The Night Swimmers

After their mother dies in a plane crash, 12-year-old Retta assumes the parenting responsibilities for her younger brothers, Johnny and Roy, as their neglectful father, Shorty, works nights trying to make it as a country singer. While their father is at work, Retta sneaks her brothers to swim in their neighbor's pool. One night, while Retta is trailing Johnny and a friend, Roy almost drowns in the pool, but is rescued by their neighbor, who contacts Shorty, leading to a confrontation. The children learn that Shorty and Brendelie, Shorty's girlfriend, are going to get married, and Retta is relieved that she won't have to mother her siblings any longer.^[1]

The book won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in the hardcover fiction category in 1981,^[2][3] Byars' first win after having been a finalist in 1973 for The House of Wings.^[4] Kirkus Reviews called the book "a solidly realized story" and "acutely perceptive and crystal clear".^[5]