Stargirl

I could really identify with the main character as someone who just wanted to fit in at school and yet was just a bit different. If only we didn't always feel like we had to conform, high school might have been more fun. I really enjoyed this book and think that all high school kids should read it.

This is probably one of the most entertaining books ever!

Reader reviewed by Rose

Stargirl

By Jerry Spinelli

About a normal boy (I forget his name), and a very un-normal girl who picks her own name (a different one every couple of years), wears clothes from old movie sets, is at school for the first time, and lives for other people. I was worried this book was going to do the whole weird hippie homeschooler kind of thing, and actually, I dont remember whether it did or not.

Likes

A.     nice characters

B.     easy read

Dislikes

            A. not the best writing, but still fairly good

Reader reviewed by Dede

Stargirl is about a girl (whose given name is Susan) who marches to the beat of her own drum.  She is an inspiring character and I found myself wanting to be a little more like her.  She has been homeschooled until now (10th grade) when she comes to the high school in Arizona.  Everyone notices her because she does things her own way.  She dresses differently, she meditates, she has a pet rat, she brings her ukelele to school and sings happy birthday to people.  She is just an independent soul.  She gives people gifts without hoping for acknowledgement.  She is nice.  At first everyone likes her and she becomes popular.  She is invited to be a cheerleader.  But then it backfires.  Schoolmates get mad when she cheers for the other team, blaming her for their losses.  They turn their backs on her, all except Leo.  Leo is mesmerized by her and they start dating.  However, when Leo realizes that she is being shunned, and therefore he is also by association, he cracks and wants her to be more like everyone else.  She tries, but it fails.  She goes back to being herself but the damage is done already.  Leo totally disappoints me in this book.  He's not really there for her when she needs him, it's not unconditional love and has a huge effect on Stargirl.  There were parts in this book when my heart hurt for Stargirl, and this is truly a heartfelt book for teens everywhere.  The only thing that didn't sit well for me in this book is that Stargirl had been homeschooled in this town for a long time, and she was always this wacky, true to herself person, and supposedly noone noticed her around town?  It wasn't until she came to school that people paid attention?  Other than that this book is a winner. 

Reader reviewed by Meghan W.

Stargirl is an outstanding book about what it's like to be the oddball.

Stargirl is the new kid at school. And she's a little different. First day of school she's wearing an old-fashion dress, and sings happy birthday to a complete stranger in the cafeteria.

Everyone thinks she's weird. Leo doesn't know what to think. Hillari thinks she's an actress, and it's all a big scam. Someone else thinks she's an alien. She isn't real. She can't be.

But Leo realizes she is real. And it looks like she's here to stay.

At first everyone thinks she's kind of funny. Nearly everyday she sings Happy Birthday to someone during lunch, she knows everybody's name, she asks odd questions in class, and on holidays she gives everyone in her homeroom something.

And it turns out Stargirl's got a crush on Leo. And Leo likes her too. Stargirl isn't afraid to tell the world that she's in love.

The more time Leo spends with Stargirl, he realizes that she seems to get something that no one else does. But she also doesn't get how the world sees her.

The kids at school start to shun Stargirl. And Leo too, since he's with her. No one will talk to them. Leo can't stand it, but he wants to stay with Stargirl. He tries to get her to change. Changing Stargirl could be disastrous though. Can Stargirl survive the change?

Reader reviewed by MRose52

This is the story of Stargirl (who named herself, thank you very much), a pure-hearted girl whos different from the reast. Taken to giving gifts to people she dosent know, singing songs on her ukalalie, crying at funerals of people she never met, dropping change for children to find, and of corse...falling in love with Leo.

Reader reviewed by Kori

The story line is sweet and simple. The story lasts. It focus on a girl anmed Stargirl who is not your everyday girl. She is different, shes real and she is not afriad to be herself even though it means being shunned by the rest of her peers. Finally her only friend lep asks her to just be normal and finds thats the complete opposite from what he wants.

Reader reviewed by Kelly-girl

I love this book. I can not get over it. The only thing I don't like is how in the beginning they make Stargirl too different from the others. Because in the inside, she has a heart just like everyone else. Otherwise, I totally recommend this book to anybody!!:):):):):):):):)

Reader reviewed by Emmie

The book is an ok book if you have nothing else to read. My favorite part was probably when Leo and Stargirl were in the mall and followed people around to see what kind of card they would give them because i just think i could probably have fun doing that. I also thought it was sad when someone threw a tomatoe at Stargirl at the basketball game and when Hillari slapped satrgirl at the Octillo Ball and no one saw Stargirl again. I also thought the ending was kind of odd when Archie went and buried Barnie. I kind of wonder if Stargirl and Leo will ever see each other again. Overall I thought Stargirl was a pretty good book, It was just a little bit to kiddish for me.

Reader reviewed by Sarah Cooke

I'm a 15 year old girl and received this book as a gift for my birthday. At first the book did not really appeal to me, that was until i started to read it. Being a teenager who is at the age where i am soon to experience young love, this really was a fabulous book to read.
The way Stargirl changes to Susan for Leo - the boy she has fallen for - is so heart moving but at the same time makes you realise that someone should love you for you - you shouldn't have to change. The author, Jerry Spinneli, really made this novel worth reading by giving Stargirl and extraordinary, but amazing, personality. She's not like the normal high school student, she's different and maybe this is why Leo fell for her.
He doesn't realise this until she changes back from Susan to Stargirl, and she leaves to never return.
I feel that this is to show that the motto, 'You don't know what you've got until it's gone', is true in some cases.

Overall, this story is one that i will always remember and, at the moment, is definitley one of my favourites. I know that alot of 15 year olds are not into reading these days and i admit that i used to be the same. Not anymore! Especially not after reading this.
Thank you.