Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Synopsis from Goodreads

From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, hallways hum “Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. Until they are not. Leo urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her - normal.

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Review

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a book that should be considered a classic among the Young Adult genre. It beautifully portrays  the value of being an individual and doing what makes you happy as opposed to what will make others like you. 

Personally, I found that the narrative voice in Stargirl was perfect. Leo Borlock is a teenager much like myself who conforms to what is considered the 'norm' within his school so that he won't be noticed and won't fall headlong into trouble. Although Leo's opinions and attitudes towards Stargirl's extroverted and unique personality seem harsh, it is presented in the exact same way that you or I would feel. 

Throughout this book the concept of 'them' and 'us' is explored frequently. This book teaches you that everyone feels as if they are going against the tide of the entire world, yet in some people this is easier to see. Leo telling Stargirl that she should behave normally was a powerful and pivotal point in this book. It showed that no matter how pleased everyone may be with us, it won't benefit our own happiness. 

The characters in this book were intricately woven, especially Stargirl and Leo. Stargirl is one of the most interesting characters that I've read about for a while now. She carries an air of kindness and generosity that most characters in young adult novels don't have. Many of the other books in this genre present their female characters as being 'strong' and 'independent' , although this is an extremely important character trait for females in modern literature, we must also take into account that women and girls alike, are also kind, compassionate and caring.

Leo's character is one that most people would disagree with. It's easy for us, as readers, to acknowledge that Leo is shallow, however it begs the question, in Leo's position, wouldn't we behave in the same way ? Leo was indeed shallow and lured in by the concept of normality that he lived by, but ultimately he is a very realistic representation of an introverted adolescent.

The plot in Stargirl was woven more around the characters than events, so it follows that the books was just as interesting and quirky as the characters.

In summary, Stargirl is a beautiful novel that expresses the importance of individuality, kindness and open mindedness in a world that seems to accept so little of it.

RATING | ★★★★★