Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Author: Chris Crutcher
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Year Published: 1993
Cost:$12.99 (Hardcover)
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-06-009489-3
ISBN13:978-0-06-009489-8
Word Count:62,066
Reading Level:5.2
Interest Level:7-12


Plot summary:

In Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, Chris Crutcher focues on two of his main characters, Eric Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes. These two identified with each other and became friends for one simple reason: their teenage peers consider both physically reprehensible. Eric is obese, and Sarah's face and hands are extremely disfigured from severe childhood burns. Eric Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes have found solace and support with one another as best friends. Sarah Byrnes suddenly gone catatonic in a Spokane mental ward. The book uncovers this mystery by uncovering Sarah Byrnes's past.


Issues for Being Challenge: Some of the issues why this book have been banned or challenged in the past are issue of abortion, religion, references to masturbation, physical and emotional abuse, mild profanity, and an attempted suicide.


Evaluation:

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a book that confronts bullies and presents heroes who fight continuing battles. The characters are well rounded. The author, Chris Crutcher does an incredible job extracting the best of each character. I enjoyed seeing how each of the character interact with one another. I noticed that there themes of pain and retribution, love and abandonment, and the struggle to understand one's self. These themes are something that young and older readers will be able to relate with their own experiences. This book is so captivating because of the author's ability to show both the pain and the humor of being an outsider.

Reader’s annotation:

Crutcher has created not only a topnotch thriller, but a tender story of friendship and loyalty that transcends the "young adult" genre. He has written a book that defies the limits of age. It is a book that covers all the bases and speaks to strength of the human spirit, the heroics of the human heart.

Review Excerpts:

"[A] transcendent story of love, loyalty and courage...Superb plotting, extraordinary characters and crackling narrative make this novel one to be devoured in a single unforgettable sitting."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred

"...strong on relationships, long on plot, and has enough humor and suspense to make it an easy booktalk with appeal across gender lines."
~Booklist

"...A story about a friendship with staying power, written with pathos and pointed humor."
~School Library Journal

"Against a swimming backdrop Crutcher places the issues of shame, narrow-mindedness, and abuse. Once the story takes hold you move along at such a rapid clip that by the end you're holding on for dear life."
~Children's Literature

"Crutcher's teen-appealing style...keeps the colorfulness quotient high, and kids will appreciate the triumph of the underdog protagonists."
~Bulletin/Center for the Children's Book

"Once again, Chris Crutcher plunges his readers into life's tough issues within a compelling story filled with human compassion...handles difficult topics such as abuse, abortion, and religious rigidity with his characteristic intelligence, humor, and empathy."
~ALAN Review


Awards and Honors:

ALA Best Book for YA
SLJ Best Book for YA
American Booksellers Pick of the List
California Young Reader Medalist
1995 Joan Fassler Memorial Book Award
ALA Best of the Best Books for YA
Publisher's Weekly Starred Review
1994 South Dakota YARP Best Books
Nominee 1995-1996 Iowa Teen Award
Nominee 1995-1996 SC YA Book Award
Nominee 1996 Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 1996-1997 ILF Rosie


Author Website:http://www.chriscrutcher.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/

Book Trailer Clip from YouTube: