# The Pinballs

**Author:** Betsy Cromer Byars
**Grade range:** Grades 4–6
**Age range:** 9–11
**First published:** 1977
**Page count:** 137
**Genre:** Realistic Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780062239440`
**ISBN-10:** `0590324276`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/the-pinballs
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Themes

- foster home care
- friendship
- friendship in fiction
- foster home care in fiction

## Where this book is assigned

### California Young Reader Medal

- **recommended** · 3rd grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)
- **recommended** · 4th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · California — [source: California Young Reader Medal past winners, 1980 winner (Middle School/Junior High)](https://californiayoungreadermedal.org/s/CYRM-Winners-Complete-List-yhxf.pdf)

### Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Arkansas — [source: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.fortsmithlibrary.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/CharlieMaySimonWinners.2023-24.pdf)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Arkansas — [source: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.fortsmithlibrary.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/CharlieMaySimonWinners.2023-24.pdf)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Arkansas — [source: Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award — Arkansas's statewide children's-choice reading program (grades 4-6): students read the annual nominees and vote for their favorite. Winner list verified from the award's published record.](https://www.fortsmithlibrary.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/CharlieMaySimonWinners.2023-24.pdf)

### Mark Twain Readers Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Missouri — [source: Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) — Mark Twain Readers Award official previous-winners list — 1980 Mark Twain Award winner](https://web.archive.org/web/20250426145328/https://masl.site-ym.com/page/MT_previouswinnners)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Missouri — [source: Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) — Mark Twain Readers Award official previous-winners list — 1980 Mark Twain Award winner](https://web.archive.org/web/20250426145328/https://masl.site-ym.com/page/MT_previouswinnners)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Missouri — [source: Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) — Mark Twain Readers Award official previous-winners list — 1980 Mark Twain Award winner](https://web.archive.org/web/20250426145328/https://masl.site-ym.com/page/MT_previouswinnners)

### William Allen White Children's Book Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1980 winner (4-8)](https://wawchildrensbookaward.com/)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1980 winner (4-8)](https://wawchildrensbookaward.com/)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1980 winner (4-8)](https://wawchildrensbookaward.com/)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1980 winner (4-8)](https://wawchildrensbookaward.com/)
- **recommended** · 8th grade · Kansas — [source: William Allen White Children's Book Award (Emporia State University) — 1980 winner (4-8)](https://wawchildrensbookaward.com/)

### Wisconsin Golden Archer Award

- **recommended** · 4th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award complete list of winners 1974-present — 1981 Middle winner](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1afRCQWZ4zVhHDBLbP0bq0bDlAA6t7XUHjd8pVLfdsyg)
- **recommended** · 5th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award complete list of winners 1974-present — 1981 Middle winner](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1afRCQWZ4zVhHDBLbP0bq0bDlAA6t7XUHjd8pVLfdsyg)
- **recommended** · 6th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award complete list of winners 1974-present — 1981 Middle winner](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1afRCQWZ4zVhHDBLbP0bq0bDlAA6t7XUHjd8pVLfdsyg)
- **recommended** · 7th grade · Wisconsin — [source: Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association — Golden Archer Award complete list of winners 1974-present — 1981 Middle winner](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1afRCQWZ4zVhHDBLbP0bq0bDlAA6t7XUHjd8pVLfdsyg)

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_Generated from primary-source citations indexed on ReadingList.school. For the full HTML view with reading-list cross-references, see https://readinglist.school/book/the-pinballs._