Stargirl

Title: Stargirl
Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: Dell Laurel-Leaf
Copyright: 2000 Jerry Spinelli
Pages: 186
Ages: Young Adult
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Summary:
Leo is relatively popular. He is a behind the scenes kind of guy. But then Stargirl, the school oddity, comes along. From day one she is considered strange. Who would name their child Stargirl? Why does she play the ukulele and sing Happy Birthday in the lunch room? And why does she have a pet rat?
There are many divisions of kids at the school. the popular kids are, Hallari Kimble and Wayne Parr. Hallari is rude and loud and dislikes Stargirl from the beginning. She makes up different scenarios about her and spreads them around. Everyone starts to believe that she is a plant, and actress and she is completely fake. Leo on the other hand, secretly admires Stargirl. He and his friend Kevin decide to have her on their show “Hot Seat”. But soon after this decision is made, Leo changes his mind. He begins to care about Stargirl.
When football season starts, Stargirl really begins to shine. She completely disrupts the football game but with that, everyone cheers and the first sniff of school spirit in years is apparent. The head cheerleader asks Stargirl to join the squad and she accepts. She continues to play the ukulele and sing happy birthday to everyone. She continues to be herself. In fact, when it is Hallari’s birthday, Hallari threatens her, telling her not to sing to her. Stargirl agrees and instead sings Happy Birthday to Leo. Leo decides it’s time to go visit Archie.
Archie is a bone collector. Not in some creepy way, but as a paleontologist. He lived near the school to be around children since he and his deceased wife had none of their own. Archie is considered to be very wise, (probably because he used to be a teacher) even if he’s a little odd at times. Every Saturday people would show up to be taught by Archie. This Saturday, it was Leo and Kevin. They spent all day with Archie, trying to figure out Stargirl. They learn that Archie has been teaching her for years! And that she frequently changes her name to whatever suits her. Archie tells them that she is one of them, and that she is the most natural, non-conforming.
Before anyone knows what’s happening, Stargirl is the most popular person in school. She is still looked at as odd, but she is never alone. There is always someone around her. Dori Dilson, a girl who writes poetry becomes Stargirls best friend. She becomes so popular that people begin to imitate her. They buy pet rats, and play ukulele’s in the lunch room. She is soon revered instead of seen as odd.
After Thanksgiving, Stargirl enters a oratorical contest and wins. She is accepted to the state finals in April.
She woke up the school. School spirit finally existed and people began to see each other. Identity was created, people began to care and people were accepted. Leo feels that it’s time to put Stargirl on the show. She accepts and the preparations begin. But this is when things start to go downhill. The way she says the Pledge of Allegiance is criticized, she goes to a funeral she wasn’t invited to and is kicked out, and she gives a bicycle to a young boy who wrecked his own, this causes a family squabble and the bike is then thrown away. None of this has near the impact of the cheerleading and basketball games. She not only cheered for her own team, but the opposing team as well. On one such occasion she is tricked by her team and is left at the opposing school with no ride home (2 hours away) and has to get a ride home with the custodian. The team lies and tells her it was a mistake, and unfortunately she believes them.
Before Leo knows it, it’s time for the show. Instead of being a nice, friendly and sometimes embarrassing show, everyone but Leo attacks her. They criticize the way she looks and acts and treat her horribly. And things don’t stop once the show is over. Stargirl continues her life as normal, but her one big mistake is that she runs out to help the opposing teams injured player. From then on, everyone is against her.
Sometime later Leo opens a school notebook to find a valentine from Stargirl, it says “I love you”. Leo begins to notice her even more, as Stargirl begins to talk to him even more.
Stargirl is kicked off the Cheerleading team, but it’s not as bad as it could be. People start to call Leo Starboy and he is secretly thrilled! He likes Stargirl. He walks to her house one night and passes it several times. He walks and walks until Stargirl comes outside. He hides behind her car and waits. Of course, she knows he’s there and begins to talk to him. She introduces her rat, Cinnamon and Leo is surprised to find that he likes him. But things are different, Leo doesn’t like Stargirl, he loves her. They begin spending more time together and she takes him to her enchanted spot in the middle of the desert. They walk for a long time, talking. Finally, they arrive at Stargirl’s secret spot. They spend a lot of time doing “nothing” and eventually head home.
Leo and Stargirl are left out. They are completely alone at school. No one looked, spoke or even smiled at them. They were being officially shunned. Stargirl is not affected at all, she practices for her speech tournament, but Leo is bothered. He goes to see Archie but doesn’t get much headway.
Stargirl teaches Leo many things. She was always showing him things that he would never have noticed without her. She opened his eyes to many many things. They start making deliveries to people who need an extra boost, or are sick, or have a birthday. All without receiving recognition. They found out who to take things to by reading the paper and checking bulletin boards. They would people watch and play games. Leo meets her parents and Stargirl shows him her room. He is intrigued by her happy wagon. When it is filled with stones she is happy, and when it is nearly empty, she is sad. They spent all Saturday together doing things for other people. Leo is amazed with her. That night, they have their first kiss. People continue to shun them and Leo is more affected than ever. Then one day Stargirl announces on a bed sheet “Stargirl love Leo”, it bothers Leo. He finally realizes how completely alone the two of them are and he can’t stand it.
Leo finally explains to her that she needs to be normal, that they can’t be together unless she becomes normal. So she does. She becomes Susan. She is subdued and quiet. She doesn’t decorate her desk or play the ukulele and Leo is proud of her. But they are still ignored. Everyone ignores them.
Stargirl continues to practice her speech and tries to fit in. Then she has a vision that everything will turn out okay and that she is going to win the speech contest. She tells Leo, “I’m going to be popular!” Leo believed her.
The day of the contest Leo and Susan are driven to it. They discuss the contest and Leo tries to discourage her from getting her hopes up. He tells her that she’s not the only one in the contest and that she may not win. She ignores him and continues her discussion about how she is going to win and be a hero. She wins the competition and receives a standing ovation! She receives her trophy and they return home but her return is not what she was expecting. She remains unpopular and Susan disappears. Stargirl comes back. Leo thinks she’s giving up and basically gives up on her. He hears people insult her but doesn’t do anything to prevent it. There is a dance coming up, and Stargirl tells Leo that she knows he won’t ask her and continues being herself. She goes to the ball, while Leo does not. Leo rode on his bicycle watching the ball from a distance. Stargirl arrived in a bicycle side car wearing a beautiful strapless, yellow gown. She goes to the ball completely alone. She did what everyone else did, she danced. She danced fast and she danced slow. Everyone ignores her until a boy named Raymond Studemacher dances with her. After she dances with him she requests the bunny hop. No one is sure how it started but the ice is broken and almost every couple joins in. The music stops and Stargirl keeps everyone going. The music starts up again and Stargirl leads everyone off the dance floor and around town. After what seems like hours they return with Stargirl in the lead. When they return Hillari slaps Stargirl and instead of fighting back Stargirl kisses her on the cheek and leaves. Dori Dilson picked her up and that was the last anyone ever saw of Stargirl.
Fifteen years pass and Leo still thinks about that time. During the summer after the ball Leo goes to Stargirls house to find a for sale sign. He asks Archie and he tells Leo that she and her family moved to Minnesota. Archie explains that Stargirl was a Star person, that they don’t come along everyday. The next year Leo goes to see Archie, where he shows Leo Stargirls office. It was his old shed.
Leo continues to visit Archie throughout his college years. Until one day he arrives and finds that Archie is gone.
Every five years the school has a reunion but Leo never attends. He keeps in touch with Kevin and finds out that people often talk about Stargirl. Anytime Leo goes back to town he drives by her house. He continues some of the things that Stargirl showed him, like walking in the rain without an umbrella. He also reads the fillers in the newspapers. He thinks about Stargirl often and remembers the year they had together.

Who would I recommend this to?
I love love love this book. I would recommend this book to everyone! This isn’t just a great book. It shows what true friendship is and how the pressures of high school can challenge that.

Potential Problems:
I don’t see anything wrong with this book. I think it’s a fairly accurate account of High School.

My Reaction:
This is my new favorite book! I love how Stargirl doesn’t seem to care what other people think. I would love to be more like her. She’s so kind and thoughtful and very unique!