Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes:A Great Book

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	• Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes Chris Crutcher HarperTeen, 2003 - 304 pages average customer review:based on 124 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Staying Fat Is Good!

For my cybernet book report, I read a book entitled Staying Fat For Sarah Brynes by Chris Cutcher. This book was an insightful reading and a thoughtful book. It's a good book to read on Thanksgiving or other holidays because some characters in the book make you realize how lucky you are. I encourage you to read this book because there are characters in here that provide you with a different point of view toward life. I thoroughly enjoyed the characterization, plot and theme of Staying Fat For Sarah Brynes.
One example of why I enjoyed the books' descriptions of the characters is because they were so in depth. One of the main characters in the book is Sarah Brynes or "Scarface", why? Because of her face that is covered in scars from a mysterious accident that burned her face. The other main character is Eric Callhoune or "Moby" because of his large waistline. These characters are best friends and social outcasts. Sarah Brynes' father, Virgil Brynes, is one of the nastier characters as well as important characters in the book. Sarah and her father don't get along at all; one of the reasons is he won't let her get plastic surgery to help hide the scars that cover her entire face. Another important character is Mrs. Lemry, teacher of a controversial class called Contemporary American Thought, and coach of the swim team. In addition to these characters, there are many others. One is Dale Thornton, who is one of the roughest and toughest guys at Eric's school. Then there is Mark Brittain, a pastor's son who tries to preach about his beliefs at school. A last main character is Steve Ellbery, who is Eric's other good friend. They become friends from swim team and Ellbery helps Eric with his feelings on what to do with Sarah Brynes when she is at the hospital.
The plot explains why these characters are so important. The story is told through the eyes of Eric. He tells us how he and Sarah became such good friends and explains her past. When she was 3 years old, Sarah pulled a pot of boiling spaghetti water off the stove and it burned her face. Her mother left the family after that accident and her father Virgil wouldn't let her get plastic surgery, which adds tension to their relationship. During Eric and Sarah's senior year of high school, Sarah's past comes to haunt her and she is checked into a psychiatric unit in the hospital to get away from her past and father. In the hospital, she refuses to talk to anyone, not even Eric. Eventually, she does begin to talk, but only to Eric because she doesn't want to leave. She tells him huge secrets, secrets that he can't keep. He goes to Mrs. Lemry who helps him decide what to do. They decide on a drastic plan that they put in to work almost immediately. The book twists and turns on from there that you can find out for yourself!
Finally, the third reason the book Staying Fat For Sarah Brynes was enjoyable to me was because of the author's themes. I found more than one message that I thought the author could be sending out to us readers. I think one of the more obvious messages was against discrimination because a very large part of the book is how Sarah and Eric were teased. I also think that when Dale Thornton starts befriending Sarah, it gives the appearance that even when someone who has teased you could become a friend. Another message I found within the book was something like, stick up for yourself and your opinions. An example I found in the book was when Eric was visiting Sarah in the hospital and Eric is explaining what he and Mrs. Lemry decided to do. Sarah starts yelling at him and he says in the book, "I could back down; would have a couple months ago, but I've seen Sarah Byrnes' dad for what he is now, and I've seen what he might do to her, and I'm simply not willingly to let it be anymore. I'm just not." The author could also mean this as don't cave into peer pressure because Eric could have backed down when Sarah started yelling at him. Later in the chapter Sarah gives into him and I think Eric was a little surprised because he was always following her lead and now suddenly, it was the other way around.
The characterization, plot and theme were thoroughly enjoyable in the book Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes. I definitely recommend the book to anyone who is looking for a good book. The author, Chris Cutcher gets you very involved in the story. This was a refreshing change from books I have read recently, because these characters are very relatable. Once again, I highly recommend this book!

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Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes:A Great Book

Something I really liked about Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes was the plot. It was original, smart, and about something that could really happen. Also, I enjoyed the author, Chris Crutcher's, form of writing. I could hardly put the book down it was so exciting. I also really liked how all of the characters were different and interesting, and played a major part in the book. The three things I liked best about Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes were the writing style, characterization and plot.
One of the things I really enjoyed was the writing style throughout the whole book. Chris Crutcher knows how to write a story that keeps you on the edge of the seat until it's over and you've figured everything out. It is very detailed so you can picture everything in your head. "Without the spirit behind her eyes, Sarah Byrnes is truly one of the ugliest human beings outside of the circus. When she was three, as she tells it, she pulled a burning pot of spaghetti off the stove, onto herself, leaving horrible burn scars covering her face and hands." -from Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes This book really makes you think.
Another part of the book I liked was the characters in it. They were all unique and creative, and I was never sure what they would do next, and what the result of their action would be. All of the characters were described so well that I could picture them. They all had different personalities, some mean, some tough and some extremely caring. They all seemed like real people because they were so realistic. One of my favorite characters was Sarah Byrnes, the main character of the book. She is tough, smart and has incredible courage.
I especially enjoyed the plot of the book. A teenage girl, named Sarah Byrnes, is covered in terrible scars from a mysterious burn years ago. Her best friend has no other friends until he loses his extra weight by joining the swim team. Sarah is sure he will make new friends and leave her behind. Then, she suddenly freezes in her desk at school, and no one knows why. She stops talking to every one, even her best friend. Everyone wonders, why?, and will she wake up? Read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher, and find out. This book has it all, love, courage, bravery, and truth.
I really liked the writing style, characterization and plot of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. I think that this was a great book and I really enjoyed reading it. I would recommend it to someone because of all the things I liked about it. For instance, the theme was one thing I really enjoyed, but there are many more good things to say about the book. If you haven't already read Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, you should give it a try!

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Wow! Amazing book

"Ain't it a trip where heroes come from." Chris Crutcher thus sums up the greatness found in many unexpected places. His book swings from this greatness to the loneliness, despair and even horror we find among the commonplace. "One thing I know: Families can get pretty messed up while they're looking pretty good."
This is a superbly-written and very moving book. Although it's a "teen" book, the plot is better, and the characters more "deep," multi-faceted and developed -- including many of the peripheral characters -- than many bestsellers in the "grown-up" book market.
Many deep issues are explored in this book; it will make both adult and teen readers think.
Yes, the book's conservative Christians are narrow-minded, but guess what? That's that way it usually is in real life. The new bookcover displayed on the amazon site doesn't fit the book's description of Eric "Moby" Calhoune's body or swimsuit -- it'd be nice if cover art were approved by the author.
I highly recommend this fantastic book!

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STAYING FAT FOR SARAH BYRNES is an terrific book about survival, friendship and hope with characters millions have come to love. The "12-year-old" reviewer may not like the fact that Crutcher addresses tough human issues like child abuse, religious uncertainty and abortion, but there is nothing "cardboard" about any aspect of this book. Like all of his novels, it's first rate storytelling with heart and humor.

reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, page 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19

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