Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Stargirl is about insiders and outsiders; it is about fitting in even if that means losing your true self; it is about what we lose when we try to all be the same.
Stargirl is a new student at Mica High and she doesn't fit in. She dresses in strange clothes, plays her ukelele and serenades students during lunch, she decorates her desk! At first people just stare at Stargirl but soon Leo is entranced by Stargirl as is most of the rest of the school. Stargirl doesn't win everyone over but she does stir up a student body that seems to have had a sameness in the whole lives not just in school.
Stargirl and Leo fall in love around the time that feelings turn against Stargirl. Suddenly her quirky all embracing ways are seen as traitorous to the school and she is shunned. Leo finds out the important question pretty early - Whose acceptance do you care about most? He loves Stargirl, he feels himself expanding in her presence and learning more about himself and the world, and yet he is embarrassed by some of her behaviours. In an attempt to fit his two worlds together, Leo educates Stargirl on how "everyone" behaves and she tries valiantly to conform. It is to no avail and finally Stargirl reverts to her old ways.
You can't please all the people all the time and if they think you are pandering to them, they will despise you.
Leo loses the most in this story but Stargirl, who is the true to herself person that all outcasts wish to be, is both glorious and painful.
This book is perfect for middle school students who are feeling both the glory of self-identification and the pressure to fit in.
Stargirl is a new student at Mica High and she doesn't fit in. She dresses in strange clothes, plays her ukelele and serenades students during lunch, she decorates her desk! At first people just stare at Stargirl but soon Leo is entranced by Stargirl as is most of the rest of the school. Stargirl doesn't win everyone over but she does stir up a student body that seems to have had a sameness in the whole lives not just in school.
Stargirl and Leo fall in love around the time that feelings turn against Stargirl. Suddenly her quirky all embracing ways are seen as traitorous to the school and she is shunned. Leo finds out the important question pretty early - Whose acceptance do you care about most? He loves Stargirl, he feels himself expanding in her presence and learning more about himself and the world, and yet he is embarrassed by some of her behaviours. In an attempt to fit his two worlds together, Leo educates Stargirl on how "everyone" behaves and she tries valiantly to conform. It is to no avail and finally Stargirl reverts to her old ways.
You can't please all the people all the time and if they think you are pandering to them, they will despise you.
Leo loses the most in this story but Stargirl, who is the true to herself person that all outcasts wish to be, is both glorious and painful.
This book is perfect for middle school students who are feeling both the glory of self-identification and the pressure to fit in.
# posted by JJ @ 8:36 PM 
