Stargirl

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

At Mica High School in Mica, Arizona, things are quiet and uneventful. Everyone dresses alike. Everyone thinks alike. No one does anything that's different than their neighbor.

Until Stargirl comes along.

Homeschooled for years, Stargirl defies categorization. She wears long, flowy pioneer dresses daily, and on special occasions, costumes. She serenades people with birthday songs on her ukelele at lunch. She brings her pet rat to school. She looks strangers in the eye. She dances to no music.

Leo Borlock was perfectly happy with his generic Mica life. Then, against his will, he finds himself falling for Stargirl. The two share an incredible, eye-opening romance. In their own little world, everything is perfect and magical. But when they have to face their critical classmates, what will happen to their relationship?

This is by far Jerry Spinelli's best. It is a beautifully written story about nonconformity and the seeds of magic and quirkiness that are actually in everyone. Readers will wish that they were friends with Stargirl. This is a sad story, but extremely touching and timeless.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

This book is about a new girl in town that is different from everyone else in town. She dresses and acts different which is not considered "normal" therefore she doesnt make friends at first.

The story is told from a guy's point of view on what he thinks about her. He likes her because she is different but is afraid to lose his friends because no one likes her after one incident.

I love this book because it teaches you that everyone is unique in their own way and there is nothing wrong with that.

Reader reviewed by Therdry

I first met Stargirl in the seventh grade. A teacher recomened I read adout her diffirences. I found myself understanding a lot, but in a good way, not like I'd just gotten a lecture.

During the last full week of school that year my teacher read the book aloud in class. Many people were fairly uncomfortable with it at first, after a while though we all protested when the final bell rang, and rushed to class the next day for more.

The class soon descided that my nickname should be stargirl, being the closest to the character.

This book helped the people in my class to understand some people don't come from cookie cutters, but are hand shaped. I like that; this book makes that consept easier for people to understand.

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 Emmie

The book is an ok book if you have nothing else to read. My favorite part was probably when Leo and Stargirl were in the mall and followed people around to see what kind of card they would give them because i just think i could probably have fun doing that. I also thought it was sad when someone threw a tomatoe at Stargirl at the basketball game and when Hillari slapped satrgirl at the Octillo Ball and no one saw Stargirl again. I also thought the ending was kind of odd when Archie went and buried Barnie. I kind of wonder if Stargirl and Leo will ever see each other again. Overall I thought Stargirl was a pretty good book, It was just a little bit to kiddish for me.

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 willow

This was a wonderful touhing story that inspired me to stand up for myself. I have always been shy and tried to fit in but this book gave me the courage to just be myself. This is a great story about a girl who does whats feels rght to her and doesn't care what others think abiout her

Reader reviewed by Fiona flamingo

Stargirl is about a unique girl, who carries a pet rat, ulkele, sings happy birthday to everyone and is nearly a saint. Then she attend Mica Junir High and affects the lives of others there. Especially Leo, whoose perspective this story is seen from. Stargirl and Leo strike up a romance, but the other students are still unwilling to accept Stargirl the way she is. The story is engaging and unique as its heroine.
Jerry Spinelli has done a good job on his charcter portrayal of Stargirl.
A well written book-a great read! I recommend it to teens everywhere!

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 Carmen



This was both happy and sad. I liked it because it shows how people can act twords people who are different from them. Stargirl is the new kid at school and she is the weirdest girl anyone has ever seen. She chears for both teams at a basketball game,
sings songs at lunch, and even makes her own Valentine cards. Even when faced with rejection she stands her ground.
A quick read and a good book.
Carmen