Stargirl

Title: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf 2000
Reading Level: 6th and up
Pages: 186
Genre: Realistic Fiction










Summary:

Mica Area High School is in for a shock, and it's called Stargirl. MAHS is a school where nobody goes to games, nobody joins clubs, and nobody cheers on the Electrons except the cheerleaders. In other words, there is absolutely no school spirit. One day a new girl comes to school and she calls herself Stargirl. Nobody will talk to this ukulele carrying girl. She wears weird clothes, she decorates her desk, she leaves treats for people and she sings Happy Birthday to people in the lunch room on her ukulele. She has no cares in the world, and she is definitely her own person. However, MAHS does not like her. That is, until she does a crazy act at the football game. All the students show up to the next game, but she doesn't come and act. The cheerleaders seek her out and give her a place on the team and her social status skyrockets. Leo and Kevin are nest friends and, of course, they have noticed the new comer. They want to put her in there little 'Hot Seat' school program, but Leo hesitates to ask her. As the year continues, Leo finds himself falling for this odd girl, and they begin to hang out. It isn't long before Stargirl decides to announce her love for him to the whole school, and, although Leo is pleasantly pleased, he is embarrased that the whole school can see what she did. That's the difference in this couple; Leo cares and Stargirl doesn't. Stargirl's popularity had already plummeted before this act, but now the school shuns her and Leo. However, Stargirl begins to change for him, She has everybody call her by her real name, Susan, and she acts like a normal teenager. This doesn't work, though, the shunning continues. Leo doesn't know who to pick... the love of a girl who has changed his life, or his status in school. Stargirl eventually changes back to her old ways, and this makes Leo mad. They break up right before the dance, but this doesn't stop Stargirl from going. She dances with herself, and she soon starts a Congo line. Everybody joins in and they Congo out into the desert. When they return Stargirl leaves and nobody ever hears from her again. Leo continues school, graduates, grows up and begins working. He never marries, but he always wonders what happend to Stargirl, and if she is still out there.

My Reaction:

I did NOT like this book. It was way too out there for my taste. I appreciated the whole message of don't judge and be friends with everybody, but it was a bit extreme. Especially where Leo grows up, never has a family, and still wonders about her. It was not the best ending I think.

Potential Problems:

There is definitely the problem of bullying in school. The kids are cruel to Stargirl when her popularity drops, and that might be hard for kids, especially younger kids, to comprehend.

Recommendations:

I do not recommend this book. I know some people like it out there, so I'm not saying don't ever read it. However, I think there are better books in the world, and they would occupy your time better than this one.