# The Cybil War

**Author:** Betsy Byars
**Grade range:** Grades 3–6
**Age range:** 8–11
**First published:** 1981
**Page count:** 128
**Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9781101142448`
**ISBN-10:** `0140344446`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-cybil-war
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Betsy Byars's 1981 story follows Simon, who has been in love with Cybil Ackerman since the second grade, and his so-called best friend Tony, an inventive liar whose schemes keep getting in the way. A funny, true-to-life look at fourth-grade friendships, jealousy, and figuring out who is worth trusting.

## Themes

- friendship
- humor
- growing up
- identity

## Where this book is assigned

### Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Oklahoma — [source: Oklahoma Library Association — Sequoyah Book Award, Children's (gr 3-5) + Intermediate (gr 6-8) divisions (student-choice; since 1959); winner roll 1959-2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoyah_Book_Award)

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