Stargirl is a ukulelestrumming, plainfaced, costumedonning character that enters a cookiecutter student body at an arizona high school. This is the main theme in jerry spinellis latest offering, stargirl. With her pet rat, ukulele, and unusual name, stargirl is unlike anyone else in her new high school. It was a fairly new town, developed around an electronics business park a decade and a half earlier. The stargirl movie is based on the young adult comingofage story by jerry spinelli. Analysis and discussion of characters in jerry spinellis stargirl. Nov, 2001 dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. I remember reading this book in 7th grade thinking about all the times i had done something because everyone else had.
The setting for stargirl was mica, a madeup town in arizona. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner. The steps matched the movement of a long shadow cast. I hope to encourage teachers to teach jerry spinellis stargirl, and i hope to lessen the time needed for teachers to prepare to teach this book. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on stargirl by jerry spinelli.
In a celebration of nonconformity, jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity. Leo borlock leo borlock, the novels narrator and the viewpoint through which we see the other characters, is an introverted. Jerry spinellis stargirl, published in 2000, is a young adult novel dealing with the. The word begins with a brief introduction to leo at the age of twelve, and chronicles his move from his home state of pennsylvania to arizona. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award. These are only a few of the theories concocted to explain stargirl. Like much of spinelli s best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory.
In a celebration of nonconformity, jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularityand the thrill and inspiration of first love. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the. It was borrowed from a garfield cartoonone character says, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, and then in the next panel, a dictionary falls on his head. It picks up where the previous novel left off after stargirl left mica high and describes her bittersweet memories in the town of mica, arizona along. While the reader does become acquainted with her during the reading of the book, she maintains her mysterious quality. I believe this is one of jerry spinelli s best books.
And to loren eiseley, who taught us that even as we are, we are becoming. Love, stargirl is a 2007 young adult novel by jerry spinelli. After stargirl wins the oratorical contest, leo says that the cheering is as wild as that of the crowd at a championship basketball game. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a loving tribute to fathers and sons. I had been anticipating this book since june and when it came i screamed. Home jerry news events books teachers faqs email designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. When stargirl caraway enters leo borlocks life, her impact is both disturbing and permanent. This book uses many short quotations from jerry spinellis stargirl.
This prezi is about the book stargirl, this book is by. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. Jerry spinelli is an author of fiction for young adults. From the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of stargirl, stargirl. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal, and stargirl, a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. Like many of spinellis other young adult novels, stargirl deals with. She was a 10th grade girl with blonde hair and freckles. The story opens on the first day of school when we meet the narrator, leo, and. Stargirl by jerry spinelli paperback book the parent store. Stargirl from the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of stargirl, stargirl. Jerry spinelli has 82 books on goodreads with 839923 ratings. This is the main theme in jerry spinelli s latest offering, stargirl.
Do not come for me about accuracy to the book or movie because i wasnt trying to make it look anything like the book or movie. Buy a cheap copy of stargirl book by jerry spinelli. From the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of. Somewhere in the midst of stargirls arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. Nov, 2001 stargirl ebook written by jerry spinelli. Knowing the genre of a book can help you decide if you want to read it or not.
Stargirl 2000 jerry spinelli authentically captures a free spirit high school girl that alternately perplexes, annoys and inspires her peers. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters leap right off the page at you. The newbery medal is an award given each year to an author by librarians. Like much of spinellis best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory. Oh, and also, all fans will be very pleased with the ending, i assure you. This book taught me to be unique and different from everyone else. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read stargirl. Jerry spinelli, the author of stargirl published 2000, has written many other books, including maniac magee, which won the 1991 newbery medal. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. Archie, the neighborhood wise man and resident cool old guy, is a retired paleontologist. Jerry spinelli, author of newbery medalist maniac magee, newbery honor book wringer, and many other excellent books for teens, elegantly and accurately captures the collective, notalwayspretty emotions of a high school microcosm in which individuality is pitted against conformity.
Somewhere in the midst of stargirl s arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the stargirl collection. The sheeplike school students are all recognizable. Pink and over 8 million other books are available for amazon kindle. She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. Stargirl movie tiein edition by jerry spinelli, paperback. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august 2000. It was the first day of school at mica high school and the halls are buzzing about the new girl who calls herself stargirl caraway. Leo is as ordinary as it gets, struggling to conform to the rest of his peers, he has to. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000. Print copies of the stargirl literature circle questions printable for students. He has written books such as maniac magee and stargirl. Author jerry spinelli plays two major events in the novel off of each other.
Leo and his friend kevin have a talk show called hot seat. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. The book is the sequel to the new york times bestselling book, stargirl, and centers on the worlds longest letter in diary form. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Love, stargirl if stargirl floats your boat, then be sure to check out the sequel. Stargirl and millions of other books are available for instant access. Author jerry spinelli stated that the character stargirl from his young adult novel stargirl was inspired by his own wife, eileen spinelli, whom he thinks is one step ahead of the rest of the world. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her.
Is the stargirl tv series related to the movie or the book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of stargirl by jerry spinelli. I believe this is one of jerry spinellis best books. Though written thirty years after my high school years, this book brought into sharp focuslike no other in recent memoryhow an unconventional teenager can affect fellow students. In this lesson, we will look at the genres of the book stargirl by.
Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it. Stargirl, was the new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. Stargirl from the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of. The titular character is susan stargirl caraway, a high school student who struggles to fit in with her peers. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. Author jerry spinelli stated that the character stargirl from his young adult novel stargirl was inspired by his own wife, eileen spinelli, whom he thinks is one step ahead. Jerry spinelli, stargirl stargirl is what her name claims to be. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school.
She captures leo borlockus heart and sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. I loved this book, and if you like jerry spinellis impeccable writing and lovable characters, as well as stargirl, the first book, you will like this one. Spinellis stargirl is a supernatural teen character. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and challenges and toward their futures with more compassion. Jerry spinellis story stargirl takes us to mica area high school for the school year. Although spinelli wrote stargirl with his wife in mind, the character became so much more than a tribute.