Stargirl

Rating:
Summary: Five Stars For Stargirl
Review: Stargirl by Jerri Spinelli is about a boring, follow-the-crowd town called Mica that hasn't changed since anyone can remember. Everyone dresses the same, acts the same, and pretty much is the same until Stargirl comes along. Her arrival brought color and cheerfulness into dull little Mica high school, all until one girl convinces the school that her kindness had gone too far. It seemed as though everyone had lost their faith in being the slightest bit different, all but one boy named Leo. Though Leo is forced to feel the torment of rejection and hate, nothing can take away his love and friendship with Stargirl.
Stargirl is a fun, well written story of love, devotion and having the courage to be who you want to be. It tought me so many lessons about life and how important one good friend can be. It is a wonderful book for people of all ages.

Rating:
Summary: Star Girl is a STAR!!!!!!
Review: Star Girl touched my heart, as she will yours. She was so different from everyone else, but she liked it that way, I enjoyed this book, and you will too.

Rating:
Summary: Words can never describe it
Review: Stargirl is truly an amazing character in this novel. This is one of those books that bring out all of your emotions. You laugh, you cry and everything in between. I read this book because it was highly recommended by my english teacher. I really enjoyed this book, because not only did it touch base on the things that most authors try to avoid, but it's also filled with mystery and inspiration. This is one of those books that you can't stop thinking about no matter how hard you try. Stargirl is truly a role model to every reader of this book. One has to be truly lucky and gifted to run into a stargirl in their lifetime, as stated in the book. Spinelli truly did a fantastic job at capturing the emotion and discrimination that both of the main characters faced. One of my favorite characters though, was Dori. Dori is like the friend that is there for you no matter what. This book is unquestionably the best and most intriguing book I have ever read and would highly recommend it to readers or any age.

Rating:
Summary: A book that will make you think
Review: Stargirl is different. She plays a ukulele and sings "Happy Birthday" to everyone at school on their birthdays, during lunch period. Stargirl covers her desk in a table cloth with daises, carries around a rat and cheers for both teams at a basketball game. Walking into Mica High, Stargirl is instantly popular. A boy, Leo Borlock, became captivated by her difference. He fell in love. Springing individuality in a place where everything is plain Jane, everyone seems to love her. Yet, there is never too much of a good thing. Spinelli writes, "By December, Stargirl Caraway had become the most popular person in the school." (36).

The feelings I had as I read this book were very philosophical. Why does it seem that the things the school ended up hating Stargirl for, things like cheering for the opponent at basketball games are the things we should do more of? Stargirl believes in enchanted places. Enchanted places don't have to be anything special, just a place where you close your eyes and lose yourself. You become one with the ground. Why does she seem so right? Spinelli writes, "'it's in the morning, for most of us. It's that time, those few seconds when we're coming out of sleep but we're not really awake yet. For those few seconds we are more primitive creatures than what we are to become....We are untitled, unnamed, unnatural, suspended between was and will be, the tadpole before the frog, the worm before the butterfly. We are, for a few moments, anything and everything we could be. And then...' '...we become ourselves' (103).
The title Stargirl is the nickname Susan Caraway had chosen for herself. It's not even a nickname, it is a name. Stargirl is what "felt right" as she said. Stargirl had several other titles earlier on in her lifetime, too. Spinelli writes, "'when she first showed up, she called herself Pocket Mouse. Then Mud pie, then-what? - Hullygully, I believe" (32).
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is an exceptional book that makes people want to show their inside to the out. We all have the dark, abiding secrets of our goofiness in the lonesome of our bedrooms. Leo Borlock set himself free to this girl, letting himself fall in love with her. But, when the school begins to hold a serious grudge to Leo, it bothers him and he feels like he needs everyone to talk to him to know he's real. Stargirl, on the other hand, didn't notice. He told her that she needed to care about what other people thought. And for a few days, she was Susan again. People still didn't care about that; they didn't want to talk to her anyway. Stargirl shows up at the Ocotillo Ball dateless and friendless, to try and persuade the world to talk to her. Spinelli writes, "...the bunny hop. Within seconds a long line was snaking across the floor. Stargirl led the way" (171).
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli was a klutzy, charming book that makes people smile. It's like looking in a mirror. I like to think of this book as a learning experience, like a child's book with a moral in the end. We could all learn something from it. Leo Borlock would leave his window open every night and look at the moon and say, "Hello Stargirl." Spinelli writes, "'Star people are rare. You'll be lucky to find another one'" (177).

Rating:
Summary: Loved it, however sappy it may look
Review: i was inspired by stargirl. i saw 'stargirl caraway' in myself, from being different, to walking around with a rat on my shoulder.i read stargirl on a deal with my friend, she read the golden compass, i read stargirl. i figured, only 180 pages, it'll only take me an hour. but then i discovered i wanted it to last longer.

it's a very emotional book, and if you're looking for an adventure thriller, i don't suggest it. otherwise, this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Stargirl Hit's Five Stars!!!
Review: This book is excellent for any reader. Whoever it may be, that pearson will learn lessons to help them be a better person and think more of others rather than themselves. It show's the cruelness of popularity,the joys of what the world has to give, and how giving someone a second chance can change your view on what you THINK a person is like.
I give this book five stars and I wish I could meet someone like stargirl.

Rating:
Summary: BEST BOOK EVER!
Review: Buying this book only because my pen-pal from England was reading it, I expected something good, from looking at the cover. This story was beautifuly written, and the ideas are.....I don't even know the word for it...splendid. Jerry Spinelli created characters that you wish you knew, and sometimes wish you were like. I would reccomend this book for anyone of any ages. Definetly 5 stars!

Rating:
Summary: ***Stargirl Strives For Stars***
Review: In the story, Stargirl, Stargirl or Susan Caraway is introduced to the black and white world of Mica High School and adds some color. She is the unique one who does not seem to fit in but towards the end, becomes one of the students herself. She immediately stands out by playing her ukulele and wearing long pioneer dresses.
No one really knows what to think of her and just ignore and make nasty remarks about her. The climax concludes when Leo and the other students get to know her they accept her for who she is and they recognize her as one of them.
The setting and style of this novel fits the story well. Even though the plot was petite with not a lot of action, it was still a good book for nine to eleven year olds. As a young adult myself, I still believe it was most appropriate for a younger age group. The characters in my opinion were well developed and delineated such as Leo who was the average teenager who thinks about the most peculiar things. If I were to give Stargirl a rating, I would give it three out of five stars because even though the characters were well developed, the plot was dragging and very boring. It did not meet my expectations as a good book but, we are all entitled to our own opinions so I would not influence you to not read the book.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a Shining Star!!!!
Review: Do you believe in first love, heartbreaks, and enchanted places? If not, pretend you do for a minute, and walk into the world of Stargirl, a unique, strange, and elusive 10th grader, who often ".....spoke of sea horses and stars, but did no know what a football was." She would sing "Happy Birthday" to you if it was your birthday. "She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school." If you're still interested, then this book is for you. Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, is a wonderful book about being yourself. The moral of this book is "You don't know what you have until you've lost it."
An example of this is when Leo, Stargirl's boyfriend, tells Stargirl that she should try to act more normal. So Stargirl becomes Susan Julia Caraway, "dropping her ukulele, rat, and sunflower canvas bag. Her dresses become t-shirts and jeans, her eyes and nails become painted. Leo loses Stargirl here and seems overjoyed. Deep down though, does he feel that he's lost her to the sea of popularity?
Another example is when Stargirl and her friend, Dori are singing in their musical group The Ukee Dooks, Leo feels "....afraid to walk past them, as if they weren't there....." and feels "....equally afraid to stand and listen." He doesn't go and talk to her though, and is Stargirl through trying to make him understand?
The last example is when Stargirl tells Leo that she knew that he wasn't going to ask her to go with him to the Ocotillo Ball. Leo still has time to change his mind and turn everything back to the way it was. Has time to tell her that he had taken her for granted, thinking that she'd always be there if he needed her. Has time to apologize. Time, though, for Leo, is running out.
I would rate Stargirl 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to any girl who likes a heart-rending book. It's full of excitement and wonder and will make you want to keep reading until the last page.

Rating:
Summary: Spinelli weaves another great tale
Review: Simply amazing. Once again, Jerry Spinelli has proven himself a master storyteller.

Stargirl is a strange girl who shows up at a high school and crosses the accepted boundaries of "normal." She is something of a novelty at first, and gains popularity quickly. But eventually her oddities drive the masses away and force the main character, Leo, to choose between her love and the acceptance of his peers.