Stargirl

Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Publisher/Date: Dell Laurel-Leaf 2000
# of Pages: 186
Reading Level: 5th-10th Grade
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Stargirl is the new girl at Mica High School. She is very different from other people. She does unique things like carry around her pet rat, sing with her ukulele to kids in the cafeteria, wear interesting clothes, cheer for the opposing team, give strangers cards, and dance in the rain. She doesn't seem to care what others think of her. At first, everyone at school thinks she is interesting and they all want to get to know her. She is asked to join the cheerleading squad. However, after time, people begin to despise her. Leo, the narrator, really likes her. After Stargirl gives him a Valentine that says, "I love you", they become a couple. She shows him how to love others, an enchanted place, and inspires him with her uniqueness. At school however, she is being ignored. Nobody wants to be her friend except for Dori. Leo is upset because he starts to be ignored too, so he asks Stargirl why she can't just be like everyone else? The next day she comes to school a new person. All the things that make her unique disappear. Leo is ecstatic. However, people still ignore her. Even when she wins first place in her speech competition, nobody gives her any attention. So she goes back to her old ways. Leo isn't too happy about that. And he doesn't ask her to the ball. She goes anyway, dazzling everyone with the bunny hop. And the next day she is gone. She moves away without saying goodbye to Leo, or to anybody.

Who would benefit from reading this book?

Anyone who has experienced high school could definitely benefit from reading this book. They can relate the treatment of Stargirl by the other classmates. Anyone who needs to also learn the importance of individuality and acceptance would also benefit from reading this book as well.

What conflicts/problems could this book create?

This book deals a lot with acceptance of uniqueness. The way that the other students treat Stargirl, especially in her interview on "Hot Seat" is completely unacceptable. It's really too bad that the students shun Stargirl for being different. I also think it's a problem that her own boyfriend, Leo, couldn't accept her for who she was. He should just love her for who she is, not for what others think about her.

My Reaction:

I am not a fan of this book. I really liked it until the end. I thought it was awful that Leo couldn't accept Stargirl for who she was, and the problem was never resolved. He didn't even get so say goodbye to her. She left without even telling him she was leaving. I didn't like how the whole school turned on her either. I guess at the end most of them realized how special she was, and they honored her. However, I wish it would have happened while Stargirl was still around. I felt so bad for her. All she was trying to do was be herself, and help others.