Stargirl

Author: Jerry Spinelli
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Copyright: 2004
Genre: Modern Fiction
Pages: 208
Reading Level: Young Adult (Barnes and Noble)
Summary: To everyone at her new high school, Stargirl, whose real name is Susan, is very unusual. She dresses different and goes around singing happy birthday to people on their birthday while playing the ukulele. When people finally get to know her a little better, everyone loves Stargirl. Leo, the other main character of this book, starts dating Stargirl. She becomes a cheerleader for the school and their team is very successful for the first time in years. However, Stargirl cheers for the other teams as well as her own and when another team finally beats theirs, the whole school blames her for the loss. Suddenly, everyone is mad at her. They shun her and Leo. He learns that she is unique but that her quirky personality is the result of her being so happy and carefree because she cares about other people so much and is always doing nice things for people.Leo believes that if Stargirl would be more "normal" people would start talking to them again and be more accepting of them and their relationship. Stargirl, tries to be normal for Leo's sake but we soon realize that she isn't happy this way. She wins a public speaking contest on the state level and when no one is there to cheer her success when she gets back, she is sad. She and Leo break up. Stargirl goes back to being her old self because this is the real her. At the end of the year, Stargirl goes to the dance by herself while Leo stays home. She initiates the Bunny Hop at the dance that night and the whole school has so much fun doing the Bunny Hop with her in the lead that they end up loving Stargirl again. That is, everyone but the popular girl at school who slaps Stargirl. Stargirl kisses her on the cheek in return. After the dance, when the school year is over, Stargirl moves away. Leo, realizes he still cares about her but doesn't know where she is. But she does send him a gift in the end which lets him know she is still thinking about him too.
Who would you recommend this book to? I would recommend this book to any kids sixth grade and up. I think it has valuable lessons for kids going into middle school and high school.
Potential problems or conflicts: I don't see any problems or conflicts with this book.
My reaction: I loved this book! I think that Stargirl has a great message that all kids should read before they go to middle school and high school. That's the time when kids are trying to find out who they are and need the message that this book shares...that whoever you are, is good enough as long as you are really truly happy and care about other people.