#37- Stargirl By Jerry Spinelli

#37- Stargirl

Rating- 10/10

I know i'm beginning to sound a bit redundant when I keep saying, "this was my favorite book ive read during this journey!" but it just keeps continuing to be the case.

I am surprised that I have never read this before, having seen the name of this book and cover of this book and many friends reading it, I dont know what I never picked it up.

Stargirl is a junior in highschool, up until this year she has been homeschool. When she shows up on that first day of school, Leo knows that she is something out of this world. She is wearing a peasant dress down to the floor, carrying a ukelele and has a sunflower bag with her pet rat inside of it.

She sits alone at the lunch table, and this doesnt seem to bother her in the least. She is pepped up and excited for every event, sings happy birthday to people in the cafeteria, sends get well cards to people in the neighborhood she finds out are ill, and every single class period she sets up a vase with flowers on her table.

To some people, this would be considered very strange, to Stargirl it is very typical. She was born with the name Susan, and since then has changed her name many times, she says that her name is like a shirt she wears it until she is sick of it and at that point picks out a new one.

After a few weeks, Leo, along with the entire school, is entranced by her. People start bringing flowers to school to put on their tables, being learning how to play the ukelele and copy other things that she often does.

After a while though, people begin to try and change Stargirl. Leo begins to frequent his time with her often and tries to get her to be "normal" she shows up to school in jeans and a midriff shirt, with lipgloss and smacking gum in tow. Trying to get other people to talk to her changes her essence and Stargirl has never been more upset.

As the book continues Leo learns the lesson that being "normal" and "popular" doesn't always have a happy ending.

As you can tell from my perfect rating, this book really touched me. I know that when I was in middle school/high school I felt this insane need to be well liked. I would wear the clothes from Hollister and put on my Ugg boots even when it wasnt cold outside in order to fit in with the other people. How I wish that I had been able to see things the way that Stargirl does instead. To be able to set aside the need to fit in would leave so much other time for important things. In the book she is able to make others happy with her small acts of kindness and while it isnt always well received I think its a quite inspiring way to live life.

There are things much more important that popularity (although it doesnt seem like it in high school) and I think its marvelous that this book touches on those things. To meet a wild soul like Stargirl in real life would be a treat and I hope that one day I meet someone without the inclination to fit in. In the past I wouldnt have considered looking for someone like that, but now that I've graduated from the world of high school and drama and boys and gossip it appears that its a great possibility to meet someone of the sort.

“The earth is speaking to us, but we can't hear because of all the racket our senses are making. Sometimes we need to erase them, erase our senses. Then - maybe - the earth will touch us. The universe will speak. The stars will whisper.”