Book Summary:
Leo Borlock follows the crowd at Mica Area High School where
students don't stand out or do anything to be different. Then Stargirl, whose
real name is Susan, arrives at Mica High and everything changes. After 15 years
of being home schooled, Stargirl blazes into the tenth grade in an explosion of
color and ukulele music and birthday songs. Stargirl begins to make friends
and gain popularity even though she does not conform to the norm of the student
body. Leo Borlock begins to fall in love with her, but wants her to change
especially when his own popularity and normalcy is being compromised. Stargirl does alter her “normal” personality
traits and behaviors, but she is mature enough to realize that it is important
to be true to one self and continue in the life pursuits that have meaning and
value for that individual.
APA Reference:
Spinelli, J. (2000). Stargirl. New York, NY: Scholastic
Impressions:
This is a good book about teaching students about their own individuality and becoming comfortable with their own unique traits and personalities. I enjoyed reading this book about Stargirl and how she was observant and kind to all those around her. She was a self-less individual who was always looking for ways to help and lift the spirits of those around her without worrying about consequences or being popular. The world would be a better place if more people would believe in themselves and not always follow the crowd or what is popular.
Professional Review:
Cynics might want to steer clear of this novel of a
contemporary Pollyanna, whose glad-game benevolences include singing Happy
Birthday to her classmates, dropping change in the street for children to find,
and--to her downfall--joining the cheerleading squad and rooting for both
teams. High school junior Leo is at first nonplussed by Stargirl's not-so-random
acts of kindness, but he really loves her from the start. After Stargirl is shunned for her disloyal
cheerleading, Leo persuades her to go along with the crowd, and she even
reclaims her birth name, Susan. Predictably, this doesn't work for Stargirl; on the author's part, it occasions much heavy-handed
moralizing about conformity. While it is true that we are meant to see Stargirl as larger-than-life ("She seems
to be in touch with something that the rest of us are missing"), there are
no shadows to contour her character, and thus her gestures seem empty. While
Spinelli's Maniac Magee was on the run for a reason and Pollyanna needed
something to be glad for, Stargirl has nothing to lose. But as a story
of high school outsiders and light romance, this will find an audience, and the
book does bear many strong similarities to Maniac Magee, offering a charismatic
female counterpart.
Sutton, R. (2000). Stargirl. Horn Book Magazine, 76(4), 465-466.
Library Uses:
The librarian will begin a discussion with "Why would you give someone a greeting card?" The students will find and observe a person and create, write and send a greeting card to that individual.
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