The Pinballs by Betsy Byars || Book Review

I read this book in my last year of primary school.

It was recommended to me by my maths teacher (my memory now fails to remember her name) and back then I didn’t understand why she told me about the book. Now that I’ve reread it as an adult, I sort of have a better understanding of the book and the themes in it, and why the teacher thought it would be a good choice.

DISCLAIMER: This review could contain possible spoilers based on my opinions. All opinions and views are my own.

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Originally published: 1977

Pages: 156
Format: E-book

Plot from GoodReads:

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 Iives.

Thoughts:

This book is short but a powerful read. It has multiple themes that stretch over family, friendships and perspectives on life.

None of the children in the book have much in common except the fact that they are all in the same foster home. Each has their own backstory as well as different reasons for being there and each has a different approach to dealing with the circumstances.

This book has humorous moments, heartbreaking ones and some sweet ones to melt even the coldest of hearts.