Cracker Jackson by Betsy Byars
"Cracker Jackson" by Betsy Byars is a poignant children's novel that addresses the serious issue of domestic violence through the experiences of a young boy named Cracker. The narrative intertwines humor with the grim realities faced by Cracker and his friend Goat, offering readers insight into the complexities of familial relationships and the impact of abuse. The story begins with a chilling letter warning Cracker to stay away from his former babysitter, Alma, who is trapped in an abusive relationship with her husband, Billy Ray. As Cracker becomes aware of Alma's situation, he struggles to convince the adults around him of the danger she faces, leading him to take matters into his own hands by enlisting Goat to help.
Throughout the book, Byars captures the emotional turmoil experienced by both the victims of abuse and their young observers. The setting is intentionally vague, allowing the story to resonate universally. Despite the heavy themes, Byars' approach is compassionate and relatable, making it accessible for middle-school readers. The novel ultimately tackles themes of courage, empathy, and the quest for help in dire situations, concluding with a hopeful message of recovery and support. Byars is known for her realistic portrayal of children's struggles, and "Cracker Jackson" is a notable example of her commitment to addressing difficult topics authentically.
Subject Terms
Cracker Jackson by Betsy Byars
First published: 1985
Subjects: Coming-of-age, family, friendship, and social issues
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Social realism
Time of work: The 1980’s
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: The Midwestern United States
Principal Characters:
“Cracker” Jackson Hunter , a sensitive and serious boy who lives with his divorced motherRalph “Goat” McMillan , Cracker’s mischievous best friendAlma Alton , Cracker’s naïve and vulnerable former babysitterBilly Ray Alton , Alma’s abusive husbandKay Hunter , Cracker’s overprotective motherMr. Hunter , Cracker’s father, who is divorced from his mother
Form and Content
Cracker Jackson provides an accurate portrayal of domestic violence and its effects not only on the victims themselves but also on all those who are exposed to it. Betsy Byars combines this grim subject with a compassionate and humorous portrayal of the simpler problems that Cracker and his trouble-making friend, Goat, face in their everyday lives. This mixture of humor and grim reality allows young readers to gain an insight into a serious social issue. The setting is deliberately vague, since the story could, and does, occur throughout the United States.
As the story opens, Cracker’s pleasure at receiving a letter in the mail quickly vanishes when he reads the anonymous message, “Keep away, Cracker, or he’ll kill you.” He immediately realizes that the letter is from his former babysitter, Alma, the only person who ever called him Cracker. Worried about Alma, he visits her while her husband, Billy Ray, is out. When Cracker mentions her bruises, Alma covers up with many excuses, denying that Billy Ray has ever hurt her. Her excessive fear when Billy Ray suddenly returns and her comment that he has inherited his father’s bad temper contradict this claim.
Realizing that Alma’s situation is very serious, Cracker tries to convince his parents that Billy Ray is abusing Alma, but they warn him not to interfere. Unable to find adult assistance, he enlists the aid of Goat to keep an eye on Alma. Goat visits Alma’s house pretending to collect for UNICEF and reports that she looks terrible, with bruises and marks on her face. Cracker’s mother, however, who sees Alma a while later, continues to insist that everything is fine. In fact, she reports that Alma is glowing.
One morning, Alma calls Cracker in tears, admitting that Billy Ray often hits her. She has been driven to seek help this time, however, because he also hit their baby, Nicole. She is afraid to turn to anyone except Cracker. Cracker concocts a plan to borrow his mother’s car so that he can drive Alma to Avondale, a town twenty-six miles away that has a shelter for battered women. With much difficulty and the help of some pillows, he and Goat manage to pick up Alma and find the road to Avondale. Unfortunately, when they are about halfway there, Alma reconsiders, deciding that she should go back to Billy Ray. Both Goat and Cracker try to stop her, but she insists. Cracker manages to make it home without damaging the car. The incident affects him deeply: He believes that this aborted heroic act has turned him into a failure.
At Cracker’s insistence, his mother makes an appointment for Alma to visit her, insisting that Cracker leave the house while they talk. Cracker, spying from a distance to see if Alma seems all right, becomes increasingly upset when she does not appear, since she has always been punctual. Suddenly, his mother rushes out of the house, driving away quickly. Convinced that something is wrong, Cracker races to Alma’s house. When he gets there, the house is a shambles. A neighbor informs him that Alma and Nicole have been taken to the hospital.
Alma has broken ribs, while Nicole has a concussion. Alma finally makes the decision to go to the shelter in Avondale. When Cracker’s father returns home for a weekend, the family drives Alma to Avondale. The story ends as it begins, with a letter from Alma. She tells him that she has a job and is feeling a little better. It closes, “I love you, Alma.”
Critical Context
Betsy Byars consistently writes popular, realistic novels for middle-school readers. Her books have won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal for The Summer of the Swans (1971). Many of her novels deal realistically and uncompromisingly with problems caused by the fragmented modern family, disrupted because of death, neglect, divorce, or abandonment. Although her characters are forced at times to cope with a difficult, or even insoluble, situation, Byars does not resort to formulaic happy endings. In The Night Swimmers (1980), a young girl struggles to care for her two younger brothers after their mother’s death. The Pinballs (1977) deals with child abuse. The Summer of the Swans describes coping with a retarded sibling. The Not Just Anybody Family (1986) is the first of a series of novels featuring the trials of a family living on the edge of poverty. Byars never compromises the integrity of her story by making reality more pleasant; instead, she uses humor, sympathetic characters, and convincing dialogue to explore the changing roles of children in society.