker's the only one who can help her. But what can an eleven-year-old do in a situation that most adults couldn't cope with? Cracker will do anything to protect his beloved Alma. But the situation is already moving beyond his control...
An ALA Notable Book
Winner of the Parents' Choice Award
An IRA-CBC Children's Choice
160 pages, Paperback
First published May 27, 1985
7 people are currently reading
166 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Byars
132 books157 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 31, 2023
Maybe more often than any other Newbery-winning author, Betsy Byars wrote superb books that didn't earn widespread acclaim like her famous ones. You might be familiar with The Summer of the Swans or The Pinballs, but how about The Cartoonist? The Computer Nut? The Seven Treasure Hunts? In that vein we find Cracker Jackson, a novel as emotionally affecting as any of Ms. Byars's greatest hits. Eleven-year-old Jackson Hunter is a born and bred North Carolina boy, and he's got a problem. He knows it's bad when an anonymous letter shows up, though the sender's identity is as obvious to him as if it were signed. "Keep away, Cracker, or he'll hurt you." That's the message from Alma, the only person who calls him Cracker. Alma is a young woman who babysat Jackson for years of his early childhood. She has a baby of her own now, six-month-old Nicole, and Jackson is worried for their safety living with their husband and father, Billy Ray. Jackson remembers when Billy Ray loved having him around the house and the attached garage where he fixes cars for a living, but lately Billy Ray gets angry if Jackson shows up. Alma's injuries don't go unnoticed, a black eye here or puffy lip there, but she tells Jackson these are accidents, not signs that Billy Ray is abusive. Alma adores Jackson as much as when she babysat him, but isn't sure he's safe with Billy Ray in his current state of mind. When Jackson rides his Day-Glo bike to her house after receiving the anonymous letter, she asks him not to come back. But even if he stays away, he can't help worrying.
Jackson would tell his mother what he suspects, but Alma begs him not to. She isn't financially secure like Jackson's mother, but hopes to emulate her career as a flight stewardess. Alma can't stand the thought of "Miz Hunter" thinking Alma is in a bad situation, so Jackson holds off on telling, uneasy as he is. He can't prove Billy Ray hurts Alma, but why else would she suffer so many black eyes, cuts, and bruises? Jackson's father, who divorced his mother three years ago and moved to Los Angeles, has called him on the telephone every Thursday evening since leaving, and now Jackson vents his fears about Alma to him. His father, a jokester who refused to be serious on so many occasions that it led to the divorce, sobers up at Jackson's story. He ignores his son's pleas to leave his mother out of it, and though nothing can be done without Alma's cooperation, Jackson's parents forbid him from going to see her as long as Billy Ray might pose a threat. Jackson feels worse; he not only betrayed Alma's confidence, but is more distant than ever from helping her.
Ralph "Goat" McMillan, Jackson's best friend, has a reputation for pulling zany tricks at school and home, often convincing Jackson to get in on the action, but he's just as ready to lend a hand should Jackson think up a plan to help Alma. When Jackson spots his former sitter in public with Nicole, Alma's face showing new injuries, he implores her to leave Billy Ray and seek help, but she's not ready to admit the problem is that big. Alma's relationship with Jackson is rich and complex, but so is her relationship to Billy Ray, as we learn from flashbacks interwoven with the narrative from start to finish. Alma used to fret that she might not end up with him; one day when she still babysat on a regular basis, she took Jackson with her to ask a palm reader if she and Billy Ray would someday marry. Alma invested a lot of emotional energy in her life with Billy Ray, and Jackson witnessed every leg of the journey. He knows what the man means to her, and remembers the decent person Billy Ray used to be. But is Alma safe in his home?
The instinct to embrace denial is powerful, and it takes a threat to more than just Alma for her to see that standing pat is no longer an option. When Nicole is jeopardized, Alma is ready to act, but where could she go to escape the violence? Will the police be persuaded by Billy Ray's quiet earnestness and send Alma and the baby back to live with him? There's a shelter for battered women in Avondale, but that's at least half an hour away by car; Alma doesn't know how to drive and won't tell anyone but Jackson about the abuse she has suffered. Well...who says an eleven-year-old can't drive his mother's Cutlass Supreme into town? The police do, of course, but Jackson has been willing to do anything for Alma his entire life, and he's not stopping now. Conspiring with Goat, who never shies from trying something outrageous, Jackson drives up to the meeting spot to pick up Alma and Nicole en route to the women's shelter. The twenty-three mile ride is a game of hide-and-seek on the open road from police. Is Alma's nightmare almost at an end...or is one last horror of abuse, more extreme than any that preceded it, necessary to create the permanent change Jackson has wished for since Alma's first black eye?
I love this book, but it may be impossible to show why in a review. The story's emotions are almost infinitely nuanced, a flawless re-creation of real life. It takes only a few pages to sense Jackson's special bond with Alma. His mother dislikes nicknames and won't tolerate any being used for Jackson, but years ago Alma took to calling him "Cracker". She once explained why to Jackson's mother. "It's just a pet name. I call him that because, to me, he's like a box of Cracker Jack—real sweet with a surprise inside, like, you know, in a box of Cracker Jack you always get a little prize or a toy or a decal you can paste on yourself? Well, that's what he reminds me of—real sweet, but always coming up with a surprise..." That description perfectly captures Jackson, a kid you want to get to know and love. He's as sweet and surprising as Alma recognized from his early childhood, and we see it time and again in this book. But why does Jackson feel such allegiance to Alma? It crystalizes in one flashback moment, when Alma burst out of the palm reader's sanctuary to pick Jackson up and swing him around in a hug. Sister Rose had just foretold that Alma would marry Billy Ray, and the purity of Alma's joy is magical to Jackson. "(Her) face shone with enough glow to brighten the whole room. He had not known it was possible for a person to be that happy. He never had been. His mother never had been. Not even his carefree father. Jackson felt he had been let in on one of the best-kept secrets of the adult world—total, complete happiness. For the first time in his life, he was willing to be big." Jackson has no misguided perception of Alma as perfect, but she's sacred to him, and it's difficult to discern whether that says more about him or her, as is often the case in real life. The story of their uncommon connection fills the reader's heart as few novels do.
If Cracker Jackson isn't Betsy Byars's finest book, it's up there with the top two or three. Her subtle emotional profundity is at its peak, and I'm lucky to have participated in the reading experience. Every relationship in the book is unique, interesting, and fully developed, and I find myself reflecting on how much it all means to me. If asked why I consider Betsy Byars a Newbery-worthy author, I'd point to Cracker Jackson even before The Summer of the Swans, and that's saying a lot. I rate this book three and a half stars, and could hardly be closer to rounding to four. If you're a Betsy Byars fan, I urge you not to overlook Cracker Jackson while enjoying her extensive library of juvenile titles. It's a novel to be celebrated.
Jackson would tell his mother what he suspects, but Alma begs him not to. She isn't financially secure like Jackson's mother, but hopes to emulate her career as a flight stewardess. Alma can't stand the thought of "Miz Hunter" thinking Alma is in a bad situation, so Jackson holds off on telling, uneasy as he is. He can't prove Billy Ray hurts Alma, but why else would she suffer so many black eyes, cuts, and bruises? Jackson's father, who divorced his mother three years ago and moved to Los Angeles, has called him on the telephone every Thursday evening since leaving, and now Jackson vents his fears about Alma to him. His father, a jokester who refused to be serious on so many occasions that it led to the divorce, sobers up at Jackson's story. He ignores his son's pleas to leave his mother out of it, and though nothing can be done without Alma's cooperation, Jackson's parents forbid him from going to see her as long as Billy Ray might pose a threat. Jackson feels worse; he not only betrayed Alma's confidence, but is more distant than ever from helping her.
Ralph "Goat" McMillan, Jackson's best friend, has a reputation for pulling zany tricks at school and home, often convincing Jackson to get in on the action, but he's just as ready to lend a hand should Jackson think up a plan to help Alma. When Jackson spots his former sitter in public with Nicole, Alma's face showing new injuries, he implores her to leave Billy Ray and seek help, but she's not ready to admit the problem is that big. Alma's relationship with Jackson is rich and complex, but so is her relationship to Billy Ray, as we learn from flashbacks interwoven with the narrative from start to finish. Alma used to fret that she might not end up with him; one day when she still babysat on a regular basis, she took Jackson with her to ask a palm reader if she and Billy Ray would someday marry. Alma invested a lot of emotional energy in her life with Billy Ray, and Jackson witnessed every leg of the journey. He knows what the man means to her, and remembers the decent person Billy Ray used to be. But is Alma safe in his home?
The instinct to embrace denial is powerful, and it takes a threat to more than just Alma for her to see that standing pat is no longer an option. When Nicole is jeopardized, Alma is ready to act, but where could she go to escape the violence? Will the police be persuaded by Billy Ray's quiet earnestness and send Alma and the baby back to live with him? There's a shelter for battered women in Avondale, but that's at least half an hour away by car; Alma doesn't know how to drive and won't tell anyone but Jackson about the abuse she has suffered. Well...who says an eleven-year-old can't drive his mother's Cutlass Supreme into town? The police do, of course, but Jackson has been willing to do anything for Alma his entire life, and he's not stopping now. Conspiring with Goat, who never shies from trying something outrageous, Jackson drives up to the meeting spot to pick up Alma and Nicole en route to the women's shelter. The twenty-three mile ride is a game of hide-and-seek on the open road from police. Is Alma's nightmare almost at an end...or is one last horror of abuse, more extreme than any that preceded it, necessary to create the permanent change Jackson has wished for since Alma's first black eye?
I love this book, but it may be impossible to show why in a review. The story's emotions are almost infinitely nuanced, a flawless re-creation of real life. It takes only a few pages to sense Jackson's special bond with Alma. His mother dislikes nicknames and won't tolerate any being used for Jackson, but years ago Alma took to calling him "Cracker". She once explained why to Jackson's mother. "It's just a pet name. I call him that because, to me, he's like a box of Cracker Jack—real sweet with a surprise inside, like, you know, in a box of Cracker Jack you always get a little prize or a toy or a decal you can paste on yourself? Well, that's what he reminds me of—real sweet, but always coming up with a surprise..." That description perfectly captures Jackson, a kid you want to get to know and love. He's as sweet and surprising as Alma recognized from his early childhood, and we see it time and again in this book. But why does Jackson feel such allegiance to Alma? It crystalizes in one flashback moment, when Alma burst out of the palm reader's sanctuary to pick Jackson up and swing him around in a hug. Sister Rose had just foretold that Alma would marry Billy Ray, and the purity of Alma's joy is magical to Jackson. "(Her) face shone with enough glow to brighten the whole room. He had not known it was possible for a person to be that happy. He never had been. His mother never had been. Not even his carefree father. Jackson felt he had been let in on one of the best-kept secrets of the adult world—total, complete happiness. For the first time in his life, he was willing to be big." Jackson has no misguided perception of Alma as perfect, but she's sacred to him, and it's difficult to discern whether that says more about him or her, as is often the case in real life. The story of their uncommon connection fills the reader's heart as few novels do.
If Cracker Jackson isn't Betsy Byars's finest book, it's up there with the top two or three. Her subtle emotional profundity is at its peak, and I'm lucky to have participated in the reading experience. Every relationship in the book is unique, interesting, and fully developed, and I find myself reflecting on how much it all means to me. If asked why I consider Betsy Byars a Newbery-worthy author, I'd point to Cracker Jackson even before The Summer of the Swans, and that's saying a lot. I rate this book three and a half stars, and could hardly be closer to rounding to four. If you're a Betsy Byars fan, I urge you not to overlook Cracker Jackson while enjoying her extensive library of juvenile titles. It's a novel to be celebrated.
May 12, 2013
I love how Betsy Byars is able to tackle such a serious issue and still make this book so funny. Eleven year old Jackson is trying to protect his babysitter from her husband who is abusing her. But the gold here is in the pranks that he pulls with his friend Goat. The two steal Jackson's mother's car in an attempt to drive Alma (the babysitter) 30 miles out of a town to a home for abused wives and children. The results are both hilarious and heartbreaking.
This is an excellent example of realistic fiction for children which does not shy away from the dark realities of life. I am thankful that Byars uses humor to make such subjects more accessible.
Highly recommended!
This is an excellent example of realistic fiction for children which does not shy away from the dark realities of life. I am thankful that Byars uses humor to make such subjects more accessible.
Highly recommended!
August 22, 2017
I loved this book. It made me cry because I'd never really considered that not all homes and people were what they appeared.
Despite the emotional stuff, it was so good
I remember calling my aunt in America to ask her to send me a picture of a Cutlass Supreme because we didn't have them here and the library had frustratingly few books with pictures of American Marques and models unless they were famous names like Mustang or Cadillac. Obviously the WWW and Google were still the twinkle in eyes of tech geeks lol
The theme is quite disturbing, but handled in a way that is appropriate for the reader age. I think it would still be a good read for modern ten year olds, who can Google cutlasses and other stuff. I know my sons enjoyed it, aside from the lack of technology, it doesn't seem too dated.
Despite the emotional stuff, it was so good
I remember calling my aunt in America to ask her to send me a picture of a Cutlass Supreme because we didn't have them here and the library had frustratingly few books with pictures of American Marques and models unless they were famous names like Mustang or Cadillac. Obviously the WWW and Google were still the twinkle in eyes of tech geeks lol
The theme is quite disturbing, but handled in a way that is appropriate for the reader age. I think it would still be a good read for modern ten year olds, who can Google cutlasses and other stuff. I know my sons enjoyed it, aside from the lack of technology, it doesn't seem too dated.
July 19, 2022
It's always interesting to see how chapter books change over the decades.
It was SO useful when I was a kid to read any kind of story that had abuse in it--if someone is growing up in an abusive environment, they don't know it until, for example, they read other people's reactions to it in a book.
While a serious book, there are lighthearted parts and details in it that keep the story from getting weighed down.
It was SO useful when I was a kid to read any kind of story that had abuse in it--if someone is growing up in an abusive environment, they don't know it until, for example, they read other people's reactions to it in a book.
While a serious book, there are lighthearted parts and details in it that keep the story from getting weighed down.
November 7, 2022
Had to read it in middle school
December 30, 2023
Cracker Jackson was one of my favorite books to read aloud to my fourth grade class. It's won so many awards.
December 27, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
Jackson cares a lot about his former babysitter, Alma. This is why he worries so much about her abusive husband, who uses Alma and their baby daughter, Nicole, as physical and emotional punching bags. Though the adults in his life tell him to stay out of it, Jackson can’t help but feel that it is somehow his responsibility to step in and save Alma before her husband does irreparable damage.
This book contains sophisticated subject matter, but it is handled remarkably well, and always in age appropriate terms. Byars strikes the right balance between the seriousness of Alma’s dangerous situation and the humor that boys in the target age range most appreciate. Byars portrays Alma as young, immature, and lost, so that the reader easily sympathizes with her, and she keeps the abusive husband mostly on the sidelines, keeping the threat of violence pretty far removed from her main character. She introduces humor by involving Jackson’s best friend, Goat, and sending the boys and Alma on an ill-fated road trip where the two boys take turns driving.
Byars also strikes just the right balance between the story’s overall message and Jackson’s personal beliefs. Though Jackson always believes he should play the role of hero, the worldview of the story does not reflect this mistaken impression. Rather, Byars makes it possible for the reader to empathize completely with Jackson’s desire to help Alma, but she also makes sure they realize that saving Alma ultimately requires adult intervention.
Jackson is a sincere and believable character to whom most pre-adolescent boys are likely to relate. Cracker Jackson is every bit as well-written as any of the books in the Blossoms series, and readers who enjoyed the high-stakes scenarios in those books will be pleased to find another complicated and realistic story in this book. If this book were published today, it is likely that it would be a dark YA novel with nothing held back. I’m pleased that this book manages to tackle a serious subject without succumbing to darkness, and I wish there were more middle grade novels like it!
Jackson cares a lot about his former babysitter, Alma. This is why he worries so much about her abusive husband, who uses Alma and their baby daughter, Nicole, as physical and emotional punching bags. Though the adults in his life tell him to stay out of it, Jackson can’t help but feel that it is somehow his responsibility to step in and save Alma before her husband does irreparable damage.
This book contains sophisticated subject matter, but it is handled remarkably well, and always in age appropriate terms. Byars strikes the right balance between the seriousness of Alma’s dangerous situation and the humor that boys in the target age range most appreciate. Byars portrays Alma as young, immature, and lost, so that the reader easily sympathizes with her, and she keeps the abusive husband mostly on the sidelines, keeping the threat of violence pretty far removed from her main character. She introduces humor by involving Jackson’s best friend, Goat, and sending the boys and Alma on an ill-fated road trip where the two boys take turns driving.
Byars also strikes just the right balance between the story’s overall message and Jackson’s personal beliefs. Though Jackson always believes he should play the role of hero, the worldview of the story does not reflect this mistaken impression. Rather, Byars makes it possible for the reader to empathize completely with Jackson’s desire to help Alma, but she also makes sure they realize that saving Alma ultimately requires adult intervention.
Jackson is a sincere and believable character to whom most pre-adolescent boys are likely to relate. Cracker Jackson is every bit as well-written as any of the books in the Blossoms series, and readers who enjoyed the high-stakes scenarios in those books will be pleased to find another complicated and realistic story in this book. If this book were published today, it is likely that it would be a dark YA novel with nothing held back. I’m pleased that this book manages to tackle a serious subject without succumbing to darkness, and I wish there were more middle grade novels like it!
June 19, 2012
THE THING THAT I THINK IS THAT JACKSON IS SO WORRY ABOUT HIS OLD BABYSITTER ALMA BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS BEATING HER UP AND HE TRYING GET HER FROM HIM.HE DOES EVERYTHING TO SAVE HER AND HE TRY TO DRIVE HER TO AVONDALE BUT IT FAIL AND HE TOLD HIS FATHER THAT HER HUSBAND IS BEATING HER UP AND ONE DAY JACKSON MOM CALLED ALMA AND TOLD HER TO COME OVER ANDHE HEARED HER SA SHE WAS GOING TO COME AND HE CAME AND HIT HER WITH A WREACH AND SHE HAD TO GO TO THR HOSPITAL AND SHE DROP HER BABY AND SHE LOST HER TWO TOOTH AND HER HUSBAND WAS PUT IN JAIL FOR HITTING HER AND AFTER SHE WAS WELL JACKSON FAMILY DROVE HER TO AVONDALE AND SHE WAS LIVING HAPPY AND SHE HAVE A JOD AND SHE AND HER BABY NICOLE GET TO SEE OTHER BABIES AND SHE REALLY MISS JACKSON SO MUCH.I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH BECAUSE IT SO GOOD.
December 11, 2012
This was my first Betsy Byars book and I was impressed. Although somewhat predictable at times, the story did a wonderful job of showcasing conflicting pre-adolescent concerns and the community toll of family abuse. I enjoyed the way Mrs. Byars shaped Alma's character without overt details leaving the reader with the portrait of a naive and struggling person who has a wonderfully kind nature while not being patronizing.
December 20, 2015
This book takes a riveting look at a very serious topic: domestic violence. The book opens with Jackson receiving a note from a former babysitter, Alma, warning him to stay away. Jackson is convinced that her husband, Billy Ray, is hitting her. Jackson is only eleven, but he's facing a grown-up problem and he doesn't know to whom he should turn for help. The book is very suspenseful and compelling.
July 5, 2008
This was required reading in a children's lit course that I took back in 1990. It involved the unusual topic of wife beating, which I didn't expect to find in a novel at that time. The story was ok, but I wouldn't have chosen it as required reading.
March 23, 2010
After Jackson's parents divorced, his mom hired Alma to babysit him. Alma nicked named him "Cracker". Unfortunately, Alma marries a man that hits her. Can Jackson convince her to leave him before it's too late?
December 12, 2015
This book is full of adventure! Parts of it are sad and some are happy. It is like a roller coster of emotions! I highly recommend this book to everyone!!! You won't want to stop reading it!! (If you want more information you can click on the book and read what it is about.)
January 4, 2016
I just thought of this book, which I read several times as a child. Two things which I remember vividly: 1. Cracker being asked to play the erasers because they don't make noise, and 2. Cracker's perpetually running nose. U get it, buddy.
Read
August 27, 2007Byars, Betsy
May 9, 2008
This book makes very little sense. Doesn't appear to be well thought out at all and very skimpy on details. Awesome title though.
December 29, 2009
An enduring book from my youth; I remember a teacher reading this aloud to us in class. A very interesting story, captivating for early teens.
Read
April 25, 201211 yr Cracker knows his former babysitter Alma is being beaten by her husban. What about baby Nicole? Cracker tries to be Alma's friend & not tell.
September 14, 2012
I first read this is the 4th grade and still have my original copy. I read it twice a year. I've broken the back more times than I'd like to admit. I love this book.
May 3, 2013
This book is a great book for kids a bit younger than me so i would love to put this on a must read shelf because the story is filled with things that maybe you would of not thought of to do
December 28, 2013
Good book. Betsy Byars does a nice job. The main character tries to help a friend deal with physical abuse.
August 23, 2014
This was a really good story. I liked how the book showed how abuse can happen to anyone.
August 20, 2019
emotionally powerful (made my little brother & me cry)
March 7, 2007
I really like this book because it is so much fun to read books that you understand
October 7, 2008
A boy who receives a anonymous letter, that is threating.
October 7, 2011
My sixth grade teacher read this to the class and I was enthralled haha!
February 5, 2014
Read this book in 5th grade. Changed my life.
August 3, 2017
Mrs. Tate read this book to our 4th grade class. I certainly remembered the title. I remembered liking it, but upon rereading, I hadn't remembered much else. Cracker Jackson is pretty heavy for its intended audience. 30 years later, the story still works. I even cried at the end.
Reflecting on Mrs. Tate's class gets me thinking. That year I had a couple "girlfriends". One of them was named Melissa. Melissa was gorgeous, but because she was a head taller than everyone else (two heads taller than your boy), she wasn’t popular. I'll bet right now she's somewhere being gorgeous, telling her gorgeous friends her ugly duckling stories, and laughing at the irony. Well Melissa, I saw it first!
Reflecting on Mrs. Tate's class gets me thinking. That year I had a couple "girlfriends". One of them was named Melissa. Melissa was gorgeous, but because she was a head taller than everyone else (two heads taller than your boy), she wasn’t popular. I'll bet right now she's somewhere being gorgeous, telling her gorgeous friends her ugly duckling stories, and laughing at the irony. Well Melissa, I saw it first!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews