Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes

Consider the novel’s approach to Morality and Ethics. Other than the incidents that occur in Eric’s CAT class, what moral or ethical dilemmas arise in the novel? Do you agree with Eric’s assessment of these problems? Consider these questions as you form a response:

• Why might Eric feel conflicted about telling adults of Sarah’s abuse? Did he do the right thing?
• How does Mr. Mautz approach difficult conversations in school? Is his opinion biased? How might Mr. Mautz’s unique position inform his decisions?
• Is Carter justified in attacking Virgil? Do you agree with Eric’s assessment of this attack?
• How do Sarah and Eric respond to authority figures? Do you consider their interactions to be respectful?
• What do Sarah and Eric do when they are bullied by Dale? Are they justified in their reaction?
• What other moral dilemmas can you identify in the plot?

Teaching Suggestion: The novel explores multiple dilemmas that arise, but many go unexplored or are viewed from Eric’s perspective. Consider asking students to explore the questions and analyze the ethical and moral implications outlined in the novel.

Differentiation Suggestion: For students who would benefit from assistance with abstract thinking, it might be useful to set frames or context for students to answer this question in classroom discussion.