Stargirl

Reader reviewed by Kiran

Stargirl introduces Leo, whose attention is caught by a new girl at school whose name is Stargirl. Stargirl is an eccentric girl who plays the ukulele, wears unusual outfits, and is just...weird.
The students at her new school do not like her unusualness. She is shunned, and tries to fit in. But it becomes clear that fitting in is just not for her.
The story of Stargirl teaches us that we have to be simply be ourselves, and let loose the Stargirl in all of us.

Reader reviewed by Nic

Leo Borlock's world is about to be turned upside down the day Stargirl Carraway enrolls at Mica High. Previously homeschooled, Stargirl is a fascinating new creature in the conformist town of Mica, with her outlandish outfits, pet rat, and complete lack of self-consciousness. Her schoolmates' curiousity about her leads to wide-spread adoring and emulation, and Leo Borlocks finds himself falling in love with her. Then Stargirl makes one social faux pas too many, and the school's population turns on her overnight. Leo tries to teach her to conform, and comes disastrously close to ruining all that she is.


"Stargirl" cannot be summed up in a review; it is so much more than anything I can tell you. Like Leo Borlock and Mica High, a little piece of you will change upon meeting her.

Reader reviewed by teena

wow talk about weird :)

i read stargirl when i was in 7th grade. it was unusual...but i loved it. we read books on the revolutionary war and ray bradbury, but nothing like this. it made me laugh. stargirl is a great character, although un-normal. maybe that's why i liked her so much and this book.

Reader reviewed by Kate

Was, and still is, one of my favorite books. Stargirl is the girl who can appeal to everyone. Whether you're trying to blend in or stand out-- this book can identify with anyone. Beautifully written and worth a read.. or two or three :) Leo was very believable and well-written, just the way he should be. Every school should have a Stargirl out there somewhere, things need to change :)

Reader reviewed by Corn

This book shaped my childhood. I read it once as a 3rd or 4th grader, and loved it to pieces, but took in little of the deeper meaning. I read it again last year, and kudos to Spinelli- this book is a literary work of art. The characters are well formed and the situations are very realistic. StarGirl is a mysterious, but beautiful, metaphor.

Reader reviewed by Kellie

I teach 7-8 grade special education students. I had heard that this Stargirl was a wonderful book, so I read it. I loved it so much that I had to share it with my students. They listened to the recorded reading and followed along. I was so impressed. This was the first book that they actually didn't want to put down. Not only was it a great book because of the characters, but it also taught life lessons. I now try to bring out my inner Stargirl and I have noticed my students doing the same.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

At Mica High School in Mica, Arizona, things are quiet and uneventful. Everyone dresses alike. Everyone thinks alike. No one does anything that's different than their neighbor.

Until Stargirl comes along.

Homeschooled for years, Stargirl defies categorization. She wears long, flowy pioneer dresses daily, and on special occasions, costumes. She serenades people with birthday songs on her ukelele at lunch. She brings her pet rat to school. She looks strangers in the eye. She dances to no music.

Leo Borlock was perfectly happy with his generic Mica life. Then, against his will, he finds himself falling for Stargirl. The two share an incredible, eye-opening romance. In their own little world, everything is perfect and magical. But when they have to face their critical classmates, what will happen to their relationship?

This is by far Jerry Spinelli's best. It is a beautifully written story about nonconformity and the seeds of magic and quirkiness that are actually in everyone. Readers will wish that they were friends with Stargirl. This is a sad story, but extremely touching and timeless.

Reader reviewed by Therdry

I first met Stargirl in the seventh grade. A teacher recomened I read adout her diffirences. I found myself understanding a lot, but in a good way, not like I'd just gotten a lecture.

During the last full week of school that year my teacher read the book aloud in class. Many people were fairly uncomfortable with it at first, after a while though we all protested when the final bell rang, and rushed to class the next day for more.

The class soon descided that my nickname should be stargirl, being the closest to the character.

This book helped the people in my class to understand some people don't come from cookie cutters, but are hand shaped. I like that; this book makes that consept easier for people to understand.

Reader reviewed by Katie

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is about a girl who brings color and life into Mica High School. Mica High school is the central of conformity, every day when you wake up your goal is pretty much to be as un-dorkey as possible. But this year theres a new friendly girl who has been home schooled for years and is just entering the tenth grade. This could be the average tenth grade girl but its not. From the moment she enters the school everyones talking about her. Her name is Stargirl. Stargirl has the individuality, spirit and energy that most of us wouldnt even dream of. Within her first month at school she starts a whole school spirit revolution with just one football ball game and becomes a lead cheerleader. She is the beginning of individuality at Mica High. She wears kimonos and pioneer dresses to school, strums a ukulele during lunch, laughs when there are no jokes, dances in the rain and leaves gifts on desks. Pretty soon the whole school cant resist her friendliness and charm (especially Leo Borlock) and she becomes one of the most popular people in the school. Unfortunately popularity is a fragile thing and pretty soon people start questioning things about her. Questions like why does she sing happy birthday to every one and the most asked, Why as a cheerleader does she cheer for both teams at the basketball game? Pretty soon the shunning of Stargirl starts and soon Leo Borlock who has now become Starboy is included in the shunning. Leo who is concerned about her and his popularity tries to turn Stargirl into the one thing she cant be, Normal.
This book shows you that all throughout life there will always be people who dont like you or want you to be different. It may be a popular kid who wants to be friends with you if you drop your other friends, or your sibling whos embarrassed because you dress funny. Whatever it is your uniqueness is important and you should never change just to please someone else. Its better to be liked for who you are rather then who you are not.

Reader reviewed by Dara

This book was a quirky love story-One of the unusual sort. An unafraid girl moves to a new town and showcks everyone with her different ways of doing things. Throughout this book it gets interesting, because the reader watches the fall, rise, and fall of Stargirl all while a normal boy is facing an internal battle with his love for her. Should he risk everything and follow his heart? or should he try to forget about her even though shes impossible to forget? I thought this book was cute and it taught a valuable lesson on peer pressure.