32. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

ISBN: 0-440-21906-X

Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, New York, 1993

216 p.

Plot Summary

In junior high, Eric Calhoun formed a friendship with Sarah Byrnes based largely on their identities as outcasts at school.  Eric’s weight and Sarah Byrnes’ scars bonded them together.  When Eric, nicknamed “Moby,” joined the swim team, he tried his best to eat even more to hold on to the fat that connected the two of them.  When Sarah Byrnes realized exactly what he was doing, he stopped overeating and instead made sure that she would never feel that he was leaving her, even as he started slimming down.  One day in class, Sarah Byrnes stops responding to anything and she is taken to the mental ward at Sacred Heart Hospital.  She barely moves around and never talks, instead staring out into space.  Scared about what is happening to her and beginning to question whether the burn scars on her face were really an accident, Eric is determined to figure out what caused Sarah Byrnes to suddenly go catatonic.  With the unlikely help of his old bully, Dale Thornton, Eric sets out to help his best friend when she needs him the most.

Critical Evaluation

Chris Crutcher’s Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a powerful novel that is nearly impossible to put down.  The narrative kept me glued to the pages as Eric tells his story of knowing Sarah Byrnes and details the extreme censorship that his teacher and swim coach, Ms. Lemry, faces in the class she developed, Contemporary American Thought.  The characters are all wonderfully written, including the villainous characters.  I particularly loved the depth given to two of the teen villains, Dale Thornton and Mark Brittain.  Although they both bully Eric—Dale by threatening violence unless he gives him his lunch money and Mark by enforcing his strict religious beliefs no matter what—both of the teens are revealed to have some emotional trigger that leads to their actions.  In both of their cases, they became the people they are because of the parents that raised them.  I appreciate that Crutcher does not blame the children for being who they are, but that is not to say that they are not held responsible for their actions.  However, the reader feels no sympathy for the adult villains.  With the censorship and restrictions on free thought enforced by Mr. Mautz and the physical and emotional violence of Virgil Byrnes, Crutcher has created two evil characters that are still so real that the reader cannot help but hate them just as much as Eric does.  Overall, the novel is certainly one that many teens will enjoy, including reluctant readers, and all of the characters, whether good or bad, will stick with them well past the final pages.

Reader's Annotation

Bonded together by their identities as outcasts, Eric and Sarah Byrnes have been friends since junior high.  When Sarah Byrnes is locked up in the mental ward, Eric’s fear that he may lose his friend forever drives him to figure out the reason behind it all.

Information About the Author

Chris Crutcher, 64, is the author of thirteen books -- ten novels, two short story collections and an autobiography.  Prior to his work as an author, he taught school in Washington and California and acted as director of an Oakland alternative school for nearly a decade.  That academic history coupled with 25 years as a child and family therapist specializing in abuse and neglect has infused his literary work with realism and emotional heft.  

His signature blend of tragedy and comedy has made him a favorite with teen and adult readers. He has been honored with dozens of awards and honors including the CLA's 2005 St. Katharine Drexel Award, Writer Magazine's 2004 Writers Who Make A Difference Award, the ALA's 2000 Margaret A. Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award, the NCTE's 1998 National Intellectual Freedom Award and the ALAN Award.  And he takes great pride in landing on the ALA Freedom to Read Foundation's top ten banned books and authors lists, whenever it happens.  (information from the author’s website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/biography.html)

Genre

Young Adult – Realistic

Curriculum Ties

English - Reading Comprehension and Literary Response and Analysis

Booktalking Ideas

1. Focus on the relationship between Eric and Sarah Byrnes.

2. Address the fear that Eric has of losing Sarah Byrnes’ friendship once he joins the swimming team.

3. Compare the adult role models the teens have at school, Ms. Lemry and Mr. Mautz.

4. Discuss the mystery surrounding Sarah Byrnes after she stops talking or responding.

Reading Level/Interest Age

14+

Challenge Issues

This novel has potential challenge issues because of the use profanity, discussions of abortion, and graphic descriptions of violence and child abuse.

When confronted with complaints about this novel, librarians should become familiar with the material and its content.  Turn to reviews from publications such as Publisher’s Weekly, School Library Journal, and Booklist, as well as reviews from teens that have read it.  Also, it is beneficial for librarians to present reasons backed by the ALA in support of intellectual freedom.  As stated in the Library Bill of Rights:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Why Include Book in Selection? 

Having enjoyed the other two books I read by Chris Crutcher for the project, I decided to include another one and this one has been mentioned many times in our readings for the class.