Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Plot Summary, Setting, and Character Descriptions

Plot Summary, Setting, and Character description and development
Summary:
Sarah Byrnes was burned as a young child, and the story that was told, was that she had pulled a pot of spaghetti on herself. But now the truth is finally coming out. One day Sarah just stopped talking, she was completely unresponsive and was taken to the Psych Ward. Her best friend Eric Calhoune is worried for her and tries to help. Every day he goes to talk with Sarah and get her to speak, and every day she sits unmoving and silent. He is about to give up hope when he remembers a childhood acquaintance of Sarah’s that may be able to help, Dale Thornton. Finally Dale uncovers the truth about Sarah’s burns, he tells Eric that she had been subject to abuse by her father all her life, and it was him who burned her.
When Eric shares his suspicions with Sarah he finally breaks her silence. She begins to tell him everything and Eric is ready to help. He finds her a place to stay with a close teacher and friend, Ms. Lemry. Lemry gets in on the mission and puts her own time and money into helping Sarah also. They figure the only way to get Sarah’s father locked up is to find Sarah’s long lost mother who ran away after Sarah was burned. They find her in Reno, but she refuses to come and testify against her ex husband. She claims she is too weak and scared.
Finally one night after swim practice Eric gets in his car to go home. Little does he know Virgil, Sarah’s father, is waiting for him. He jumps from the back seat pulling a knife and tells Eric to tell him where Sarah is. Eric refuses and Virgil presses the knife deeper into Eric’s face. Then, Eric escapes by crashing the car and running. He and Virgil begin a chase of life or death and just when he thinks he is safe, Virgil appears again. This time more enraged than before, Eric obeys and tells him where Sarah is and when he runs away Virgil throws a knife in his shoulder! Luckily he is saved but the price he pays is Sarah’s safety.
When Sarah and Ms. Lemry return home Virgil still hasn’t been found. A few days later, Carver, Eric’s mother’s boyfriend tells them he must go on a business trip. But in reality he has gone to find Mr. Byrnes. He finds him in his house, amazingly, the one place police hadn’t searched! But when he tries to apprehend him, of course Byrnes fights back. Carver ends up physically assaulting him, but at least gets him caught. Carver got off almost scotch free while Virgil, on the other hand, has mounting charges against him. The story ends as Sarah is adopted by Ms. Lemry not more than 24 hours before her 18th birthday. All of the friends finish their senior year and move off to college.
Setting:

The setting of Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes is a small town somewhere near Reno, Nevada. The name of the town is never actually mentioned in the story but you can assume by the text clues. Also there is a worse part of this town where the poverty levels are much higher, this is where Dale lives.
Character Description:

Sarah Byrnes: A main Character who’s best friends with Eric Calhoune. She was severely burned as a young child, and now her secrets are being revealed to the rest of the world. After a lifetime of abuse she is finally reaching out for help from friends.
Eric Calhoune: A main character who’s best friends with Sarah Byrnes. He is trying to help Sarah figure out her life and get help to save herself from her abusive past. All this, while balancing a high school swimming career and young love!
Virgil Byrnes: Sarah Byrnes’ father who has abused her all her life. He originally abused Sarah’s mother, but when she fled Sarah was his new victim.

3 comments:

lukas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
WinglessAngel said...

If I am correct, you have gotten the setting wrong. The setting is actually in the same city as the Author, Spokane Washington. I know I am correct because I have the book right next to me and in many places it says that it is Spokane. It only mentions Reno when Lemry and Sarah are going to find Sarahs mother in Reno, Nevada. Please don't delete this post so your readers can read this. Thank you so very much ~Wingless Angel :)

Unknown said...

^I Agree^