Jerry Spinelli

In this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student named Stargirl changes Mica High School forever.

Stargirl

Joan Nya 

Maureen

"But how do you keep track of the rest of the world? Sometimes I can hardly keep track of myself." 

***

I wish I had read this when I was in High School. Leo's fear of wanting to belong was too real. But Stargirl teaches us that it's okay to be different, and noncomformity is not something we should be afraid of.

Sarah Sammis

chloe rae

I liked this! I remember reading this in middle school (I believe that's the right school) and really enjoying it. The same is true this time. Stargirl is someone that I think we all need to be more like, and someone I look up to. Her character is larger-than-life for such a small book but I still loved her. I just love how, in the end, she refused to be anything but her true self. Leo was great but could be so annoying at times. I really wish there had been a bigger realization on his end or a bigger ANYTHING really. This whole book just kind of existed on one level. It didn't go anywhere. I didn't mind that the plot was character based but I just wanted more...something.
Overall, the message of this is clear. I know that Stargirl and I would've been wonderful friends. I'm glad I gave this a re-read.

Laura Mauler

abbie j

Victoria

I actually like it. There's nothing particulary special about the story but it made me feel 'something' -- whatever that is.

Jeannette Ordas

For half of this book I thought it was for middle school readers...it wasn't until the character pointed out that he was 16 years old that I had to do a double-take. Seemed to walk a high moral ground which took the story out of real life and into a Leave it to Beaver happy shiny people story.

Izza

English Chinese edition of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. A unique story about an 11th grade girl who is eccentric, compassionate and a nonconformist. The book's message is to celebrate individualism. The book was named the best of the year by Publisher Weekly, a bestseller on New York Times, and a Parent Choice Gold Award winner. The movie based on the story is set for release in 2009. In Traditional Chinese/English.

kate humphreys 

This was such a sweet read. I wish I had actually read it one of the million times I remember checking it out of the library. This is definitely an important message and I’m glad I finally got to reading it. I can’t wait for the movie adaptation!!

Debbi

Everyone, I'd like you to meet my favourite book, Stargirl.

paulina bug

I watched the movie first and I think I actually liked the movie more than the book. The book is really good for its intended age range and everything from the plot, characters, and dialogue is generally good! I literally read it in one day. It’s not perfect, but I love Stargirl’s character

Shan

This was so sweet and a reminder that just because someone isn’t like you, that doesn’t make them any less of a person.

Bea R.

“She did it for you, you know.”

“What?”

“Gave up her self, for a while there. She loved you that much. What an incredibly lucky kid you were.”

April Showers

4.5/5 I can't explain it. Maybe it's because the first time I read it I still had my innocent peace of mind in 4th grade. But this book feels like nostalgic and good vibes. Please read this. (Lower/Younger Level Reading)

Kathryn 

*4.5*

Wonderfully weird and incredibly accurate. I'm amazed at how much this story has affected my feelings in such a short amount of pages. 

I've taken one main thing away from this book:
-Dont let anyone change who you are. Embrace your differences. Be wonderfully weird.

Bowie 

Maria

Американские читатели на Goodreads пишут, что это современная классика, и что они читали её в школе, и я прямо даже не представляю, какого взрослого читателя Stargirl может зацепить. Это дидактическая книжка для среднего школьного возраста, которая пережевывает старую, как динозавры, идею, что необычным людям в обществе жить очень тяжело, потому что общество их не принимает, не любит и побаивается (из 15-го века приветливо машет нам Святая Инквизиция).

В школе, где учится мальчик Лео, появляется новая девочка. Она называет себя Старгёрл, носит платья в пол и ленты в волосах, на плече у неё сидит ручная крыса, она украшает свою парту цветами, а в столовке подходит к именинникам и поёт им поздравительные песни под укулеле. Школа в шоке, никто не понимает, как к ней относиться, кому-то Старгёрл симпатична, кому-то нет, ну а наш герой Лео заворожен ею со всем, так сказать, юношеским пылом.

И в этом, по-моему, основная проблема книги – мы так и не узнаем, что Старгёрл за человек, какие у неё там сокровенные мысли и мечты, потому что видим её исключительно глазами Лео. А для него она та самая manic pixie dream girl, которых так любят придумывать себе некоторые мальчики, а потом жестоко разочаровываться, выясняя, что настоящий человек отличается от их фантазии. Лео поначалу очарован Старгёрл и упивается идеей «она-нитакая-как-все», пока вдруг не выясняет, что потерял популярность в школе из-за её непопулярности, и не устраивает ей истерику «стань-такой-как-все». Типичное, в общем, поведение человека, для которого другой человек – не личность, а идея, которую можно кроить, как тебе вздумается, отрезая лишнее.

Не знаю, если честно, чему учит Stargirl американских школьников – как мне показалось, единственная хорошо проартикулированная идея в ней это «не высовывайся, а то хуже будет». Потому что проникнуться мыслью, как тяжело живется в школе неконформной девочке, мне как читателю так и не удалось – во-первых, потому что ей, по её словам, живется нормально, тяжело живется только её бойфренду, а во-вторых, даже если она и чувствует что-то, мы об этом не знаем, потому что видим её только тем персонажем, которого напридумывал себе Лео. Что, в целом, не ново для мировой художественной культуры, но поддостало.

Fiona Coffey

** spoiler alert **
           This is a book that everyone really wanted me to read as a kid, but I never did because it was too hyped up... Now at 21 years old I finally got around to it.

I really liked this book, but I really didn't like the narrator. I would have really rather preferred the book to take place from Stargirl's perspective. The ending also bothered me, it's really weird that he's still obsessed with her years after they are out of high school. Like seriously, stop romanticizing this poor girl and let her live her life. I did really like the story though, and I would probably read it again. I think that I probably would have liked this book more if I had actually read it when I was twelve.

Khloe Grotting

I adored this book! It made me laugh, cry, and smile all in the same paragraph.

shalee olsen

I read it long ago and I apparently didn’t remember anything about it.. 

Re reading it I thought it was just ok. Had great potential. Didn’t fulfill my expectations.

Rebeca 

4.75 stars 

This is everything. I wish we were all like Stargirl.

chloe dorward

this book was really good! the author is so descriptive and i love his writing style.

Rebecca Light

Manic pixie dream girl for teenagers. To be fair, the book has a lot more going for it than that and it shouldn't be reduced, but the trope was familiar.

JacQueline Roe

Love to read and reread this gem. Star girl is unique, fresh, and challenges why I behave and believe as I do.

Stargirl

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