Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

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Eric Calhoune has always been friends with Sarah Brynes because they both share a commonality - they are outcasts. Eric is severely overweight, and Sarah is disfigured and burned due to a childhood accident. Sarah is the toughest person Eric knows. One day Sarah stops talking and responding right in the middle of class, and is taken and admitted to a mental hospital. Eric does his best to keep their friendship together by visiting Sarah every day while balancing school and swim team. Eric wants to help figure out why Sarah won't speak, and eventually uncovers that Sarah's own father was behind her childhood scars. Eric ends up in a clash against Sarah's father, who evades authorities, and is ultimately caught by Eric's mother's "wimpy" boyfriend who turns out to be a Vietnam Special Ops veteran. 
This books is realistic fiction and covers topics of friendship, abortion, religion, suicide, and shame. Best for grades 7 and up.


Crutcher, C. (1993). Staying fat for Sarah Byrnes. New York: Greenwillow Books.

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