Stargirl (novel)
Second edition cover
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| Author | Jerry Spinelli |
|---|---|
| Original title | Stargirl |
| Translator | none |
| Cover artist | Jerry Spinelli |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Stargirl |
| Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
| Publisher | Scholastic Inc. |
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Publication date
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August 8, 2000 |
| Media type | Book |
| Pages | 186 pp |
| ISBN | |
| OCLC | 43207653 |
| LC Class | PZ7.S75663 St 2000 |
| Followed by | Love, Stargirl |
Stargirl is a young adult novel written by American author Jerry Spinelli and first published in 2000.
Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised Stargirl's character and the novel's overall message of nonconformity. It was a New York Times Bestseller, a Parents Choice Gold Award Winner, an ALA Top Ten Best Books Award winner, and a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A sequel Love, Stargirl was released on August 14, 2007.
The book begins with a brief introduction to Leo at the age of twelve, and chronicles his move from his home state of Pennsylvania to Arizona. Before the move, his Uncle Pete gives Leo a porcupine necktie as a farewell present, inspiring him to collect more like it. After his collection is mentioned in a local newspaper, Leo receives a second porcupine necktie for his birthday, left anonymously , and the story begins.
The story picks up four years later with the arrival of a new classmate, Susan Caraway, at Leo’s high school. Susan goes by the name Stargirl, and her behavior is unusual. Teens at Mica Area High School prize conformity above all else, but Stargirl seems not to care what anyone else thinks of her. She comes to school in strange outfits—kimonos, buckskin, 1920s flapper clothes, and pioneer clothing with no makeup. During each class period she decorates her desk with a tablecloth and flowers. She dances in the rain and strums a ukulele every day during lunch while singing "Happy Birthday" to kids she has never met. She attends strangers’ funerals and cheers for both teams during sporting events. Her behavior is so unusual that at first the student body does not know what to make of her. Popular student Hillari Kimble declares that Stargirl is a fake, and speculation and rumors abound.
When Hillari orders Stargirl not to sing to her on her birthday, Stargirl keeps her promise—she sings Hillari’s name, but directs the song to Leo and mentions that she thinks he is cute. Leo gradually becomes intrigued by the mystery of Stargirl, following her after school and passively observing her odd actions and the student body’s reactions. Though at first rejected by most of the highschoolers, Stargirl gains a measure of popularity by joining the cheer-leading squad. Students begin to mimic her behavior, and at lunch she no longer sits alone. Her antics on the squad spark a boom in audience attendance at sporting events. Leo privately celebrates the outburst of individuality taking over the school, even though his own shy demeanor keeps him from participating.
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