The SOS File

by Betsy Byars, Laurie Myers, Betsy Duffey

Have you ever needed to call 9-1-1, but you couldn't get to a phone? Have you ever needed to run, but your legs were like spaghetti? Have you ever needed to yell "help!" but your throat was dry with fear? Laugh, cry, and panic with Mr. Magro's class as they listen to twelve exciting SOS tales Throughout the year, twelve of Mr. Magro's students have written about their biggest emergencies and tucked them into the SOS file. Now it's time to read the stories out loud and try to guess whose contribution has not earned extra credit. Sit back and enjoy twelve humorously illustrated stories that are sure to keep your heart thumping. The SOS File is a 2005 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Humor, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Short Stories, Juvenile, Middle Grade

80 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2004

About the author

Betsy 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.

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book can grab students from page one and hold their interest throughout, it’s a keeper. When said book can accomplish these feats in a read-aloud setting, well, it’s a book that you need to have on hand. “The SOS File” is just such a book. A collection of short stories that will no doubt be a read-aloud standby for upper elementary students.

“SOS” works like this. The first page shows a file folder with the following instructions:

Have you ever needed to call 9-1-1, but you couldn’t get to a phone? Have you ever needed to run, but your legs were like spaghetti? Have you ever needed to yell “help!” but your throat was dry with fear?

For fun and extra credit write your story and put it in this file.

The first chapter begins with the teacher, Mr. Magro, addressing the class. He explains that the SOS file is full and it’s time for students to read their stories. Mr. Magro even sets up some intrigue by mentioning that one SOS will not receive extra credit.

For the next twelve chapters, students present their stories. All are written in the first person, drawing the reader into the action. Some stories are exciting (”The Pink Panther” is about a go cart test gone awry), many are funny (”Three Strikes, You’re Out”, “Pumpkin Man”), and some are touching (”Miracle on Main Street”). All are written in a basic enough style to make the reader buy into the idea that they were written by kids. When Mr. Magro finally gets to the last story (it’s his own, about being held back a grade) the reader realizes who will not be receiving extra credit.

Each chapter is brief, clocking in at just a few pages. This structure is good for a couple reasons:

1. Stories never drag. Young readers who are easily turned off by plodding storylines will want to keep on reading.

2. Short chapters give provide options in a read-aloud setting. You don’t have a lot of time? Just read one chapter - it’s still an entire story in and of itself. Got more time? Read a couple - kids will be asking for you to keep going.

It’s a pleasure to share a book that has been so useful to me as a school librarian. Be sure to add this one to your collection. If you read it to your students, beware - you may not see it on the shelves again for a while. My highest recommendation.

[Faterider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light and easy read with a plethora of themes written from the perspectives of 11 students (and an anonymous contributor). But for me, most of these stories are like candy floss - fun but fleeting and forgettable. Still, I venture that this was worth a read because the tone of the story from the anonymous contributor set itself apart from the rest of the stories. It tugs at your heart strings by dwelling on a serious subject matter and lingers in your mind due to its illustration of grit. That, and the power of a teacher’s love.

[Allison Haehnel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable middle grade book with short stories about SOS events in Mr. Magros’ class. Resilience, persistence, and forgiveness can show elementary and younger JH kids that we all have problems or troubles but we have the opportunity to solve them and learn from them. Perfect for read-aloud or mentor text when writing.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Both funny and sentimental.

[KidsFiction Teton County Library]

J Short Chapter

The concept of this great book is that students of Mr. Magro's class have written extra credit "SOS" stories - stories of students' experiences that have made them feel like they needed to call 911, but didn't have a phone, or run when their legs felt like spaghetti. The result is a group of stories written from the perspective of different students about a variety of subjects. The stories include a funny go-cart adventure that went out of control, a surprise home run for a kid who feels too much pressure from his baseball fan dad, a kid who needs to pay $100 for the fund raising candy bars he ate all by himself, a wilderness bear encounter, a girl who was an abandoned baby sets out to meet the man who rescued her, a young girl's near drowning and her unlikely savior, and an anonymous story from someone with a learning disability who was held back in first grade.
The variety of stories will appeal to firls and boys with differing interests. Some of the stories are funny, others are adventurous, and still others are heart warming. This would be a great read for kids who have a hard time staying focused as the short chapters read quickly and the subjects of each story differ from each other.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mr. Magro offered his class the chance to get some extra credit. To earn these points, they simply had to write a short story about a time they had an SOS, or a life changing, moment. Each student's story is presented in this slim book for young readers. The stories vary (widely) from a boy who encountered a bear in the woods, to a girl who was adopted as an infant after a kind stranger rescued her from a dumpster outside a local motel. I mention that last story, because some of the themes are pretty heady here. Perhaps because I mostly read YA fiction- where mature themes are par for the course- I tend to forget that younger children live through this stuff as well. Overall this is a nice, fast read, with a touching ending. However, I can just see some parents having a certain reaction when Billy or Jane brings this home!

[Cat Bryson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute! This book is a collection of very short essays from Mr. Magro's class about times in their lives when they had SOS moments. I think this book would be useful for students who are struggling with reading because the stories are short and each one is like its own mini book. Students will be able to read a few stories at a time and feel an accomplishment. I think this would be good to use for a class activity where you could read the book to them and then ask them to write their own SOS stories.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This won a Monarch award. It's a great premise--each kid in the book tells a story about a time they were in "grave danger" and needed to call 911 but couldn't. Each chapter is unique and the kids' personalities really shine through with a light touch. My kids and I started reading it and we couldn't wait to go on to the next adventure. Definitely popcorn reading and a fantastic read aloud for K-3rd grades!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of short stories. In each, the narrator describes an emergency or crisis. Each tale is dramatic, and all are very different. The stories are engaging, and many prove to be cautionary (note: kids, do not try this at home!) Some are bound to bring a tear to your eye.

Overall, we really enjoyed reading this book of stories and I think this would be a fantastic book for a teacher to use in class, perhaps around grades 4-6.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan-Temur says "I liked everything. That it was funny and that it got my attention and it was interesting. I liked the story about swimming with sharks best."

It was a great read-aloud for my kindergartner. Each chapter tells the story of a different student and a time when they had an SOS situation. A wide range of characters and problems, along with short chapters, kept both my son and me entertained.

[Edward Creter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is from the Files of the SOS (Scribblers of Outlandish Stories). Your mission, should you choose to accept it: (SHOULD you choose to accept it? Up to you.) read these humorous mini-stories from three well-known kids' authors with kids who figure out problems for themselves and then decide for yourself how to take what info you've gleaned, and how to apply it to your own walk in life. Good luck. Meanwhile, I'm going to take a nap. This critic will self-destruct in five seconds!

[Catharine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this as a read aloud with third graders since I was looking for something that I could read a little of each class. The short story format worked out well for this purpose, but if I think if I were to use it again I would mark maybe half the stories that I thought were the best and connected with the age group and just read those.

[Jada · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I read it twice in 2nd and 3rd grade. Its simply a bunch of stories about when little kids did something stupid..... for instance, eating all the chocolate bars you were SUPPOSED to sell for school....its a silly book, but its pretty good.

[Daniel O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a um a um i wiil think about it.is about mr.margos class writing s.o.s. each chapter is a s.o.s there are pink panther,white lithning,wanted s.o.s,pumkin man and HELD BACK.only one person did not got extra credid find out in this relistic fiction chapter book.

[LouAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My students love the 12 stories in the SOS Files! Did you ever need to yell SOS? Let's see - my SOS -- my volkswagon on fire rolling down a hill in the middle of nowhere!!!! Oh-- and me chasing after it!

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could see reading this to second grade and have them write their own SOS story. I especially like the story about the person who was held back in 1st grade and the teacher (during the second time in 1st grade) was the SOS. Very inspiring stories.

[Ricardo L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book that is realistic fiction.The problem is thata bunch of people are in troubel.My squema is that I have bin in troubel.My question is why do theye say SOS all the time.I recommend this book to Melvin because he likes this book so much.

[Hillvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy chapter book. Short individual exciting stories about/supposed written by children. In one story a girl tells the story of her being left in a dumpster as an infant and her quest to locate the man who found her there. Gives rise to good conversation.

[Susanne Davison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional students write SOS (their biggest emergencies) essay's then share them with the class for extra credit. Clever! Great read for encouraging children in the writing process. A good read aloud with upper elementary age children.

[Carol Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read aloud for mid-elementary grades. Such a delight to see what constitutes an SOS in the lives of the fictional characters and real-life students. This is a yearly read for me to 3rd graders, and it doesn't seem to get too familiar or rote for me...and that's saying something.

[SoFtBaLlStAr101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really funny

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each student writes a SOS story.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have used this book several times as a mentor text for "emergency" stories my students can write. This is a great read aloud with each story showcasing one SOS in a child's life.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

too kidish for me...one of my bro's summer reading books.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

BOOKTALK: Have you ever needed to call 911, but you didn

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute book to use for read-alouds in the classroom and/or to teach writing.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that each chapter is a "contribution" by a different student in Mr. Magroo's 3rd grade class, providing the book with many voices and lots of perspectives.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Magro has his students write a short report about a personal emergency. Cute, quick read.

[Jen K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommened by third grader, Sydney...could be a great tie in for writing workshop.

[Carol Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and the style of each chapter being written by a different student makes is a quick read and a good pick for reluctant readers.