Star Girl

By: Jerry Spinelli
Published by: Random House Childrens Books
Pages:208
Ages: Young Adult

It is Leo Borlock's junior year at Mica Area High School a a new girl named Stargirl moves in. Stargirl is the most unusual student ever to attend at Mica High. Despite being intrigued by her at first, the students turn on her due to her cheering on opposing basketball teams as well as the Mica High team and come to despise her antics. She spends more and more time with Leo, who is deeply in love with her but wants her to act like a normal student. Stargirl gives in to Leo to please him and seeks to blend in with her peers (going by her birth name "Susan," and dressing less exotically). The school rejects her and Leo can't overcome peer pressure to continue their relationship in the way it was before. The book's final appearance of Stargirl shows her at the Ocotillo ball, bunny hopping with her classmates and leaving after ungrudgingly forgiving her most vicious detractor (who had just slapped her across the face). She moves away before the next school year, but, years later, Leo receives a necktie similar to the one that she made for him in high school, suggesting that she still remembers, and has feelings for, him.

Who would I recommend this to? Every child, has a good moral.

Possible problems/conflicts? Stargirl is a little different, and may oppose some peoples view of life.

My reaction: I wasn't in love with this book, but I wasn't in hate either. I was pretty neutral. 3 stars ***