Stargirl

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 Megan

This book was interesting, made me think harder than i was, and made me curious and ask questions. my favorite character was "Stargirl". i liked how abnormal she was and how she changed her name all the time to fun, random things that were pretty and nice and i liked them. she was like a strange site you wanted to keep following and learn about and figure out and you wouldn't stop till you did. that's what Stargirl was like. she was the whole fun of the book!!!

Reader reviewed by Amanda

I have read some reviews about this book and most weren't thrilled with Spinelli's story. I, of course, had to find out for myself and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. I really enjoyed this book, as unrealistic as it may be and once I was finished, was quite glad that I read it.


Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, follows Leo, an ordinary student at Mica High School. Everyone at Mica is ordinary. Normal by most people's standards. When Stargirl, a new student at Mica, shows up and is anything but ordinary, no one knows how to react. Is she for real? Is she a plant at the school to mix things up? Is she an alien? Leo is incredibly intrigued by Stargirl and as the school year progresses, the pair end up as a couple. Leo is pretty much ok with Stargirl's "differences" until the entire school starts to shun them. When Leo becomes an outcast as well, he asks Stargirl to do the unthinkable. Be normal. This changes everything and the outcome is anything but what Leo could expect.


The story of Leo and Stargirl was not exactly realistic. Though I haven't been in high school for quite awhile, I know that if someone is a complete outcast, as Stargirl certainly was, a normal, almost geeky boy like Leo probably would not be keen on making himself known as the one who befriended the weirdo. Kids want to fit in, no matter how much they deny it. However, I do think the story was sweet and I think the character of Stargirl was very refreshing. I look forward to reading the sequel once it's published.

Reader reviewed by chatterbox891

I really have mixed feelings about this book. It had a great message, but wasn;t very well written.
Stargirl is the new kid. She is the weird, I-don't-fit-in-but-I-don't-care kind of new kid though. At first she is loved, then she is hated, and finally she ups and leaves town, leaving people to ponder her fate, and her sort of boyfriend to worry.

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 Malia

Great! It was funny and it dort of related to my own life. The author put a good perspective of the character's life and opinions and he mad eit real to how the story was being played out

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

Reader reviewed by Future Teacher

Despite its raving reviews, Stargirl is rather dull, predictable, and impractical in its depiction of today's high school culture. This is particularly due to Stargirl's overplayed naivete--although the message to embrace individuality is certainly important, Spinelli attempts to transmit it through an unreliable main character too unrealistically oblivious to pressure from her peers. Further, the novel fails to explore the perils of conformity in relation to larger, more complicated social issues like diversity.  Despire its underlying call to celebrate difference and condemn intolerance, the story seemingly forgets to include characters of other ethnicities--those who are deeply affected by pressures to conform and suppress their individuality on a daily basis. Stargirl merely treads the shallow surface of adolescent life, never really exploring deeper, more pertinent concerns that would invite for rich critical analysis.

Reader reviewed by Duckie



Leo Borlock has a world. A world of exams and tests at Mica High in Arizona. A world of behind-the-scenes of "hot-seat" at Mica High. A world of basketball games that NO ONE goes to. A world like all other teen guys in high school. Until.......

Stargirl is mysterious, strange, and above all bubbling with utter happiness. She (as a star-person)sheds light not tears. She leaves change on the sidewalk for others to find, plays "happy birthday" on her ukelele when someons birthday is on that day, she goes to basketball games and does frontflips (even if the OTHER team got the score) and stargirl crys for people that cry. Laughs for people that laugh. and hurts when other people hurt.

Leo Borlock never saw stargirl coming. But she steals his heart all the same. People around stargirl take interest in non-makeup-wearing-ukelele-playing-rat-owning-front-flip-doing stargirl. She takes cheerleading. is on hot-seat. wins the speech contest. Then her life goes away. She is shunned by everyone. Except Leo Borlock. Leo tells her she can't be like this anymore and urges her into doing the thing that will destroy her:become normal.

Will stargirl become normal?
Will Leo stay mad at her?
Will their love last forever?
Will Leo ever get ahold of snity?

Reader reviewed by aria

this is a great book! i love it because its like regular teenage life, with a touch of romance and, well, stargirl.

stagirl is one of the kindest people out there. but she's also a bit strange.

at basketball, she cheers for the other team. and at school she wears long poineer dress. she has a ukelele and a pet rat. and leo is totally in love with her.