24. Stargirl

Title: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Copyright Date: 2000
Number of Pages: 186
Reading Level: 10+
Genre:Realistic Fiction

Summary
“Did you see her?” That is all that Leo hears the first day of school when Stargirl comes around. She had been home-schooled most of her life and is somewhat “different.” She wears floor length prairie dresses on her “normal” days, wears a ukulele on her back, and carries a brown rat in her backpack named Cinnamon. Stargirl becomes the new fad in the school after everyone gets over their initial disbelief. She marches out on the football field, sings happy birthday to everyone and people start to pick up her spirit. When basketball season rolls around everything changes when Stargirl not only cheers for her own team but for the enemy as well. This wouldn’t have been so bad if MAHS had kept its losing streak but because they were on a roll of winning, this was treason. Stargirl starts to pay special attention to Leo and he finds that he likes what she is offering and falls into her smiling eyes. She teaches him to see beyond what’s right in front of him and shows him how much you can care about a person after watching them for only 15 minutes. The school starts the silent treatment and although Stargirl is oblivious, Leo is all too aware because he is being shunned too for his relationship with her. He convinces her that she needs to be more like everyone else and Stargirl becomes Susan (her given name). Leo is so happy with the transformation but nothing changes at school, everyone still hates her. Susan wins at a speech contest and goes to the championship, she is sure that when she wins she will come home and everyone with love and cheer her on. She is sadly mistaken when no one is waiting for her when she gets home after winning. Leo is disgruntled that the next school day Stargirl is back and happier the way she is. Stargirl takes herself to the school dance and everyone falls back in love with her again, but she doesn’t return to school again. Her family moves to Minnesota and Leo is left to realize what he missed out on.

Recommendation
I would actually recommend this book to a high school boy. I would want it to be read by someone who is too concerned with what other people think so that they can see what kind of damage it can do to someone else.

Problems/Conflict
Interest level for this book is more for high school kids. I can’t imagine an elementary student fully understanding the meanings and underlying messages. The book cover seems too feminine; I wish it came off less gender specific. I feel like a boy wouldn’t pick this up just because of that.

My Reaction
What a sad but truthful story. There are so many who would try to change those that seem “different.” I hope that for kids in school they can realize what the message is. It frustrates me so much that Leo doesn’t understand what he does when he starts to show Stargirl what other people think. This situation happens all to often in young relationships and the effects can be so sad especially when one changes permanently to fit in. I didn’t fully enjoy this book but I’m better having read it I think. You shouldn’t try to change someone to fit you.