September 23, 2005
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
As a book, Stargirl is quirky, fun, and not the least bit "typical" - neither is the main character! For the intended teen audience, Stargirl is a compelling story of what goes on day to day within school walls - a story of peer pressure, first love, and the line that divides 'them' and 'us'. In the shy character of Leo - Mr. Stargirl for a while - readers walk the tenuous line between celebrating Stargirl's nonconformity and wanting to change her into something 'normal.' For adult readers, Stargirl offers a glimpse at something rare and beautiful in the sewemingly too-good-to-be-true character of home schooled Stargirl, with her ukelele, pet rat, homemade cards, and flower vase on her school desk. In a delightful twist, Stargirl isn't simply a makeover princess story - though everyone does love her in the end. Instead, Stargirl is a celebration of spirit, of individuality and caring and a sense of self that transcends what 'everyone' else expects and does. Leo is haunted by her still many years later. Readers will be, too.