Eric Calhoune
Sarah Byrnes
Supporting Characters
Plot Questions
Vocabulary
100
Who is Eric's best friend?
Sarah Byrnes
100
Why is Sarah in the hospital at the beginning of the story?
She won't talk to anyone.
100
What is Mark and Jody's secret?
Jody had an abortion after Mark insisted that she get rid of the baby.
100
What is "Crispy Pork Rinds"?
A newspaper Eric and Sarah published.
100
Eric is known as Eric ______ because he is mysterious.
Enigma
200
What do Eric and Sarah have in common?
Both outsiders, both come from single parent households.
200
How does Sarah's relationship with Dale change?
At first he is a bully to her, but then she trusts him with her secret and they become friends.
200
What is the secret Dale is keeping for Sarah?
Her father burned her when she was three.
200
What happens between Eric and Virgil near the end of the story?
Virgil cuts him with a knife.
200
Virgil Byrnes was _____ and angry at Eric for not telling him where Sarah is located.
Incensed
300
Who is Eric's swim coach?
Ms. Lemry
300
What happens to Sarah's mother?
She leaves and goes to Reno after Sarah is burned.
300
What do we know about Ellerby's brother?
He died at a young age.
300
Why did Sarah decide to stop talking and go to the hospital
She is scared of her father because he is getting worse.
300
Eric had a difficult ______: should he tell the police or keep Sarah's secret?
Dilemma
400
Why does Eric decide to date Jody?
He likes her and is interested in her.
400
Why does Sarah insist on everyone calling her "Sarah Byrnes"?
So that nobody can make fun of her last name.
400
How does Ms. Lemry and Eric's mom feel at first about Eric's relationship with Jody?
They are cautious and want to make sure he is dating her for the right reasons.
400
What does each word in "Crispy Pork Rinds" represent?
Crispy is Sarah, Pork is Eric, and Rinds is what's left that nobody pays attention to.
400
Ms. Lemry liked to discuss ______ topics in her CAT class.
Controversial
500
What happens to Eric at the end of the story?
After getting attacked by Virgil, he goes to the hospital and eventually helps save Sarah from leaving. In the epilogue, he goes to college.
500
How does Sarah feel about being in the hospital?
She feels comfortable and likes the people there, feeling sorry for the things they have gone through in their life.
500
Which student does Mr. Mautz like, and which students does he not seem to like?
He likes Mark, doesn't like Eric or Ellerby.
500
How did Carver trick Eric's mom into dating him?
He sent her boyfriend out on long business trips.
500
Eric viewed Mr. Byrnes with _____ for the way he treated Sarah.
Contempt