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:

The Boy Who Lost His Face

Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Alfred A Knoft, Inc.
Year Published: 1989
Cost:$11.30
Other Bibliographic Information:
ISBN:0-679-88622-2
ISBN13:978-0-679-88622-8
Word Count:39,823
Reading Level:4
Interest Level:5-9

Plot Summary:
This book is about a boy named David tries to get in the cool group by helping his friend Scott, and two troublemakers named Roger and Randy (the former being the leader) carry out a prank. Their target was an elderly woman who was called a witch by all the kids in the neighborhood. When they attacked her and stole her cane David flicks her off to try to impress Roger. But when they leave the old lady cried out to David "Your Doppelgänger will regurgitate on your soul!" The following days David finds himself experiencing strange happenings that lead him to believe that he is cursed. Eventually, David begs the elderly woman to remove the curse, but she asks for her cane to be returned first. David finally decides to fight for his dignity, and, with his friends and little brother by his side, he goes to face Roger's gang and get the cane back, not suspecting that many things, including the curse, are not as they seem.

Issues for being Challenged:

A boy gives the middle finger to an old woman during an episode of peer pressure and bullying. This book can be challenged for obscene gestures, profanity, bullying, and the fact that the story revolves around "curses" / witchcraft/ occult.

Evaluation:
This book by Louis Saccar is an excellent example of realistic fiction. If you loved reading Holes then you will enjoy this book. The author does a fantastic job of describing the truths about growing up and doing what is right. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Boy Who Lost His Face. I think you will really enjoy this book. It is an intriguing book, that's mostly a look at peer pressure, but also considers friendship and responsibility.

Reader's Annotation:
Stealing a cane from a old lady to look cool in front of the "cool" kids... then cursed by the old lady. David's life gets complicated.

Author Website:http://www.louissachar.com/