Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Spinelli, J. (2004). Stargirl. New York: Random House. ISBN 0440416779

Plot Summary 

Told from junior Leo Borlock's perspective, Stargirl is the story of a new student who goes by the eponymous name.  Stargirl dresses radically everyday, does what she feels, like cheering for both teams at sporting events, and does not seem to care what others think.  Leo is intrigued, then somewhat enamored by her.  Stargirl's strangeness never completely alienates her until she consoles a hurt player from her school's opposing team.  Leo, however, admires her and the two begin a relationship.  In turn, the students at Mica Area High School begin to shun him too.  Fitting in is important to Leo, and he convinces Stargirl to conform in an attempt to gain acceptance again, but the result is not what is expected.  What follows is Leo and Stargirl coming to realize what popularity is really about and how being true to one's self is more important.

Critical Evaluation 

As this book is all about popularity and acceptance, the choice of Leo as the narrator as opposed to Stargirl is effective because it sets up the conflict; Leo wants the acceptance of his peers, but he also likes Stargirl and who she is.  Instead of the conflict merely being Stargirl's inability to fit in, it additionally becomes Leo's issues with how people treat him because of his associations with her. 

Reader's Annotation 

Stargirl enjoys marching to the beat of her own ukulele, but some at Mica Area High School may have a different plan for her.  Is fitting in worth it, or can Stargirl be herself and still be accepted?

Author Information 

Much like Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli seems to have been a pretty eccentric kid.  He describes dressing as a cowboy, spurs and all, and going to school that way.  He remarks that he first wanted to be a cowboy.  Enamored with sports, he wanted to be a baseball player until he got a sports poem published in a local paper.  From then on, he states, he wanted to be an author.

After being the editor of his college literary magazine at Gettysburg College, he was briefly editor of a department store magazine as he wrote from home.  Currently, he is the writer of 30 published books and has 21 grandchildren.  He does not describe himself as simply a writer, as he feels he does so many other things (Jerry Spinelli's Bio).

Genre 

Fiction,contemporary

Curriculum Ties 

Reading and Language Arts

Booktalking Ideas 

Speak as Stargirl describing her life when she started to act "normal" and how it does not get her what she wants.  End with her becoming more and more excited about reverting to her more eccentric ways.

Reading Level/Interest Age 

Stargirl ranks at 590L on the Lexile Range and would be of interest to teens around the age of the characters, 15-17.

Challenge Issues 

Not applicable, but if challenged, I would first suggest being familiar with the work in order to speak about it directly.  Then, listen the challenger's complaint, show them to positive reviews, and refer to the collection policy, stating a need to include a variety of works that may not be suitable for all, but should contain something for everyone.  As a last resort, turn to the ALA Bill of Rights or First Amendment defense, but try not to let things get there; listen and reassure the patron.

Reason Selected

This book's titular character reminded me of Weetzie Bat, and I was initially drawn to that.  Having the point of view be from Leo's perspective was a notable difference from Weetzie Bat, as was the tamer content, but these differences made me want to include Stargirl.

Stargirl was an ALA Top Ten Best Books Award winner as well as a Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year (Wikipedia).

References

Jerry Spinelli's Bio. (2013). Jerry Spinelli. Retrieved March 30, 2013 from http://www.jerryspinelli.com/newbery_008.htm

Stargirl (novel). (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargirl_(novel)