Stargirl (Readers Circle)

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"She was homeschooling gone amok." "She was an alien." "Her parents were circus acrobats." These are only a few of the theories concocted to explain Stargirl Caraway, a new 10th grader at Arizona's Mica Area High School who wears pioneer dresses and kimonos to school, strums a ukulele in the cafeteria, laughs when there are no jokes, and dances when there is no music. The whole school, not exactly a "hotbed of nonconformity," is stunned by her, including our 16-year-old narrator Leo Borlock: "She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl."

In time, incredulity gives way to out-and-out adoration as the student body finds itself helpless to resist Stargirl's wide-eyed charm, pure-spirited friendliness, and penchant for celebrating the achievements of others. In the ultimate high school symbol of acceptance, she is even recruited as a cheerleader. Popularity, of course, is a fragile and fleeting state, and bit by bit, Mica sours on their new idol. Why is Stargirl showing up at the funerals of strangers? Worse, why does she cheer for the opposing basketball teams? The growing hostility comes to a head when she is verbally flogged by resentful students on Leo's televised Hot Seat show in an episode that is too terrible to air. While the playful, chin-held-high Stargirl seems impervious to the shunning that ensues, Leo, who is in the throes of first love (and therefore scornfully deemed "Starboy"), is not made of such strong stuff: "I became angry. I resented having to choose. I refused to choose. I imagined my life without her and without them, and I didn't like it either way."

Jerry Spinelli, author of Newbery Medalist Maniac Magee, Newbery Honor Book Wringer, and many other excellent books for teens, elegantly and accurately captures the collective, not-always-pretty emotions of a high school microcosm in which individuality is pitted against conformity. Spinelli's Stargirl is a supernatural teen character--absolutely egoless, altruistic, in touch with life's primitive rhythms, meditative, untouched by popular culture, and supremely self-confident. It is the sensitive Leo whom readers will relate to as he grapples with who she is, who he is, who they are together as Stargirl and Starboy, and indeed, what it means to be a human being on a planet that is rich with wonders. (Ages 10 to 14) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

From the Hardcover edition.

Download Description

In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.

Customer Reviews:

Prismatic.......2007-10-03

How do I even begin?
This is one of the best books I've ever read. One of the best books ever written. I was walking through a bookstore, and I was scanning all the norm, all the cliche titles. I'm not really expecting to find anything at all. I hardly ever do. The section that is supposed to interest me I find dull and unoriginal. Its as if some people think that children my age (twelve) are machines and can be fed the same thing over and over and over and OVER.
Then I see the blue cover, stuck in between other titles. You had to have your eyes out for it. I spotted it. It was nearly hidden. I'm glad I saw. The title just sings to me.
Ooh. Stargirl.
I read the back. I read the first chapter. She's playing the ukelele, she's dancing around the cafeiteria in her long white dress, in the middle of the dull, indifferently-conformed Mica High student body, where Leo Borlock, the protagonist, is watching along with all the other kids at the tables, ogling at this girl who calls herself `Stargirl', strumming her ukelele and singing, with a rat riding happily on her shoulder.
That is enough for me. I bought it. I finished it in a night and a day.
It's not your run-o-the-mill `be yourself' story. And its not telling to just simply `be different'. Its about truly being who you want to be (or, rather, who you ARE--made up of the dreams of the person you ARE before you wake up in the morning), and also about doing good with what time we have on this earth.
And I did have a feeling that I would be heartbroken by the end. I was. But somehow that only added to the experience of this luminous story.
Its about feelings. Its about first love, about caring for others, about spontaneous acts of kindness, about a slender ray of sunshine in darkness.
Archie said it best: "When a Stargirl cries, she does not shed tears, but light."
It inspired me to think about people in general. It inspired me and surprised me. I look for little things. I find myself naturally drawn towards everything I overlooked before. I like these rare books that I can read and really remember, taking little bits of it, if only sentences, and them becoming apart of me, and carrying them around inside of me and those words echoing throughout me.
Bravo to Mr. Jerry Spinelli. This is a perfectly prismatic story.

This one is a classic.......2007-09-26

Okay, I'm going to say it. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a young adult classic (maybe even a children's classic but that's really a cataloguing issue that I am ill-equipped to discuss). This designation raises the question: What makes a book (any book) a classic? For me it means a book that is timeless; something you can read years and years after it was written without the book losing its vibrancy. A classic also needs to have memorable writing and characters. It needs to speak to the reader. It needs to be a book that you enjoy more every time you read it or talk about it. Classics are the books you want to immerse yourself in: the books you wish you could live in with the characters that you wish were your friends.

I'll say it again: Stargirl is a classic.

The story starts with Leo Borlock, who moved to Mica, Arizona at the age of twelve. Around the time of his move, Leo decided to start collecting porcupine neckties--no easy task, especially in Mica. For two years, Leo's collection stood at one tie. Until his fourteenth birthday when an unknown someone presented Leo with his second tie, someone who was watching from the sidelines.

Mica's unusual events don't stop there. The story continues when Leo is a junior in high school. On the first day the name on everyone's lips is Stargirl. Formerly home-schooled, Stargirl is a sophomore like no one Leo (or any of the other Mica students) has ever met before:

"She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew."

After finishing this book and recently reading Love, Stargirl (Spinelli's newly released sequel), I have my own explanation: Stargirl is magical. She represents the kind of magic more people need in their lives: to appreciate the little things, to dare to be different, to be kind to strangers. The kind of magic where you still believe things can be wondrous.

In the story, Leo soon realizes that Stargirl might be someone he could love.

Unfortunately, high school students don't always believe in (or appreciate) magic like Stargirl's. As the school moves from fascination to adoration and, finally, to disdain Leo finds himself in an impossible position: forced to choose between the girl he loves and his entire lifestyle.

Technically speaking I love everything about this book: the characters, the story, the cover art. This one has the full package. Spinelli's writing throughout the story is perfect. He captures Leo's fascination with Stargirl as well as his equivocation as he is forced to choose between Stargirl and "the crowd."

Stargirl is not a long book. The writing is cogent, sentences brief. Nonetheless, the text is rich. This book never gets old or boring. Spinelli creates a compelling, utterly new narrative here (with a charmingly memorable heroine).

Captures a Time in Life Most of Us Can Easily Relate To........2007-09-19

High school is a very trying time in any young adult's life, and if you happen to be a nonconformist, the going is twice as difficult. If you remember your teens without regret, your are part of the few who do.

Jerry Spinelli shows us a world that more than vividly captures the affections of a boy named Leo for the unusual Stargirl who's social status changes almost as often as her names. Now, I'll admit like some of the reviewers here that she was a bit over the top in her behavior, but it seems that Spinelli exaggerated her to make his point about how cruel kids can be to others who don't act as impulsively on their whims as our heroine.

I learned in my own high school years that it's okay if others don't like you for being yourself, but when someone like Leo is very close to you and expects you to change, it's a different matter entirely. If you were teased in school for associating with a "stargirl" or a "starboy," you usually gave them a nasty and unceremonious dumping. Leo held on instead, cringing all the while as he kept on crushing Stargirl's spirit by asking her to give up pieces of what attracted him to her in the first place. A rather truthful and sad social commentary about people at any stage of life.

A wonderful glimpse into Leo's psyche as his tale of first love makes him grow up and regret his poor choices with a truly unique and wonderful individual. With beautifully simple details that even the youngest reader can grasp, quirky humor, and heart-tuggingly painful moments that deal in heartbreak and peer pressure--plus a touch of mystery--I would recommend Stargirl to anyone who is grasping with this issue. The book also has a surprising and bittersweet ending that will bring a smile to your face. Age recommendation: 9 to 90!

first love and nonconformity.......2007-09-02

The years in high school are really the years in which you discover what kind of person you really want to be. It is where you are allowed to make your first big mistakes in life, in love, and hopefully learn from them. Leo, the narrator of Stargirl, meets the nonconformist Stargirl Caraway and the two, through the actions, decisions and consequences that follow, propel each other into a more adult understanding of love, community, mob mentality, acceptance, courage and sadly, the events that follow when all of those things fail. It is a touching story about how the people you meet at this time in your life and how you react to them can really shape who and what you become.

Sarah Phelan, author of Stay At Home Stay At Home

Impossible ideals..........2007-08-27

As a Christian, when I read Stargirl at the age of 16(back in 2001) I thought it was the most awesome book ever - period. Stargirl represented everything I wanted to be; carefree, beautiful, bold, and honest. I was a shy girl who acted tough and confident, but I wanted to be able to be like Stargirl prancing around the school singing happy birthday to people I didn't know, sending cards to random people, and putting daisies on my desk at school. To me Stargirl represented a fearless woman who could do what she wanted without fear of judgement. Now, as I am older I still want that, but I feel differently about how Stargirl acts.

The character of Stargirl is used to contrast against the other students of Mice High who are afraid to be themselves, but go with the flow, and critize anyone who goes against. Stargirl is the catalyst who gets people like Leo to think that maybe he should stop caring about what people think. I do agree that people need to care about what other people think so much when it causes them to judge themselves, and conform to what they percieve as "normal". The character Stargirl is used here to tell children and teenagers that true freedom is found in being who you were created to be, and not who you think you should be, or others think you should be.

As the story progresses we see that Leo is less keen on complying with Stargirl's antics when it conflicts with his reputation; such as her knack for cheering for the other team at basketball games. Later Leo looks back on things and sees how he tried to make Stargirl change, and it ended up making her miserable, and realizes he lost his first love because he kept trying to change her.

There are two things I want to note about "Stargirl". One, although Leo was wrong to try to change Stargirl, it was not a bad thing for her to change. This is because her passions were unbridled, she didn't understand restraint, and yes while she did good to break Mica High out of their shells, she also needed to come to a balance where she herself learned that some conformity is a good thing (Such as conforming to the image of God or being obedient to parents).

Two, I initially loved the idea of Stargirl erasing herself, because I use Christian meditation (focusing on Jesus) as a way to get away from the world. The book gave an impression that she was a Christian, but when I started reading the new book "Love, Stargirl" I realized Spinelli was not in the least talking about a Christian form of meditation, but rather an Eastern form of meditation. I understand this in the second book, but it is important to note that Stargirl calls her practice of erasing herself "Mind Washing", which reminds me a lot of Eastern meditation and New-Age practices that tell us to empty our minds.

I am not saying that Stargirl is a bad book, in fact it is an amazing book. It is still one of my favorites because it does illistrate how we are often expected to fit a certain mold when every person is different and has their own personality. I am just not excited about books that tell our children that non-comformity is good either, but we all have to conform on some level. I am not saying that Spinelli was telling us to live without restraint, but rather that we should enjoy life more. I agree with that, but the message gets mixed up in all the fluff and can be easily misconstrued.

*ENJOY ~Amy

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love, almost as much as the first
Bad Spinelli. Bad.
Welcome back Stargirl!
She Shines Just as Brightly
Different from Stargirl...and Vive Le Difference!

Love, Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Knopf Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375813756
Release Date: 2007-08-14

Book Description

LOVE, STARGIRL picks up a year after Stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of Stargirl. The novel takes the form of "the world's longest letter," in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a year's time. In her writing, Stargirl mixes memories of her bittersweet time in Mica, Arizona, with involvements with new people in her life.

In Love, Stargirl, we hear the voice of Stargirl herself as she reflects on time, life, Leo, and - of course - love.

Customer Reviews:

love, almost as much as the first.......2007-10-03

As I read the first 1/3 of the book I was mad at Jerry Spinelli for making Stargirl so pathetic, lovesick, heartbroken and NORMAL? (Never Stargirl!!!) But, as I read I remembered many of my feelings as a teenager and really identified with her. It was fabulous to see her recover and become better. This book is a must-read for any Stargirl fan. The new characters are fabulous and interesting. It will get you thinking about many issues. I loved it almost as much as the first.

Bad Spinelli. Bad........2007-09-27

Sigh. This is perhaps one of the more patronizing, contrived pieces of literature out there, which is especially disappointing coming from Jerry Spinelli. Not all of his books are hits, but few of his books feel this forced. Stargirl (in the original) was interesting - complicated and smart. In the sequel, though, she is but a caricature, a tedious sham of her formal self. To be asked to buy (and love) Stargirl II is an insult.

Welcome back Stargirl!.......2007-09-21

It was great to get back in touch with Stargirl. As a teacher I can say that my students were thrilled as well. Although I did not love it as much as the original, it was a great book.

She Shines Just as Brightly.......2007-09-05

This was a perfect sequel to Stargirl. An enigma can only last so long, here she is a real character, which she was in the last book but since it was told from Leo's point of view she was a bit clouded, a boy describing his first love... I think this book was wonderful in showing how one person can effect another. Leo was oblivious up until the last few pages of the first book at just how much emotional power he had over Stargirl. He knew the power she had over him, and how she touched those around her. But he wasn't able to understand how everything that happened changed her.

In this book we not only get her perspective on those events but on the new people in her life. Her narrative is thoughtful and wonderful. She again shows how she is the best in us all, taking misfits under her wing and guiding them in her Stargirl way, all while trying to heal her broken heart.

Its a wonderful story about being strong and moving on from heartbreak. Spinelli once again proves what a master wordsmith and story teller he is.

Different from Stargirl...and Vive Le Difference!.......2007-08-28

I found Stargirl in a bookstore and, for some reason, was intrigued enough to read a page or two. I had never read any of Jerry Spinelli's books before...but before I knew it, I was completely caught up in the story and read it from cover to cover before leaving the store.

It soon became a favorite of mine and a friend gave me a copy, which I have re-read several times. To me, it's a wonderfully inspiring story of individualism that young girls today need now more than ever, when presented with role models like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Just recently I discovered there was a sequel to this beloved book, and as several other reviewers have noted, it's quite different from Stargirl.
Not only has the narrator shifted from Leo to Stargirl, Stargirl shifts as well. We see her as less of a charming enigma and more of a vulnerable teenager who can't seem to get over her lost love. So she begins writing him a very long letter in daily journal form, and as she does, we see her find herself again as she develops healing relationships with an interesting cast of characters: an agoraphobe, a six year old girl, a man whose devotion to his late wife is all-consuming, and a potential replacement for Leo who has a harem and, possibly, a criminal record.

However, the original novel shows Stargirl's humanity and vulnerability or it would not have been believable. I disagree with the other reviewers who miss the enigma, because Stargirl's great triumph is that she is who she is in spite of--and because of--her humanity and vulnerability.

But I agree with the other reviews that say the ending is perfect. Indeed it is.

Both books inspire me. Both books made me very happy. I want to buy copies for every young woman I know and even every young woman I don't.

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Missed The Mark...
What a STAR in the sky of Literature!
*Stargirl* by leane g.
Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Stargirl

Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0439488400

Customer Reviews:

Missed The Mark..........2007-09-30

Leo moves to Mica, a city in Arizona. Then, Stargirl arrives. Stargirl is not by any stretch normal. Stargirl joins the cheerleading team, but roots for both teams. After getting kicked off of the cheerleading team, Stargirl is shunned by the whole school. Months go by, and Leo, who is now Stargirl's boyfriend, convinces her to become normal, thinking that this will stop the shunning.
It doesn't. After winning the State Oratorical contest, no one shows up to greet her. Susan goes home and comes back as Stargirl again. When Leo misses the Ocotillo ball at his high school, Stargirl shows up without a date. At the ball, Stargirl leads every one out of the tennis court and into the countryside while dancing the bunny hop. After she left the ball, Stargirl left Mica, and was never seen again.
Stargirl is new to her school, much like myself, though I think I have received a warmer welcome. Stargirl's spontaneous (and often unrewarded) acts of kindness are symbolic, though dangerously near to generic. The classic story of a new person arriving, and initially being an outcast, but eventually becoming liked, is reversed in this book. The dynamics of life in a high school are clearly illustrated, though perhaps oversimplified.
The book, though mildly interesting, did not seem to really compel one's feelings one way or another. The main problems are a serious lack of feeling in the writing, and a choppy, unsatisfying plot. The outcome is not positive or negative, and not even a "cliffhanger," so to speak. It's not that I know what happens after the end of the book; it's just that I frankly don't care.
Despite these shortcomings, I still found the book palatable, and I might recommend it to someone who was eight years old. It simply lacked depth. This, above all, killed it. Jerry Spinelli is an excellent author, but I believe he simply made some bad choices in terms of his writing style in the book.

What a STAR in the sky of Literature!.......2007-05-06

Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. New York: Dell Laurel-Leaf

Synopsis: At Mica High School everyone eats the same, dresses the same, talks the same, acts the same and no one is different. That is until the day that Stargirl shows up. Stargirl is an eccentric, kind home schooled student who does not conform to the same set of values or ideals as the typical students at Mica High School. She has no understanding of what is popular, nor does she realize the invisible social and cultural boundaries that are present around her. Stargirl plays birthday songs for her new classmates, leaves surprises for unsuspecting peers, and even displays random acts of kindness that go unknown. For some time the students are fearful and embarrassed of this stranger. However soon, the individuality of Stargirl spreads to other students. Leo falls head over heels in love with this flower in the desert. He loves everything about especially her individualism. After a fretful incident at basketball game, Stargirl's popularity begins to plummet. She is outcast and shunned by her classmates. In a desperate attempt to save his face and Stargirl's reputation, Leo asks Stargirl to do the unthinkable, to become normal. After a period of normalcy, Stargirl realizes the sacrifice she is making. Leo and his classmates are shocked how Stargirl's presence has changed their lives.

Evaluation: Spinelli's expertly written book brings light to the sensitive issues of nonconformity and popularity within the young adult setting of high school. His text encourages readers to honor differences and individualism. It is an excellent read aloud at the late elementary and middle grades. In addition, Stargirl is a must read for highschool students. One of the golden rules is to love thy neighbor. In Spinelli's book, the invisible social and cultural boundaries become apparent to readers. Displaying unacknowledged random acts of kindness are clearly an unwritten undertone of this book. Readers will likely have a desire to try something extraordinary to see how if affects the lives of those around them. Educators will likely use this text with middle and high school level readers to discuss the meaning of "normal" and popularity within school settings and how the social and cultural boundaries affect the social/emotional well-being of their peers. The author's language is light and airy while bringing such heart-felt topics to the surface in a sensitive manner. Middle and high school level readers are likely to find strong connections from their own lives to this book.

*Stargirl* by leane g........2007-04-12

Stargirl is about finding and being yourself! It's about a new student at Mica Area Middle School-Stargirl- how she changed the school and how it changed her for a time. Mica is a school that has barely any school spirt and even less acceptence of change, Stargirl on the other hand is full to the brink with both. Her 'style' changes the school but for a friend she changes herself, though not truly for the better.
My favorite part of this book would have to be such. Durring lunch, Stargirl would sing with the accompiniment of her ukalaly. On the other students' birthdays she would sing to them. these parts have to be my favorite just because it would be so random and awsome for a kid to go around singing happy birthday to someone with a ukalaly expecaly when you don't know them!!
This is a good book. I recomend it for a quick, fun read. Since it is under 200 pages you'll probably read it in a couple of days. also, it is a good book and you will want to know the end. So next time you are between books take some time to read "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-01-17

Stargirl Caraway is an enigma. She's the type of girl that you either love or hate--with no room for any emotions in between. When she first comes to the high-school as a sophomore in small town Mica, Arizona, her name reverberates throughout the hallways. What kind of a name is Stargirl? Was she really home-schooled for all these years, or did she just magically appear in Mica? How can she seem so calm, so serene, why eating quietly alone in the lunchroom, then strumming her ukulele as if all alone?

The boys in school are immediately struck by her quiet, unassuming beauty. The girls are both jealous of her innate naturalness and excited to have her enthusiasm in the school. For Leo Borlock, it's a mixture of fear and excitement that has him falling in love with the mysterious Stargirl--and a desire to see her on the Hot Seat, the in-school television show he runs with his best friend, Kevin.

The kids at school embrace Stargirl--her quirkiness, her individuality, her enthusiasm and exuberance for everything she does. She discovers friends and cheerleading, and she's popular. Popular, that is, until she starts rooting for the opposition, determined to bring joy and happiness to everyone, not just her home team. Suddenly, she's not the popular girl that everyone wants to be around. The same individuality that was once embraced is now snubbed, literally, by almost everyone in school. Except for Leo, who's in love with the enigmatic Stargirl, a girl who whole-heartedly loves him back.

Until Leo is forced to choose between the affections of an entire school full of classmates and the maybe-too-individual Stargirl. When faced with the choice of one person versus many, Leo might not be strong enough to make the right decision.

Jerry Spinelli has penned a book that goes straight to the heart of wanting to fit in, of sometimes being too good to believe, of life and love and heartbreak and the desire to be different, yet the same as everyone else. STARGIRL is a pure delight, and you won't be able to help being drawn into this very believable story, and it's truly unbelievable characters.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

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LitPlans on CD: Stargirl
Mary B. Collins
Manufacturer: Teacher's Pet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

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ASIN: 158337292X

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Essentially a complete teacher's manual for the book, this LitPlan Teacher Pack includes lesson plans and reproducible resource materials for Stargirl. It includes: 18 Daily Lessons, Short answer study questions, Multiple choice quiz questions, Vocabulary worksheets for each reading assignment, 3 detailed writing assignments, Individual and group activities, Critical thinking discussion questions, 5 unit tests (2 short answer, 2 multiple choice, 1 advanced short answer), Evaluation forms, Review puzzles & games, Bulletin board ideas, Reproducible student materials, And more! A Note About A Few Of The Many Different ssignments Included: There are three writing assignments in this unit, each with the purpose of informing, persuading, or expressing personal opinions. The detailed writing assignment sheets guide students through the assignments. In the first assignment, students write to inform. They write a "filler" for the newspaper. In the second assignment, students write to persuade Leo to accept Stargirl OR persuade Stargirl to find a better way to fit in with the group OR persuade you that Leo and Stargirl acted appropriately in the book and wouldn't need to be persuaded to do anything differently. The third writing assignment gives students the opportunity to do some creative writing by writing the plot summary for a sequel to the novel Stargirl. Students are assigned to do a project with this unit. Students are members of the Sunflower Club, a club of students who pledges to do something nice each day for someone other than themselves. Students will try to keep this pledge and keep a list of what they did each day. After about two weeks, students will share their experiences with the class.

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How weird that there are no reviews of this book

STARGIRL
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0439444438

Product Description

she was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest secnt of a cavtus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.

Customer Reviews:

How weird that there are no reviews of this book.......2007-05-18

This is a sweet, off-beat story of a girl who doesn't fit but knows from the start that it doesn't matter. I may have enjoyed it more than my kids did, although they certainly liked it. There is something deeply beautiful about this book.

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Courtesy of Teens Read Too
"Surprising and Original"....
Stargirl is my idol!
Stargirl: Well worth your time
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Love, Stargirl

ASIN: 0439316758

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-01-17

"Surprising and Original"...........2005-05-06

Imagine setting there, in the lunch room, when the doors open and a 10th grade girl wearing a skirt that touches her toes with a pet rat on her shoulder walks in. She's playing a ukulele and singing her own tune. Nobody dressed to express their personality, but that all changed after Stargirl. Stargirl showed her personality all the way. When she went to school sports games she cheered for the other team, when they made a score. She also wasn't afraid to show who she liked either. She had a crush on Leo, the other main character and narrator of the story. Leo began to love Stargirl. They would see each other outside of school but at school they didn't sit together or talk. Leo loved Stargirl, but he loved being liked more. When he was with Stargirl no one liked him but when he wasn't with her, they did. Jerry Spinelli's story tells about real teen issues with a mix of comedy. I really liked Stargirl. I would recommend it to anyone that likes a good book.

Stargirl is my idol!.......2005-02-09

I am a 36 year old woman who had to read this book for a mother/daughter book discussion at our local public library. My daughter is only ten years old and homeschooled. Because of her age and lack of high school experience, I didn't feel she could relate to this and did not encourage her to read it.

I, on the other hand, could not put the back down (after the first two chapters). I tell as many adults as I can to read this book. It's deep! It's funny. It's poignant. It's touching.

If you have an ounce of compassion in your heart, this book will make you realize that it is possible to get out and do immense good for others in the best way: anonymously. It is in giving, that you receive.

The book is a good description of how ugly fear is. It will sadden you to realize how simplicity and a zest for life from awareness can scare so many people. Deconditioning of society is so needed.

I am changing my name from Theresa, to Starfish. I like that one for now......

Stargirl: Well worth your time.......2005-02-01

It's just another stale and boring day at Mica Area High School. Everybody walks the same walk, talks the same talk, and does all they can to stay out of the spotlight. Out of thin air, a new student appears, skipping through the halls in a gaudy floor-length skirt whilst harmonizing with a ukulele. Thus begins Stargirl, a novel written by Jerry Spinelli and published in 2000 by EMC/Paradigm by arrangement with Random House.

Jerry Spinelli takes us on a crash course in individuality in Stargirl. Mica Area High School (MAHS) is a vast sea of conformity. Susan Caraway AKA "Stargirl" is the only person who is herself. She is "not connected" with the rest of the students. Everybody else looks, acts, and thinks the same. Stargirls sticks out like a sore thumb. When her antics eventually get her ostracized, she makes up a character, `Evelyn Everybody', as an example of how to be `normal'. Before she did anything, she'd ask herself, "Would Evelyn Everybody do this?" In the end, is it really worth it? Read the book and find out!

Stargirl makes excellent use of symbolism. During a long ride in the car, Stargirl asks the driver if he knew of any extinct birds. He responds by talking about the moa, possibly the biggest bird ever. Stargirl remembers the words of her friend and mentor, Archie Brubaker: "Mockingbirds may do more than imitate other living birds... They may also imitate the sounds of birds that are no longer around... The sounds of extinct birds are passed down the years from mockingbird to mockingbird." What she doesn't realize is that she is not too different from the mockingbird. She, too, is imitating a great species that was killed off long ago by people; she is imitating an individual. Individuality was lost to peer opinion when we were just a few years old. This book is chock full of symbolism and other interesting riddles.

All in all, I'd say Stargirl deserves 4 out of 5 stars. I commend Spinelli on his style of writing. I appreciated the use of symbolism throughout the book. On several occasions, there will be a passage from the book that makes you do some deep thinking. The ending of the story was spectacularly well thought out and written. However, Stargirl has its flaws. Although the story was interesting and well written, it was not as exciting as I expected it to be. Overall, I still believe that Stargirl was worth reading. I'd suggest this story to people who like to be challenged by reading, or people who simply like drama. Stargirl will be well worth your time.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.......2004-08-04

I thought this was a wonderful book and it held my interest though out the book. I was kind-of dispointed with the out come but I would definatly recomend it. Enjoy!!

Jerry Spinelli Set I (Wringer, The Library Card, Crash, Stargirl)

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Jerry Spinelli Set I (Wringer, The Library Card, Crash, Stargirl)
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Product Description

Set of 4 books by Jerry Spinelli

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Puzzle Pack: Stargirl
Mary B. Collins
Manufacturer: Teacher's Pet Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1583377980

Product Description

138 pages. Written by Mary B. Collins. Here's a whole manual full of puzzles, games, and worksheets related to Stargirl.

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¿Quién es ella? : Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Ediciones Alfaguara
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 8420464600

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Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPDVDK

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