Stargirl

Rating:
Summary: truly a beautiful piece of work
Review: I cried and cried at the ending of this book. It wasn't because it was sad it was because it was beautiful. The idea of a person being completely themselves reminds us of reconnecting with our real selves. Stargirl reminded me to go outside and reconnect with nature and look at the stars. Leo reminded me what is really important-not what others think about you but what you know about yourself. And all together the cast of characaters drew a beautiful picture of how we should act towards each other and how we should enjoy life to the fullest. Be yourself this book cries out! Be yourself!

Rating:
Summary: Celebrate Stargirl!
Review: I picked this book up because judging from the cover, it appeared I had a lot in common with this, Stargirl. The first night I read over half the book because I found her so enchanting. What was she going to do next? Would Leo (the narrator) finally fall for her? And unfortunately when was everyone going to turn on her? Of course it was bound to happen because people tend to not want to accept those who are different than themselves. Admittedly some of the parts were hard to take. How could people be so cruel to someone who "wants to cheer for everyone" and celebrates others even more than herself? What gets you through it is her amazing attitude towards it all. In fact she doesn't even seem to notice. I finished the rest of the book the very next day. I adore the ending. Maybe it's not the way some people would want it to end but I think it was the best and most conceivable way for things to go. Indeed I did have a lot in common with Stargirl but I was never able to express myself around others the way she does. I think everyone is like Stargirl on the inside but just a little less in touch with ourselves and the earth. And that only adds to her specialness.

Rating:
Summary: Reading "Stargirl" to seventh graders.
Review: I am a seventh grade language art teacher and my kids get read to every day. They loved "Stargirl". I loved it, too. I find many young adult books more enjoyable than adult fiction. Stargirl is amazing. She loves without conditions and makes you feel like there is hope for the human race. This would make a great reading group discussion book. Give it a read!

Rating:
Summary: This Is A Great Book !
Review: This book is really good ! Once I started to read it, I couldn't put it down. It basically tells about a new girl who is really wierd. A boy named Leo & her start to fall in love, even though the whole school totally ignores them. It teaches you that true love is more important than your apperance, & if you don't relize that, then you may regret it later. I suggest that you read this book, especially if you are into romance & comedy. This book would mostly interest teenage girls but some boys might enjoy it also.

Rating:
Summary: Stargirl rocks my world =]
Review: Oh man, Stargirl is everything everyone wants to be, put into words by Jerry Spinelli. You will look at things differently after you read this book. I encourage everyone young and old to read it. =]

Rating:
Summary: Stargirl will be a hit!
Review: Jerry Spinelli has yet again masterfully created a realistic fiction story with which all young adults should identify while seeing themselves in the characters. Spinelli's easy writing style and use of teen friendly dialogue make this selection an easy read for almost any young adult no matter what their reading level or ability. The story begins with the arrival of a new girl in school as told through the eyes of fellow 10th grader, Leo Burlock. Whispers and rumors run wild as the new student, Stargirl Caraway, begins to make her way through the school. Stargirl is a 10th grader who has just arrived at Mica Area High School in Mica, Arizona (it could have been Anywhere, USA), wearing pioneer type dresses, kimonos and strumming a ukulele and carrying her pet rat! This shocks the school, which is not exactly a "hotbed of nonconformity". In time the student body gives away to her free spirit and friendliness. They begin to rejoice in her extraordinary and impromptu antics such as singing Happy Birthday to everyone in the school cafeteria and her spectacular acrobatics as a cheerleader. However, soon the popularity begins to wear off as Stargirl carries it a little too far in the eyes of the student body. Leo Borlock befriends Stargirl and ultimately becomes his first love. Leo is torn between the conformity issue at school and truly expressing his individuality and love for Stargirl. This plot, while chronological in nature, moves very smoothly as the relationship between Stargirl and Leo intensifies. The characters in the novel are related to the reader through the eyes of sixteen year old, Leo Borlock. Leo seems to a typical teen in every way; he honors the unspoken rule of teendom: "don't stand out - under any circumstances". Leo is both attracted and repelled by her. Leo's character changes as he realizes that Stargirl seems to like him. He eventually braves up enough to go to her house and befriend her, while also being seen in public with her. As the popularity slows to a stop and eventually turns into Stargirls emeny, Leo has to make decisions about his friendship with Stargirl. Stargirl Caraway is fun loving, free-spirited and totally impromptu. She marches to the beat of her own drummer and does not seem to notice the ways others react her. The changes in her character occur after a long talk with Leo about the way "they" see her. She changes her clothing and her way of dealing with people. In essence, she becomes a regular teen at Mica High in order to please Leo and fit in with the crowd. She eventually finds she is better off to be her true self. Person versus society is the obvious conflict in this novel. Both Stargirl and Leo are in conflict with society and the option to conform or not conform. Although they handle the conflict in different ways, both feel the need to conform. While Stargirl chooses the road of nonconformity, Leo eventually chooses to conform after a long struggle with the situation. The theme of the novel surrounds the topic of conformity and individuality versus nonconformity. To be an individual in today's society and show your individuality sometimes means not conforming to the dynamics of the conventional group and the consequences that goes with nonconformity. Because Stargirl chose not to conform, the rest of the group eventually made her an outcast; this is a fear many teens experience. The novel also touches on the cruel nature of popularity and how quickly that popularity can change and send the student into a very unpleasant situation with peers. This is a novel that could take place in any town, anywhere with real life characters. I believe this is a novel that almost any high school ninth or tenth grader would enjoy and be able to relate to. Most teens ultimately have feeling of not fitting in with their peers and the consequences that nonconformity entails.

Rating:
Summary: Jerry Spinelli at his best!
Review: Stark, honest, powerful. I got to the end of "Stargirl" and was so upset I'd reached the last page, I started over at the beginning again. Jerry Spinelli just made my day with a truly worthy book!

Rating:
Summary: Stargirl is a reflection of the inside of everyone
Review: "Stargirl" is a fabulous book with a strong and well-portrayed message for people my age, which is in high-school. The beautiful language and vivid descriptions paint an image of an individual who is, well, an individual. She is her own person and is connected to everything in her surroundings. Because she acts on impulses, she, in a way, intimidates her classmates and is rejected from their society. When she falls in love with Leo, she changes herself to let him and herself be accepted, even though it doesn't make her happy. When she changes back, Leo also rejects her, a desicion he later deeply regrets. Stargirl is a reflection of the inside of everyone. Sometimes, if we are happy, we want to laugh and sing out loud. If Stargirl was happy, she would do these things. "Stargirl" should be read by every adolesent, and if not for the content, then for the descriptions. I'll end with one of the many vivid descriptions from the book: "In our minds, we tried to pin her down to a corkboard, like a butterfly, but the pin merely slipped through and away she flew."

Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: It's an awesome book about this girl who has her own identity and isn't afraid of being different. She questions things which society percieves as normal, which isn't!

Rating:
Summary: If Only
Review: Jerry Spinelli has touched my heart again. Like Maniac McGee, he has created a character that I, personally, would like to become like or wish I knew of someone who is. The way he describes Stargirl is magical. If only we had more people like Stargirl in our midst. As a mother of eight I intend to make sure all my kids read Stargirl as I have with Maniac McGee.