Stargirl

Reader reviewed by Erin B

This book Stargirl is a must read for any teen. I read it twice so that I could understand the story. Being a younger girl the first time I needed to grow to understand everything through another pair of eyes that are older and aware of relationships between the characters.

What I liked most about the book was it left me wanting more to the story. I did not want the book to end. I was sad at the end . I am looking forward to reading "Love Stargirl". I really like this author and all Jerry Spinelli stories. I was sad when Mr. Spinelli's book signing tour was canceled recently due to his health. I look forward to his writing more books for a long time to come. Maybe I will get to meet him someday!

Reader reviewed by linda

Stargirl is a newcomer to Mica High School where everyone tries their hardest to fit in and be the same. But Stargirl is unique with her ukulele and pet rat she charms the whole school and especially Leo. But one day when she starts cheering for the other team during a football game the whole school turns on her. With only two true friends left Stargirl goes on a quest to make herself normal and introduces Leo to her life and strange ways. In the end Stargirl and Leo realize that she is great when she is being herself. 'Stargirl' is a touching story and one of the best books I have ever read.

reprint here with author's permission

Reader reviewed by Dara

This book was a quirky love story-One of the unusual sort. An unafraid girl moves to a new town and showcks everyone with her different ways of doing things. Throughout this book it gets interesting, because the reader watches the fall, rise, and fall of Stargirl all while a normal boy is facing an internal battle with his love for her. Should he risk everything and follow his heart? or should he try to forget about her even though shes impossible to forget? I thought this book was cute and it taught a valuable lesson on peer pressure.

Reader reviewed by teena

wow talk about weird :)

i read stargirl when i was in 7th grade. it was unusual...but i loved it. we read books on the revolutionary war and ray bradbury, but nothing like this. it made me laugh. stargirl is a great character, although un-normal. maybe that's why i liked her so much and this book.

Stargirl is short, sweet, and it makes you look at the world in a whole new way. Everyone should read this book.

Reader reviewed by Nic

Leo Borlock's world is about to be turned upside down the day Stargirl Carraway enrolls at Mica High. Previously homeschooled, Stargirl is a fascinating new creature in the conformist town of Mica, with her outlandish outfits, pet rat, and complete lack of self-consciousness. Her schoolmates' curiousity about her leads to wide-spread adoring and emulation, and Leo Borlocks finds himself falling in love with her. Then Stargirl makes one social faux pas too many, and the school's population turns on her overnight. Leo tries to teach her to conform, and comes disastrously close to ruining all that she is.


"Stargirl" cannot be summed up in a review; it is so much more than anything I can tell you. Like Leo Borlock and Mica High, a little piece of you will change upon meeting her.

Reader reviewed by Kellie

I teach 7-8 grade special education students. I had heard that this Stargirl was a wonderful book, so I read it. I loved it so much that I had to share it with my students. They listened to the recorded reading and followed along. I was so impressed. This was the first book that they actually didn't want to put down. Not only was it a great book because of the characters, but it also taught life lessons. I now try to bring out my inner Stargirl and I have noticed my students doing the same.

Reader reviewed by lilly

Stargirl, writtin by Jerry Spinelli, is a great book about the life of a boy who falls in love with this unusual girl who teaches him how to appreciate life wihtout the others needing to be in it.

I had to read this book for school and it turned out I was stuck to the pages, it was so good. I'm sure if I had to read it again I would still like it cuz it's my kind of book.

All the teens who think they're not normal, read this book and u'll think the contrairy of yourself after.

Reader reviewed by Katie

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is about a girl who brings color and life into Mica High School. Mica High school is the central of conformity, every day when you wake up your goal is pretty much to be as un-dorkey as possible. But this year theres a new friendly girl who has been home schooled for years and is just entering the tenth grade. This could be the average tenth grade girl but its not. From the moment she enters the school everyones talking about her. Her name is Stargirl. Stargirl has the individuality, spirit and energy that most of us wouldnt even dream of. Within her first month at school she starts a whole school spirit revolution with just one football ball game and becomes a lead cheerleader. She is the beginning of individuality at Mica High. She wears kimonos and pioneer dresses to school, strums a ukulele during lunch, laughs when there are no jokes, dances in the rain and leaves gifts on desks. Pretty soon the whole school cant resist her friendliness and charm (especially Leo Borlock) and she becomes one of the most popular people in the school. Unfortunately popularity is a fragile thing and pretty soon people start questioning things about her. Questions like why does she sing happy birthday to every one and the most asked, Why as a cheerleader does she cheer for both teams at the basketball game? Pretty soon the shunning of Stargirl starts and soon Leo Borlock who has now become Starboy is included in the shunning. Leo who is concerned about her and his popularity tries to turn Stargirl into the one thing she cant be, Normal.
This book shows you that all throughout life there will always be people who dont like you or want you to be different. It may be a popular kid who wants to be friends with you if you drop your other friends, or your sibling whos embarrassed because you dress funny. Whatever it is your uniqueness is important and you should never change just to please someone else. Its better to be liked for who you are rather then who you are not.

Reader reviewed by Ella

Stargirl is definitely one of my favorite books. I found the way Stargirl changed her whole lifestyle and appearence for Leo amazing. I was stunned at how far she would bend to please the boy she loved. I especially loved the beginning with the porkupine ties. I begged my sister to let me read her copy of the book (we have to read it this year in school, so she wanted me to wait), and I devoured the book within less than a day. The story was sweet, but sad. Stargirl was just the kind of character I needed in a book. Some one who wasn't afraid to be herself, who put others first. This book was a wonderful, touching story for teens and adults.