Plot: Stargirl is an eccentric 10th grader at an Arizona high school who plays the ukelele, has a pet rat and dresses like no other. She is charming, intelligent and kind, but this is a recipe for at first great popularity which turns to being shunned and hated. Her free spirit captures the heart of Leo, who is the narrator of the book and is torn between his attraction to her and the cost of being shunned because of his association with Stargirl. In Leo’s own words, “She taught me to revel, wonder and laugh.” The story follows the students through cheerleading, football and basketball games, speech contests and walks in the desert.
Review/Personal thoughts: This is an excellent book for Tweens. It explores the themes of peer pressure, conformity, first love, popularity and “following one’s heart”. The book is especially well written. The characters are well-developed and believable. Where as I tapped into the joy of Stargirl’s character, one of my high school students who read the book called Stargirl weird. The pressure to conform is present in Jr. high and high school today and Stargirl offers a refreshing opportunity for another way of looking at life. I highly recommend this book.
Genre: Fiction
Reading Level: 4.2 Interest level: Ages 10 and up
Awards: Many including: Arizona Young Readers' Award
2003 Winner Teen Book Arizona
Charlotte Award, 2004 Winner Young Adult New York
Garden State Teen Book Award, 2003 Winner Fiction/Grades 6-8 United States
Iowa Teen Award, 2003 Winner Grades 6-9 Iowa
NAIBA Book of the Year Awards, 2000 Winner United States
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