By: Chris Crutcher

STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES

FANTASY FICTION

In the book ‘Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes’. It’s about a boy, Eric. And a girl, Sarah. Eric is the “fattest” boy in the school, and Sarah is the “ugliest” girl in the school because of the scars she has on her face from her Dad. Which is a mystery. One day she decides to quit talking and they put her in the hospital, She’ll do everything they tell her to do except talk. Her friend Eric goes over and trys to get her to talk, one day she decides to talk to Eric, and she tells him not to tell anyone that she’s talking, come to find out the reason she isn’t talking is because her dad abuses her and the scars on her face are from her dad drowning her in hot water. Her mom left when she was really little. No telling where her mom is she’s stuck with her dad. He is getting more abusive. So the only way for her to get away from him is to quit talking and act like something's wrong. When she tells Eric that, Eric goes and tells his swim coach, she helps by sneaking Sarah out of the hospital and coach brings her to where her mom said she’s always wanted to go, do they find her mother or not? If so does she choose to stay with her mom?

BRIEF SUMMARY

The point of view of ‘Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes’ is First person coming

from Eric, the “fat” kid. (main protagonist). Using I, Me, Mine, or We.

The reader can only know what the character knows. It makes you feel close

to the character, have feelings for the character, and be on the characters side

of the conflict.

POINT OF VIEW

The conflicts of “Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes” is when she’s in the hospital her dad is trying to get her out. Everything she tells Eric she is worried that he will tell, which he does. She doesn’t know where her mom is, and she has to get out of the hospital some time, when she does where will she go? When/if she finds her mom, will she live with her, will her mother claim her? Will her father figure out that she is talking and harm Eric?

CONFLICTS

The main characters of “Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes” is-• Sarah Byrnes- The girl that gets abused by her father,

has a scar on her face from her father abusing her, she’s in the hospital not talking acting like something is wrong because she doesn’t want to go home to her father as he has been acting stranger everyday.

• Sarah Byrnes Father- Wanting to get Sarah out of the hospital, he’s threatening Eric that if he knows what's going on with Sarah he will kill her.

• Eric Calhoun- Sarah’s friend who helps Sarah through her difficulties, their best friends no matter what. The book is in his point of view.

MAIN CHARACTERS

The main theme is friendship, trust, and to not ‘judge a book by its cover’. The

symbolism for this book is a Christian cross for sacrifice, and also red for anger

because Sarah’s dad was always angry and mad no matter what.

LITERARY DEVICES FROM AUTHOR

• Happy ending• Shows normal problems teenagers normally

have• Loving and caring book• Shows true love• First person main character• Ongoing conflicts• Teaches you a lesson about real friendship

LIKES

• Lots of flashbacks• Too many problems in the story• Too many main characters

DISLIKES

I recommend this book to teenagers/highschoolers because there is

problems in the book that teenagers normally have, and the main character is

a highschooler. It’s also a very entertaining book for people that don’t

like to read books because it’s not a slow book, its always entertaining. Not big,

and easy to read.

RECOMMENDATION

Sarahs Dad

Eric

Sarah

1. http://www.bookrags.com/wiki/Staying_Fat_for_Sarah_Byrnes

2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staying_Fat_for_Sarah_Byrnes

3. http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/booksR4teens/book_reviews/book_reviews.php?book_id=107

4. http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/044021906X.asp

5. https://www.msu.edu/user/schne138/resourcepacket/synopsis.htm

SOURCES