Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

Genre: Realistic YA Fiction

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I read this book for my Independent Reading Project for English. I chose it off of a list of 9^th Grade reading level books. Knowing myself, I probably never would have read or heard of this book if it weren’t for this project. I forever judge books by their covers, despite my efforts not too, and this particular cover would not have caught my eye. I started this book with low expectations. I figured it would just be another boring book that I’m required to read that I won’t enjoy.

I was so very wrong. This book was excellent. There were always questions and Crutcher kept you wanting answers. Sarah Byrnes was a mystery and as the book went on, her secrets spilled out one by one. It was baffling and depressing and utterly amazing.

I loved the CAT’s class. That is the type of class that I could spend years in, discussing and listening to people’s opinions and sharing my own, having disputes. I was so very jealous of this class that when Eric was in it, I didn’t want it to be over.

I loved Eric, or Moby, or Mobe, the main character. I loved the hard and humorous exterior Sarah Byrnes put out and Eric eventually adapted to use. I loved the foil character for Eric and Ellerby, Mark Brittain, because I hated him so much. He gave me fuel to my hate for super religious people. I loved his transformation, too. He showed me that people who were once self-righteous assholes can change to be better people, and that gives me hope. I also loved Ellerby and his father, because they showed me something that I have difficulty seeing on my own: not all religions and religious people are bad. Ellerby’s dad was an advocate for so many of my beliefs, despite being a preacher himself while I am the very opposite.

But mostly, I loved all the heartbreaking and hard life stories everyone had. No one was perfect in the book, everyone had a small flaw or sad story to tell, especially Sarah Byrnes. She was definitely my favorite character, inspiring and strong, yet weak and loving as she evolved.

Overall, I just have to say I was surprised. This was a great book despite the fact that I was forced into reading it for an English assignment.

4 stars.