Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes
by Chris Crutcher
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Description
The daily class discussions about the nature of man, the existence of God, abortion, organized religion, suicide and other contemporary issues serve as a backdrop for a high-school senior's attempt to answer a friend's dramatic cry for help.Tags
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Joybee Also about many very controversial topics brought up in a humorous story. A 'mature' book
Member Reviews
I was intrigued by the concept of this book when it was presented to me: fat boy and deformed girl have been friends since childhood, united by their outsider status. What happens to the friendship when fat boy slims down and starts to get popular?
But that wasn't what this book was about at all. The formerly fat boy never really considers abandoning his friend, so instead the conflict revolves around a fairly ludicrous and melodramatic storyline involving horrific child abuse, catatonia, cross-country pursuit, and a knife-wielding villain lurking in dark shadows. I guess I can see why kids would be grabbed by that kind of drama, but it all seemed a little silly and far-fetched to me, frequently depending on HUGE coincidences.
Another show more thing that bothered me is the degree to which adults ultimately solved all the problems in the book. It's supposed to be a coming of age novel, about teenagers making their first forays into adulthood, but it seemed like in the end, all the characters were infantilizined by the adults swooping in to the rescue.
And finally, I was disturbed by the way that every Christian in the book (except the sainted Episcopalians) was portrayed as an amoral hypocrite. Laying it on a bit thick, perhaps? show less
But that wasn't what this book was about at all. The formerly fat boy never really considers abandoning his friend, so instead the conflict revolves around a fairly ludicrous and melodramatic storyline involving horrific child abuse, catatonia, cross-country pursuit, and a knife-wielding villain lurking in dark shadows. I guess I can see why kids would be grabbed by that kind of drama, but it all seemed a little silly and far-fetched to me, frequently depending on HUGE coincidences.
Another show more thing that bothered me is the degree to which adults ultimately solved all the problems in the book. It's supposed to be a coming of age novel, about teenagers making their first forays into adulthood, but it seemed like in the end, all the characters were infantilizined by the adults swooping in to the rescue.
And finally, I was disturbed by the way that every Christian in the book (except the sainted Episcopalians) was portrayed as an amoral hypocrite. Laying it on a bit thick, perhaps? show less
Eric's only friend in middle school was Sarah Byrnes, a girl with an acerbic sense of humor and severe burns on her face and hands. She and Eric, the fattest boy in school, made up a sort of club of rejects, banding together to use their wits against their tormentors. Now, in high school, Eric has discovered swimming and has made at least one other friend, but Sarah Byrnes is still one of the most important people in his life. And she's in a mental hospital, in a catatonic state. Eric visits her regularly, wondering all the time: what happened to make her check out like this? Is there any way he can help her find her way back?
I thought I had read this as a teenager, but if I did, a whole lot of it went right over my head! I suspect that show more I remember seeing the title on the library shelves, but that I never checked it out. I have such mixed feelings about this title. First off, parts of it are extremely dated. I can't really hold that against the book; in its time, I'm sure they added a lot. It's just that teens now are going to struggle with that aspect and miss out on a lot of the humor. Other parts, including some of the class discussions from Eric's Critical American Thought class, are starkly relevant. Certain plot elements are extremely predictable, like the Inspirational Teacher vs. Uptight Administration storyline, and the way Jody's story plays out (I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers) -- again, they might have seemed fresher in 1993. All of the adult antagonists are pretty one-dimensional, though a kid bully gets some more nuance. All in all, I can see this book being taught in a YA literature course, as it's a strong example of a 1990s realistic teen novel, but I'm not sure I'd hand it to teens today, at least not without some additional context. show less
I thought I had read this as a teenager, but if I did, a whole lot of it went right over my head! I suspect that show more I remember seeing the title on the library shelves, but that I never checked it out. I have such mixed feelings about this title. First off, parts of it are extremely dated. I can't really hold that against the book; in its time, I'm sure they added a lot. It's just that teens now are going to struggle with that aspect and miss out on a lot of the humor. Other parts, including some of the class discussions from Eric's Critical American Thought class, are starkly relevant. Certain plot elements are extremely predictable, like the Inspirational Teacher vs. Uptight Administration storyline, and the way Jody's story plays out (I'm being intentionally vague to avoid spoilers) -- again, they might have seemed fresher in 1993. All of the adult antagonists are pretty one-dimensional, though a kid bully gets some more nuance. All in all, I can see this book being taught in a YA literature course, as it's a strong example of a 1990s realistic teen novel, but I'm not sure I'd hand it to teens today, at least not without some additional context. show less
CATEGORY: Required
Moby is a fat kid turned slightly less fat kid. Middle school was rough for him, but he had Sarah Byrnes to get him through it. Sarah Byrnes is a burn victim. She's witty, harsh, and will stop at nothing to get revenge on the popular crowd. But when Sarah and Moby get to high school and Moby starts swimming, they drift apart. Sarah resents Moby's move to the popular crowd and his slight weightloss, losing his physical "loser" marker. But now Sarah is in the hospital after a mental breakdown and she isn't speaking. Moby goes and talks to her everyday, and finds out more about Sarah's traumatic past. Suddenly, everything becomes clear in Moby's life and part of that is because of Lemry's Contemporary American Thought show more class. Abortion, child abuse, Christianity, and suicide attempts are all in play in Chris Crutcher's phenomenally deep YA book.
I loved this book so much. I loved the Christian criticism, the adult topics in high school, and the greatest depictions of friendship I've seen in a YA book. I think that, although this book is fairly controversial, it would be a great fit for a large number of high school students. Crutcher promotes critical and deep thinking about things a large number of teenagers have just accepted as fact, religion included. show less
Moby is a fat kid turned slightly less fat kid. Middle school was rough for him, but he had Sarah Byrnes to get him through it. Sarah Byrnes is a burn victim. She's witty, harsh, and will stop at nothing to get revenge on the popular crowd. But when Sarah and Moby get to high school and Moby starts swimming, they drift apart. Sarah resents Moby's move to the popular crowd and his slight weightloss, losing his physical "loser" marker. But now Sarah is in the hospital after a mental breakdown and she isn't speaking. Moby goes and talks to her everyday, and finds out more about Sarah's traumatic past. Suddenly, everything becomes clear in Moby's life and part of that is because of Lemry's Contemporary American Thought show more class. Abortion, child abuse, Christianity, and suicide attempts are all in play in Chris Crutcher's phenomenally deep YA book.
I loved this book so much. I loved the Christian criticism, the adult topics in high school, and the greatest depictions of friendship I've seen in a YA book. I think that, although this book is fairly controversial, it would be a great fit for a large number of high school students. Crutcher promotes critical and deep thinking about things a large number of teenagers have just accepted as fact, religion included. show less
A great look at the unlikely friendship between two students with "terminal uglies": HS senior Eric Calhoune, so fat they call him 'Moby' and Sarah Byrnes with a scar-torn face, the victim of a fire. As the book opens, Sarah is in the local mental hospital as a sudden mute. Eric must figure out why his best friend has stopped talking... and why some secrets should remain silent.
The book is a little dated: the abortion subtheme, and stereotypical characters (Sarah's psychotic Dad, the religious principal and conservative do-gooder student) seem heavy-handed to this reader. Still, no one captures high school sports, male bonding and guy dialogue like Crutcher.
The book is a little dated: the abortion subtheme, and stereotypical characters (Sarah's psychotic Dad, the religious principal and conservative do-gooder student) seem heavy-handed to this reader. Still, no one captures high school sports, male bonding and guy dialogue like Crutcher.
Don't let the weird cover scare you away-this was great.
I'd never read anything by this author before now, and I'm glad to see he's written several books. It was surprising to find out this one was written in 2003. It doesn't feel dated at all except for the absence of cell phones. And maybe the curiously derogatory word "adjusto"-I don't remember that ever being a thing. Otherwise, the kids could be from a book written this year.
I always like a YA book where the adults are more than just props, and there are some swell ones here-parents, teachers, and other cool grown-ups. They're not all great, which is the heart of this book's problem. The book deals with several hard issues, but the author does a fine job of navigating them. I show more loved that the characters changed over the course of the book. I loved that enemies could become friends, or at least friendly. Moby's voice was great. Despite the difficult subject matter, this was a quick, enjoyable read. show less
I'd never read anything by this author before now, and I'm glad to see he's written several books. It was surprising to find out this one was written in 2003. It doesn't feel dated at all except for the absence of cell phones. And maybe the curiously derogatory word "adjusto"-I don't remember that ever being a thing. Otherwise, the kids could be from a book written this year.
I always like a YA book where the adults are more than just props, and there are some swell ones here-parents, teachers, and other cool grown-ups. They're not all great, which is the heart of this book's problem. The book deals with several hard issues, but the author does a fine job of navigating them. I show more loved that the characters changed over the course of the book.
I can't remember when I first read this book - probably middle school, definitely by high school - but I read it over and over again. Crutcher's books are compellingly clear: characters are usually good or bad, but the books are still satisfying instead of predictable. Humor functions not just to make readers laugh but as armor for the characters; it protects them from mean fellow students, unsympathetic teachers and administrators, and terrifying parents. There is always at least one good adult though, usually a coach, sometimes also a parent.
Rating: A+
I think I could write a one-word review of this book (obviously I've exceeded that already, but I'm making a point here). The problem is that if I drop this one word on you, you'll be like, "What?!" It's a racy word, and I think it might be okay to use it because it's not like I go throwing the sauce around on this blog all the time--I prefer to save my racy talk for when I hang out with my sailor friends. Anyway, here's my one-word review:
FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC. Seriously. I know a lot of people say that using foul language is the hobgoblin of little minds (along with routine), and that if you can't say it more creatively than you're a loser, but the situation called for it. Read this one-word review, and tell me which is show more better: FANTASTIC. The middle part of the first review had an impact, didn't it?
Here's why this book is FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC:
1. The characters are amazing. Crutcher used to be a child therapist, and he's got this stuff nailed down tight. I loved it, it was gripping, moving, heart-wrenching, and beautifully drawn. Everybody--Eric, Sarah Byrnes, his parents, friends, foes, everyone--was fully developed.
2. The plot is hands-down dynamite. There's angst, there's sports, there's all kinds of lovey-dovey beauty. Strong friendships, lies, fears, everything you need for a good hard-boiled story.
3. The themes are tough to handle, but complex and thought-provoking. I work at a camp for abused and neglected kids every summer, and I don't think I'll ever be the same. This book is reach-down-into-your-chest-and-rip-your-heart-out writing. I actually gave my sister a summary of what the book was about, I only got through two sentences before she broke me off and said she couldn't handle any more, it was too much. I said, "You read books where the protagonist is a rape victim, but this is too much for you?" (This was in reference to some books by Charlaine Harris). My sister said crimes against adults, although awful, are nothing compared with crimes against children.
Tough to read, but totally worth it. I'm going to have to go out and get every last one of Crutcher's books. The guy is FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC. show less
I think I could write a one-word review of this book (obviously I've exceeded that already, but I'm making a point here). The problem is that if I drop this one word on you, you'll be like, "What?!" It's a racy word, and I think it might be okay to use it because it's not like I go throwing the sauce around on this blog all the time--I prefer to save my racy talk for when I hang out with my sailor friends. Anyway, here's my one-word review:
FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC. Seriously. I know a lot of people say that using foul language is the hobgoblin of little minds (along with routine), and that if you can't say it more creatively than you're a loser, but the situation called for it. Read this one-word review, and tell me which is show more better: FANTASTIC. The middle part of the first review had an impact, didn't it?
Here's why this book is FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC:
1. The characters are amazing. Crutcher used to be a child therapist, and he's got this stuff nailed down tight. I loved it, it was gripping, moving, heart-wrenching, and beautifully drawn. Everybody--Eric, Sarah Byrnes, his parents, friends, foes, everyone--was fully developed.
2. The plot is hands-down dynamite. There's angst, there's sports, there's all kinds of lovey-dovey beauty. Strong friendships, lies, fears, everything you need for a good hard-boiled story.
3. The themes are tough to handle, but complex and thought-provoking. I work at a camp for abused and neglected kids every summer, and I don't think I'll ever be the same. This book is reach-down-into-your-chest-and-rip-your-heart-out writing. I actually gave my sister a summary of what the book was about, I only got through two sentences before she broke me off and said she couldn't handle any more, it was too much. I said, "You read books where the protagonist is a rape victim, but this is too much for you?" (This was in reference to some books by Charlaine Harris). My sister said crimes against adults, although awful, are nothing compared with crimes against children.
Tough to read, but totally worth it. I'm going to have to go out and get every last one of Crutcher's books. The guy is FAN-_ _ _ _ _ _ _-TASTIC. show less
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Author Information
16+ Works 9,101 Members
Chris Crutcher is the critically acclaimed author of seven young adult novels and a collection of short stories, all of which were selected as ALA Best Books for Young Adults. Drawing on his experience as a family therapist and child protection specialist, Crutcher writes honestly about real issues facing teenagers today: making it through school, show more competing in sports, handling rejection and failure, dealing with parents. Chris Crutcher has won two lifetime achievement awards for his work: the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Outstanding Literature for Young Adults, and the ALAN Award for a Significant Contribution to Adolescent Literature. He lives in Spokane, Washington show less
Awards and Honors
Awards
Distinctions
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Alternate titles
- Secrets of Sarah Byrnes
- Original publication date
- 1993
- People/Characters
- Eric "Moby" Calhoune; Sarah Byrnes; Steven Ellerbee; Jodi Mueller; Mark Brittain; Carver Middleton (show all 10); Ms. Cynthia Lemmry; Dale Thornton; Virgil Byrne; Sandy Calhoune
- Important places
- Reno, Nevada, USA
- Dedication
- For all those who finally stand up for themselves
- First words
- My dad left when I still had a month to go in the darkroom, and historically when people have tried to figure me out (as in, "What went wrong?"), they usually conclude that Mom spoiled me; gave me everything I wanted because ... (show all)I had no pappy.
- Quotations
- I think most of us tell ourselves we don't want what we think we can't have just to make life bearable.
And I think if you're going to be with somebody you owe it to them to show yourself.
It's a scary thing, moving on. Part of me wishes life were more predictable and part of me is excited that it's not. I think it's impossible to tell the good things from the bad things while they're happening. - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)I've gotta bulk up; give my new swim coach something to work off me.
- Disambiguation notice
- 'Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes' was also published under the title 'Secrets of Sarah Byrnes'
Classifications
- Genres
- Teen, Fiction and Literature, Young Adult
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PZ7 .C89 .S — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 1,639
- Popularity
- 13,703
- Reviews
- 73
- Rating
- (4.10)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 30
- UPCs
- 1
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- 4