StarGirl

**Stargirl ** by Jerry Spinelli

2007, Random House Children's Books

**Basics:**
 * Ages: 10 to 14 years old
 * Type: Young Adult Novel
 * Length: 208 pages
 * Categories: Friendship, Romance, Coming of Age

**Main Character(s):**
 * Leo Borlock - 16 year old high school student
 * Stargirl Caraway - free-spirited student

**Reviews:** > "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, Newbery Honor Book, 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 --
 * Amazon.com Review
 * Stargirl is a teenage novel written by Jerry Spinelli first published in 2000. The book centers on a new 10th grade student at Mica Area High School in Arizona: Stargirl Caraway, otherwise known as Susan Julia Caraway, an eccentric and compassionate girl who has spent her previous years in homeschooling Eleventh-grader Leo Borlock narrates. Between the story and the epilogue, the narrator implies that 15 years have elapsed, and the references imply that the novel is set in the 1980s. The sequel Love, Stargirl was released August 14, 2007.

**Discussion Questions:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**Personal Recommendation:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">This coming of age novel exemplifies acceptance, individuality and an unexpected friendship and blooming romance between two high school students. This intriguing novel by Jerry Spinelli is recommended for all junior high to high school aged students dealing with the struggles of peer pressure and conformity while trying to stay true to oneself. I also recommend this book for 4th and 5th graders as they begin to struggle with acceptance and making decisions about who you call your friends.
 * 1) Do you think it is important to Stargirl to be liked? To Leo? How important is it for you to fit in?
 * 2) Though Stargirl seems to ignore the shunning, how do you think she really feels? Do you think it hurts her? How would you feel if you were in her place?
 * 3) Do you think it was a selfish act for Leo to ask Stargirl to try to become normal? If you were in his place would you do the same thing?
 * 4) Do you know anyone whose persona resembles that of Stargirl? How are they treated? Are they welcomed? Avoided?
 * 5) Do you think it was a smart idea to put Stargirl in the "Hot Seat", do you think it further increased the dislike the students at Mica High felt towards her?
 * 6) What does Leo learn from Archi?
 * 7) Describe Kevin. Do you think he is a supportive friend?
 * 8) Stargirl's attempt at normalcy doesn't work very well. Do you think it is easy to reinvent yourself?
 * 9) What do you think of Leo and Stargirl's relationship? Do you think he is a good boyfriend?
 * 10) What do you think of Hillari Kimble? Why do you think she disliked Stargirl more than anyone else?

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**Links to Lessons:** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[] []
 * Link to Discussion Questions:**