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Summary and Reviews of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Stargirl

by Jerry Spinelli
  • Critics' Consensus (2):
  • Readers' Rating (402):
  • First Published:
  • Aug 1, 2000, 176 pages
  • Paperback:
  • May 2002, 192 pages
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About This Book

Book Summary

A celebration of nonconformity; a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity--and the thrill and inspiration of first love. Ages 12+

Leo Borlock follows the unspoken rule at Mica Area High School: don't stand out--under any circumstances! Then Stargirl arrives at Mica High and everything changes--for Leo and for the entire school. After 15 years of home schooling, Stargirl bursts into tenth grade in an explosion of color and a clatter of ukulele music, enchanting the Mica student body.

But the delicate scales of popularity suddenly shift, and Stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different. Somewhere in the midst of Stargirl's arrival and rise and fall, normal Leo Borlock has tumbled into love with her.

In a celebration of nonconformity, Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity--and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

Recommended for Ages 12+

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Reviews

Media Reviews

Publishers Weekly
As always, respectful of his audience, Spinelli posses searching questions about loyalty to one's friend's and oneself and leaves readers to form their own answers.

Booklist
Spinelli firmly captures the high-school milieu, here heightened by the physical and spiritual barrenness of an Arizona location, a new town where people come to work for technology companies and the school team is called the Electrons. Dialogue, plot, and supporting cast are strong the problem here is Stargirl herself. She may have been homeschooled, may not have seen much TV, but despite her name, she has lived on planet earth for 15 years, and her naivete is overplayed and annoying.

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Read-Alikes

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