Love, stargirl if stargirl floats your boat, then be sure to check out the sequel. She stopped at an empty table, laid down her bag, slung the. Suddenly the simple phrase another day had new meaning. Filmmaker julia hart explains the change indiewire. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. 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 with the involvements of new people in her life, in phoenixville, pennsylvania. I also thought the theme of the book, to live in the moment and see where life takes you, was forced.
She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school. Stargirl by jerry spinelli chapter 5 summary and analysis. Stargirl caraway smiles a lot throughout the book because she is genuinely a happy person. Stargirl was the unusual new girl who went from being the joke of the school to the most popular. The prologue wastes no time telling us that the narrator, leo borlock, is attracted to the unusual in our world. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the. The book follows a female student entering school, after eleven years of homeschooling. Desperately in love, leo tries to change stargirl to be more normal, but in the end manages to destroy the very thing that made her special to begin with. Throughout the book, stargirl joins a cheerleading team, meets leo, and heightens her popularity status at school. We can tell that throughout the book, the one character that stays consistent in stargirl s life is this rat.
The setting is a high school in arizona where everyone is similar. This book resonates long after the cover is closed. She was walking directly into the setting sun, now a great orange perched atop the. The book begins with the introduction of the character leo borlock. It was really exciting to read and really interesting. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters leap right off the page at you. But life is difficult enough when youre in high school and ten times worse if you dont fit in. Aug 01, 2000 newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Readers see his life in his autobiography knots in my yoyo string, as well as in his fiction. He already gives some unique characteristics, including his love for porcupine neckties. We can tell that throughout the book, the one character that stays consistent in stargirls life is this rat. Stargirl book series 2 books all formats kindle edition from book 1. This articles plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed.
Through this seemingly small detail about him, a whole series of spectacular events is placed in motion. The resolution is when stargirl leaves the ball and she was not seen again. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Stargirl really listened when leo said that no one liked her and that she is a nobody. Print copies of the stargirl literature circle questions printable for students. Stargirl is a book about this girl named susan but calls herself stargirl. She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. A good seven sentence summary of stargirl would precis the plot of the book in seven sentences and would use clear descriptive language and present in an easy to read, orderly flow of the plot.
Main character stargirl moved to mica and is new student who. Stargirl caraway was her name, or at least it was the name she announced to everyone in homeroom that first morning of classes. This study guide consists of approximately 40 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of stargirl. 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. The book is the sequel to the new york times bestselling book, stargirl, and centers on the worlds longest letter in diary form. Stargirl movie tiein edition by jerry spinelli, paperback. At first he thinks, like everyone else, stargirl is unusually strange. If so, you are on the right track to figuring out the tone of stargirl. Author jerry spinelli specifically chose the dry desert setting for his young adult novel stargirl for several reasons that we will explore here. In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but she did not know what a football was.
Stargirl is set in the dry, southwest desert region of arizona in a small, fictitious, or fake, city called mica. Mica, arizona, a small town in usa mica high, the high school where leo and stargirl went to archies house, the home for a retired professor that has lots of weird stuff the time is present and then fast. Also, stargirls actions are normally shown here so we have a chance to see the real stargirl. Examples of figurative language in the glass castle. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. It had lots of drama and it had lots of funny parts. Learn stargirl list one personification with free interactive flashcards. Anna this book is much slower and stargirl isnt as captivating as in the first. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000 stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Few parents will have objections to the content, but there is one scene in particular where stargirl s peers verbally attack her on a television show. Also, stargirl s actions are normally shown here so we have a chance to see the real stargirl.
The sheeplike school students are all recognizable. A bittersweet paean to eccentricity and nonconformity, it is also a scathing commentary on teenagers, which makes its popularity with them all the more interesting. Also, stargirls actions are normally shown here so we have a. The climax of the story is when leo realizes that stargirls differences make her special. This oftentimes tense and emotional story explores the fleeting, cruel nature of popularityand the thrill and inspiration of first love. Stargirls nonconformist personality leads to confusion and conflict among her teenage peers who prize acceptance. She is very weird and carriers a pet rat around named cinammon. As the book takes a turn, she starts the lose friend after friend.
Stargirl by jerry spinelli fits into more than one genre. The novel stargirl is set in an arizona town at the edge of the desert. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the year. Setting definition is the manner, position, or direction in which something is set. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in. Throughout the book, the author and everyone he describes seem in awe of stargirl and all her genuine, positive qualities. He kept a low profile during lunch in order to avoid attention. Anyone who had not yet had the opportunity to meet the new girl. Spinellis hilarious books entertain both children and young adults. Stargirl project characterization reader log we predicted more when stargirl was being crazy. This is a gently mystical, thoughtprovoking, and enchanting rumination on conformity. This school is in a very small city in arizona causes much uproar when a new student joins. Another reason is that they go to school so they are mostly there being normal kids.
Set in mica area high school in mica, arizona, the novel follows the story of the sophomore susan stargirl caraway, narrated from the perspective of junior leo borlock. The book is about whether or not people should change to be like others or be true to themselves. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and. It is important because stargirl is new and different, and she does not fit in. This becomes clear when he tells us about his love of porcupine ties. The conflict of a plot is the major problem experienced by the protagonist. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by jerry spinelli that narrows in on the personalities and issues of students in high schools. Harts film doesnt alter the heartbreak of the books ending, but a slight. Realistic fiction is a genre consisting of stories that could have actually occurred to people or animals in a believable setting.
Choose from 19 different sets of stargirl list one personification flashcards on quizlet. See the definition, listen to the word, then try to spell it correctly. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. Give the gift of stargirl to the standout kid in your life with this 2book box set.
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. Its also a place where, without distractions, the characters can get in touch with something deeper. The detroit news and free press stargirl tells us the captivating story of a magical, mysterious girl. Stargirl quotes by jerry spinelli meet your next favorite book. He tells us, every once in a while someone comes along who is a little more primitive than the rest of us, a little closer to our beginnings, a little more in touch with the stuff were made of 32. It was a fairly new town, developed around an electronics business park a decade and a half earlier. The setting for stargirl was mica, a madeup town in arizona. I would recommend you read this book because i know you will like this book.
Cite examples from the book that show how archie helps one of the main characters. It is, in some ways, a ya version of the little prince, or a female version of spinellis own awardwinning maniac magee. A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. Her unique personality was fun for a while, but when the basketball team lost and blamed her, she. Characterization other important characters exposition setting. The plot of the book begins when the character of stargirl is introduced to mica high. Conflict short summary synopsis protagonist antagonist themes mood climax by. After school leo and stargirl walked out into the desert. Leo and stargirl try to go about their lives, and pretend that the others dont matter. The setting of a story is where and when the action takes place. When stargirl arrives at mica high school, people notice her. Crash came out of his desire to include the beloved penn relays of his home state of pennsylvania in a book, while maniac magee is set in a fictional town based on his own hometown. Stargirl was written by jerry spinelli, and first published in 2000. Leo told her that she should care about what the world thinks of her and if she doesnt, people will make fun of her.
She loves life, the people around, making other people smile. This is one of the major settings because this is were leo met stargirl. Stargirl came back to school and she was totally different. He received a porcupine necktie for his fourteenth birthday and doesnt know who sent it. Literary criticism synopsis of the novel chapter 17 summary. In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but she did not know what a. Stargirl, was the new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. He was uncomfortable with the realization that the rest of the school also knew that he was. It is also an example of young adult fiction and realistic fiction, and can be said to fit into the genres of romance and adolescent issues. Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more. Leo and his friend kevin have a talk show called the hot seat. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it.
The main conflict in the novel stargirl is between the female lead, susan stargirl caraway, and her classmates at mica area high school. Stargirl is a middle grade novel by jerry spinelli, published in 2000. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli, and first published in 2000. These stories resemble real life, and fictional characters within these stories react similarly to real people. Parents need to know that stargirl is a sort of supernatural character who is difficult to encapsulate, despite her classmates repeated attempts to pigeonhole her. She did carry a large canvas bag with a lifesize sunflower painted on it. Stargirl by jerry spinelli chapter 11 summary and analysis. I think it is because she has something mysterious about her and he dose not really want to figure it out.
922 1085 297 1367 367 385 560 92 51 649 1425 911 254 1014 1512 948 1387 1131 6 177 399 1325 1441 489 412 776 256 953 945 1449 281 129 39 920 360 739 304 1252 1037 244