Scan barcode
noras_nibbles's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
kageraven's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a realistic fiction novel about outcast teenagers. Sarah Byrnes has a face marred by burn scars while Eric Calhoune is overweight. The story is told from Eric’s perspective as it alternates between the present and the past. In the present, Sarah has gone mute and Eric struggles trying to figure out how to help her as he recollects the history of their friendship. It is emotional, dark, and tense. The novel does cover many serious topics such as physical and emotional abuse, bullying, and abortion, and it does so in a way that seems natural for the plot and characters.
The book comes across as misogynistic, though I begrudgingly admit it did get a bit better by the end of the book. The women are oversexualized and seem pretty one-dimensional even when they have interesting backstories. Many of the characters have a lot of depth and are engaging to unravel, but the personalities of the characters seem underdeveloped. It’s not necessarily a bad book. The flawed characters drive the story, and the complexity of the problems they encounter constitute a compelling plot. It’s thought-provoking and even inspiring to a certain extent. But it was frustrating to read which made it difficult to connect with the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Violence, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Self harm, and Sexism
thebrainlair's review against another edition
4.0
This one started slow for me. I actually would have stopped reading if it wasn't a teacher request for book talks! I ended up really enjoying this one, sappiness and all. I could have done without all the swim talk since I'm a non-sports person. I'm hoping that it's the right amount for the students looking for sports reads. It will be nice to talk about a sports book that's not baseball or football and I can even work in how I almost gave up. But I decided to stay fat for the ELA teacher.
xaqrii's review against another edition
4.0
REQUIRED
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes tells the story of the scarred Sarah and her formerly obese best friend Eric as Sarah ends up in the psych ward because of a mental shut-down. The book switches between the past and the present and the reader learns the abuse Sarah experienced at the hands of her father and Eric's struggle to help her even though she refuses it. At the same time, the school administration is targetting Eric and his best friend Steve because of the perceived bullying against the school's Christian elite, Mark, though even he is not quite what he seems. Ultimately, Sarah's father becomes involved forcing Sarah and the sympathetic Ms. Lemry to race to Reno in an attempt to find Sarah's mother to testify against her father. This book was really a wild ride. Near the end, I almost had to stop reading because I feared the worst. However, it was one of the more hopeful books I've read in a long time. The message behind all the intrigue is that we need to let other people into our lives. We can be strong but we don't have to do it alone. I would recommend this book for older teens because it is kind of intense but the catharsis at the end makes the read worth it.
Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes tells the story of the scarred Sarah and her formerly obese best friend Eric as Sarah ends up in the psych ward because of a mental shut-down. The book switches between the past and the present and the reader learns the abuse Sarah experienced at the hands of her father and Eric's struggle to help her even though she refuses it. At the same time, the school administration is targetting Eric and his best friend Steve because of the perceived bullying against the school's Christian elite, Mark, though even he is not quite what he seems. Ultimately, Sarah's father becomes involved forcing Sarah and the sympathetic Ms. Lemry to race to Reno in an attempt to find Sarah's mother to testify against her father. This book was really a wild ride. Near the end, I almost had to stop reading because I feared the worst. However, it was one of the more hopeful books I've read in a long time. The message behind all the intrigue is that we need to let other people into our lives. We can be strong but we don't have to do it alone. I would recommend this book for older teens because it is kind of intense but the catharsis at the end makes the read worth it.
4saradouglas's review against another edition
5.0
Original (11/18/07): Eric “Moby” Calhoune and Sarah Byrnes had been best friends for years. They were both social outcasts; Moby because of his excess weight and Sarah because of the fact that she had terrible scars all over her face and hands from a childhood accident. To prove his commitment to Sarah, Moby stayed fat for her for a year; overeating on purpose to make up for all of the calories he was burning in swim practice. When Sarah Byrnes stops speaking and is put in a hospital, Moby does all he can to figure out why. When he hears a rumor that the burns covering her weren’t caused by an accident at all, Moby decides to do all he can to save her from being hurt again. This book is fantastic. Crutcher is not afraid to go after big issues and to challenge people’s beliefs. Though this book is over ten years old, it does not seem dated and all of the issues discussed are just as pertinent to today’s teens.
Update (2/24/13): When I read this 6 years ago, I said that it didn't seem dated at all. Now, having just given it to my book club and knowing it was written a year before the oldest member was born, it did seem a bit dated. Some of the references will be lost on the kids, but the issues are still issues we're passionate about today, and the action and drama are just as intense this second time around for me. I'm hoping the kids can stick with it through the slightly boring first 70 or so pages to get to the real meat of this novel!
Update (2/24/13): When I read this 6 years ago, I said that it didn't seem dated at all. Now, having just given it to my book club and knowing it was written a year before the oldest member was born, it did seem a bit dated. Some of the references will be lost on the kids, but the issues are still issues we're passionate about today, and the action and drama are just as intense this second time around for me. I'm hoping the kids can stick with it through the slightly boring first 70 or so pages to get to the real meat of this novel!
amazing_emily_anderson's review against another edition
4.0
REQUIRED TEXT
Two outcasts: Eric, the self-deprecating fat boy who goes by "Moby," and Sarah Byrnes who's severely burned face has left her scarred and disfigured. These two outcasts become best friends.
But once Eric joins the swim team and starts slimming down, he is afraid that he is going to push Sarah Byrnes away forever, especially once she mysteriously turns catatonic, and begins staying in a mental hospital. Eric begins eating more to keep his weight on, while also trying to discover the terrible secrets that Sarah Byrnes is hiding. Moby is truly the best friend anyone could ask for as he risks his body, his sanity, and even his own life to save his best friend Sarah Byrnes.
This book was a surprising hodgepodge of different issues; religion, abortion, and abuse. However, I think Crutcher did an excellent job of weaving everything together. I loved Moby's character, his sense of humor and his relentless loyalty to Sarah Byrnes. I think Crutcher did an excellent job at creating believable, admirable, flawed characters. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, and while I don't know that the message was personally applicable to me, I think that there are a lot of young (and old) people that could benefit from "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes."
Two outcasts: Eric, the self-deprecating fat boy who goes by "Moby," and Sarah Byrnes who's severely burned face has left her scarred and disfigured. These two outcasts become best friends.
But once Eric joins the swim team and starts slimming down, he is afraid that he is going to push Sarah Byrnes away forever, especially once she mysteriously turns catatonic, and begins staying in a mental hospital. Eric begins eating more to keep his weight on, while also trying to discover the terrible secrets that Sarah Byrnes is hiding. Moby is truly the best friend anyone could ask for as he risks his body, his sanity, and even his own life to save his best friend Sarah Byrnes.
This book was a surprising hodgepodge of different issues; religion, abortion, and abuse. However, I think Crutcher did an excellent job of weaving everything together. I loved Moby's character, his sense of humor and his relentless loyalty to Sarah Byrnes. I think Crutcher did an excellent job at creating believable, admirable, flawed characters. I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, and while I don't know that the message was personally applicable to me, I think that there are a lot of young (and old) people that could benefit from "Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes."
wrathofglasses's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
danibriann's review against another edition
5.0
Chris Crutcher is by far one of my favorite author's and will most likely remain that way for quite some time. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was the first book I read by him, and it completely crushed my soul- but in the best way possible. It's one of those books that leaves you stricken and makes you view things in an entirely new light. Is a must read for anyone and everyone!
hknb43c's review against another edition
3.0
Decent fast read. A little over dramatic, but it's a teen novel. not bad.
justlily's review against another edition
4.0
This was my second Chris Crutcher book and I didn't actually realize that until about halfway through. I'm glad I didn't because I wasn't entirely thrilled with the first book, it was a drag for me to get to the end.
But I loved every single thing about this one. All the characters, especially Ellerby, were fully fleshed out and interesting. The story never meandered around, it did what it came to do (meandering is a pet peeve of mine.) Overall just a really fast and interesting read, definitely deeper than your usual YA fare.
But I loved every single thing about this one. All the characters, especially Ellerby, were fully fleshed out and interesting. The story never meandered around, it did what it came to do (meandering is a pet peeve of mine.) Overall just a really fast and interesting read, definitely deeper than your usual YA fare.