This novel is a powerful story about a boy named Eric, whose nickname in high school is Moby, and his best friend, Sarah who suddenly becomes catatonic and has to remain in the hospital. The two became friends because they found safety in the fact that they are both outcasts: Eric for being overweight and Sarah has retained some bad scars from being burned on her hands and face. Together they create an underground newspaper that publishes sarcastic articles and mocks the main bullies in their school. As the two move through high school, Eric joins the swim team which takes his time away from Sarah and leads him to other friends. Eric learns that Sarah's father is inflicting further abuse and he is convinced that Sarah is faking her catatonic state in order to keep away from her father. With the help of Eric's swim coach, they get Sarah out of the hospital in hopes to find her mother, which doesn't work out, but the swim coach saves the day by adopting Sarah.
I love that even though Sarah had to go through and overcome some major battles, in the end, she found a family. As a reader, I found a special bond with the ending of this book because I am adopted. I am lucky in that my situation in finding my birth family turned out much better than Sarah's, but I understand the feeling and the need to belong and know where you come from at the same time.
Using this book to teach friendship, bullying, and the importance of accepting and finding oneself would be vital in a young adult classroom. Young readers relate to characters that are realistic and they can see themselves living in that literature world.
Crutcher, C. (1995). Staying fat for sarah byrnes. New York: Bantum Doubleday Dell Books.
No comments:
Post a Comment