Star Girl
By: Jerry Spinelli
Characterization
Stargirl: Is a round and a dynamic character. Stargirl is round because during the course of the book we are clearly told what acts like and looks like and how "unique" she is and that she's not afraid to show who Stargirl is. She is also a really nice person. Stargirl is also a dynamic character because in the beginning of the book she is who she is and loves it but then when Stargirl and Leo date and they start getting shunned after what Stargirl did, Leo wants her to change the way she is. And she does that exactly. But then later in the book she changes back to herself.
Leo: Is a flat and static character. He is a flat character because even though we know we know that he is very shy we don't know so much about him. Like how he really is and what he looks like. He's also a static character because he really doesn't change over the course of the book. He's the same from the beginning to the end. Leo acts happy when he is with Stargirl and is over the time. But after she leaves forever he does get very upset and misses her. That was his better half.
Stargirl: Is a round and a dynamic character. Stargirl is round because during the course of the book we are clearly told what acts like and looks like and how "unique" she is and that she's not afraid to show who Stargirl is. She is also a really nice person. Stargirl is also a dynamic character because in the beginning of the book she is who she is and loves it but then when Stargirl and Leo date and they start getting shunned after what Stargirl did, Leo wants her to change the way she is. And she does that exactly. But then later in the book she changes back to herself.
Leo: Is a flat and static character. He is a flat character because even though we know we know that he is very shy we don't know so much about him. Like how he really is and what he looks like. He's also a static character because he really doesn't change over the course of the book. He's the same from the beginning to the end. Leo acts happy when he is with Stargirl and is over the time. But after she leaves forever he does get very upset and misses her. That was his better half.
Plot Line:
Chapter One-Three:
Predictions: 1) This book will be all about a girl that is unique. 2) She is an awkward girl. 3) She has no friends. Clarifications: I understand this Chapter. When someone knew comes to your school your interested in what they look like and how they act. To see if you would like to be friends with them. But I don't understand why Leo doesn't want her on their show Hot Seat. Questions: 1)Why is everyone thinking that Stargirl is fake? 2)How does Stargirl know their names and birthdays? 3)How come if she's acting weird, why aren't people making fun of her? Connections: 1) I have seen a movie where this girl comes to school and is all weird. 2)There have been new kids in our school and some of them are kinda weird. 3) I always sing Happy Birthday to people when its their birthday. Summary: It starts off with a boy that was 12-years-old and had moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona. And liked to collect porcupine ties. His name was Leo Borlock. On the first day of school the first words his friend Kevin says is, "Did you see her?" meaning if he has seen the new girl. He didn't know what he was talking about. Everyone was talking about her. During one of his classes he finds out that her name is Stargirl. He was a bit shocked at first because he has never heard of a name like that before. Everyone stared at her during lunch and watched her eat alone during lunch. Days passed and she was still the same. She dressed a bit weird everyday but say was very kind. Stargirl would always sing Happy Birthday to the students that was the day of their birthday. Everyone thought she was fake and it was something that the school was doing. But Leo knew she wasn't. Kevin wanted to put her on their show Hot Seat but Leo didn't think it was a good idea. He would think about her a lot and at the end even followed her home. |
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Chapter Four- Seven
Predictions: 1) Leo will start liking Stargirl. 2) Everyone will start to find out that she is not fake. 3) Stargirl will be on Hot Seat. Clarifications: I don't really understand this section of the book. I don't get what the kids at the beginning of the chapter have to do with anything. I also don't get why Start was at the football game and acted all crazy and didn't show up to the next. There was just to much going on in these chapters. Questions: 1)Why did Stargirl go to the football game and act crazy? 2)Why didn't she show up to the next football game? 3)Why did Hillari not want Stargirl to sing to her? Connections: 1) I have gone to football games. 2) I march on the field because I'm in band. 3) I don't pay attention and could careless about the cheerleaders just like in this book. Summary: At their high school Mica Area High School, Hillari Kimble was famous for three things. Her mouth, The Hoax, and Wayne Parr. Leo wanted to put Parr in the Hot Seat but Kevin asked why because he never did anything. No sports or nothing. But they finally did and they asked him who his role model is and he said "GQ" which was "Gentlemen's Quarterly" which was a magazine. He wanted to be a model. He kinda looked like one to. Kevin called Leo and told him to come to the football game. He was surprised because Kevin never went to them. He got there and it was halftime and the band was playing. Down on the field with the band was Stargirl. After the band got off the field she stayed there. Even when the football players came back she did the exercises that they did. Then the game was going to start but she grabbed the ball and everyone looked at her and the officials tried to get her off the field then the police had to come and she ran for it. Everyone was cheering. The next game a lot of people came just to see Stargirl but she never came. There was a disappointment in everyone's faces. On Monday they saw Mallory Stillwell sit with her and talk with her, they knew that Stargirl became a cheerleader. She even wore her uniform on the days they didn't have games. Hillari went up to Stargirl and told her not to sing to her and she said she wouldn't. The next day Startgirl did sing but to Leo but said Hillari's name instead. |
Chapter Eight-Eleven
Predictions: 1)More people will start talking to Stargirl. 2)She will become popular. 3)Stargril will quite cheer. Clarifications: I understand half of this chapter. The beginning of this chapter I don't get it really. For example I don't understand why Hillari had Stargirl's rat. And also why did people start going to buy rats? The part I understand is when there at the game and Startgirl leaves half way through the game, I understand why the cheerleaders were mad at her because Stargirl was suppose to be all cheerful and stuff. Questions: 1)How did Stargirl become so popular? 2) Why did Hillari have Stargirl's rat? 3)Why were people getting more involved into groups? Connections: 1) I have seen were a girl turns into a cheerleader that everyone wants to be her friend. 2)Our basketball team is really good. 3)We lost our last football game. Summary: By Thanksgiving Startgirl has become the most popular girl in school. Now at the last football game a lot of people came but not to see the game but to see Stargirl, because she's so amazing and cheerful. Leo didn't know how she got popular. He maybe thought it was the incedient with Hillari or with Dori, which was a 9th grader that sat with her first and ever since that everyone wanted to. Stargirl enters into an oratorical contest and wins it. Later in the book Leo starts to be that more students are getting involve in groups making them express themselves. Leo finally agrees to let Stargirl be on Hot Seat. Ans Stargirl agrees to it too. Basketball begins, which the team is really good and wins game after game. During one of the games, Stargirl's team starts booing the other team. Stargirl was upset about it and leaves through half of the game and talks to the bus driver. The team found out and wanted to get revenge. They tell her that they forgot something, and if she can go get it. She says yes and the team tells the bus driver that they are ready and she leaves, leaving behind Stargirl. The nest day they tell her that it was just a mistake. |
Chapter Twelve- Fourteen
Predictions: 1) Nobody will like Stargirl at the end. 2) They will start to treat her bad. 3) Stargirl might finally see that she is not wanted. Clarifications: I understand these chapters because I understand why they started to treat Stargirl bad, but I also believe that they shouldn't have gotten so mad at her for a stupid mistake. But I don't get the end. I don't understand why Stargirl would leave a card for Leo saying that she loved him. Questions: 1)Why were the judges being so mean during the Hot Seat interview? 2)Why did they through a tomato at Stargirl's face? 3)Why did Stargirl leave a card saying that she loved Leo in his locker? Connections: 1)I've seen Judge Judy, she's so mean sometimes and is made me remain me of this. 2) During one of Sponebob Squarepants episode, they through tomatoes at Squidwared. 3) I know a person that had left a note in someones locker saying that they liked them. Summary: Stargirl has become so unpopular. Stargirls interview was in section. During the interview at one point Stargirls eyes got so big and she froze because she was trying to get the whole "Hot Seat" in place. She pretended that it was really hot. Then the judges started to ask questions like "Why is your name Stargil?" she then said that her really name is Susan but changes it every time she out grown it. She like clothes. Then they asked why she had stopped homeschooling and she said because she wanted to make friends. But during the interview it got heated. At the end they had a basketball game and they lost. This time Stargirl wasn't cheering for the other team. And at one point someone threw a tomato at her face and Leo was in shock. He then came to his locker where there he found a card that said, "I LOVE YOU" with the code of a star and a girl. |
Chapter Fifteen- Seventeen Predictions: 1) Stargirl soon will have no friends. 2) Leo will start to fall for her. 3) Stargirl will become Leo's girlfriend. Clarifications: I somewhat understand these chapters because I get that he would be a little freaked out looking at her because she had left him a card saying that she loved him. I what I don't get is does Leo like Stargirl? because all he really does is think about her and he wants to talk to her a lot. Questions: 1) Why does Leo get up when he sees Stargirl coming? 2) Why does he basically stay outside and look at her house? 3) Does Leo like Stargirl? 4) Why does she take him to an enchanted place? Connections: 1) I have gone to an place where I can relax and let everything go. 2) I've seen that movie with the talking rat that wears clothes and his best friend is a human. 3) I have been in that situation were I see someone wanting to talk to you but then leave so that they can't catch up to you. Summary: Leo was just a bit nervous to go to school and have to see Stargirl because of the card that she left him. He saw Kevin and asked and Kevin said that he heard that she gave them to her homeroom class and Leo agreed with him. He then saw that Stargirl was coming his way he got up and left. The next say he could see that she was coming but this time he stayed sited. She just stood there and said "Your Welcome." He knew he had to turn around and when he did he said "Thank You." That same day he drove around her house and wanted to see her. So instead of driving he just walked. During that time he just stood close to her house and Stargirl was coming his way. She kept asking him questions and then Leo finally told her that he thinks she's cute. Her rat was on his shoulders licking his ears. The net day Stargril comes up to him and ask if he believed in enchanted places. Leo answered with an I don't know. So stargirl took him to one. At the end they just walk hand and hand through the amazing place. |
Chapter Eighteen- Twenty-four
Predictions: 1) Kevin will see that Leo and Stargirl are hanging out more. 2) Leo will soon ask Stargirl to be his girlfriend. 3) Kevin will get jealous. Clarifications: I understand this chapter because I understand that the school is mad at Stargirl, but I don't understand why they ignore her for everything that she has done. Stargirl is a really nice person and she's just different. Questions: 1)Why are they shunning Leo? 2)How does Stargirl know so much of people? 3)Why didn't Leo make the first move? 4)How come Stargirl doesn't see that she is being shunned? 5)Why does she care so much for other people? Connections: 1) I have been to the mall with my friends and messed and had fun. 2) I had someone special that I loved hanging out with. 3)In a movie that I watched a girl got ignored because she was weird but I don't remember the name of it. Summary: When Stargirl and Leo come to school the next day they walked together. To Leo it seem like they were the only ones at school. No one spoke to them, looked at them, and even bumped into them. During lunch Leo had asked Kevin what was going on. Kevin them told him that it was not because of him or himself but because of Stargirl. Leo got a bit confused and Kevin explained more. He said because of how she cheered the other team on, the happy birthday song, and the cards. Basically they were shunning them out. They shunned Leo out because he was talking with her. Stargirl never really notice. From her being to crowed during lunch now she only has two people sitting with her. Leo wasn't going to stop talking to her for this reason. One day Stargirl ask Leo if he wants to play a game he said sure. Stargirl then took him to the mall and looked for a certain person and guessed what their life was. She then invited Leo to come and eat at her house and she said yes. After eating both went out and sat at the front of the house. Stargirl was taking pictures of this little kid playing across the street because she was making a scrapbook for him until he was a bit older. She then told Leo that he was jealous because she wasn't paying attention to him as much as she does to other people. She then got close to him and they kissed. At the end during school Leo makes sure that he is not being ignored and called people names to see if they would turn and they did. But for Stargirl they still all hated her. That the end she does something. |
Chapter Twenty-Four - Twenty-Six
Predictions: 1) Stargirl will end up doing something stupid. 2) The rest of the school will still be hating Stargirl and ignoring her even more. Clarifications: I understand these chapters. It's basically telling me that Leo wants her to change just so that people will stop ignoring him and her. But I don't understand why he never told her that no one liked her when he first found out. Questions: 1) Why didn't Leo tell Stargirl start up that no one liked her? 2) Why did she change so much and not just change little things? 3) Why did Leo get so happy when he saw her changed? Didn't he like her the way she was? 4) Was Stargirl sick for those two days? Or did she not want to go to school? Connections: 1) During the show The Fosters I saw a part were the couple had to sit a talk about what they were gonna do. 2) I had a friend that changed over the summer. 3) I've seen so many guys that want there girlfriends to change. Summary: While Leo was going to Spanish class he looked out the window and say that there was a sheet in red lettering that read "Stargirl Loves Leo" he didn't know rather to be excited and just shout it out or just ignore it. When Stargirl sees him she ask what he thinks about the sign. Leo basically ignored it and walk away. He had ignored Stargirl for days. Finally Stargirl comes up to him and ask him that they need to talk. They go out into the court and sit down, and Stargirl ask Leo if they were gonna break up already. Leo told her that he didn't want to. Everything that Leo was asking her she didn't really understand and he thought that she was just making everything a joke. He then told her that no one liked her and they way she is and what she did. The next day he didn't see Stargirl. Two days later pass and here comes Stargirl all changed. Leo is really happy she even changed her name back so Susan. Leo was happy to call her his girlfriend. Holding hands in the hallway and everything. Even though she was changed people still didn't talk to her and the next day at school she had made a sign saying "TALK TO ME AND I'LL SCRATCH YOUR BACK." There were no takers. Later that day Susan weht to Leo and told him that no one liked her and she became very upset. |
Chapter Twenty- Seven - Twenty-Nine
Predictions: 1) Susan will still get ignored. 2) No one will like what she had done to herself. 3)Leo will wanna breakup wit her. Clarifications: I understand these chapters. I feel as if she already knew from that start that she was gonna win because she was really confident in herself. Also I feel like at the end not may people showed up because they still didn't like her. Questions: 1) Why was she acting so weird on the way there? 2) Why did she know that she was gonna win? 3) How come she asked her teacher if Leo was adorable? Connections: 1) When I won a game during Spanish class I felt very special because I actually knew things. 2) I know people that make things seem like you shouldn't be so confident about yourself because you never know what can happen. Summary: Susan is ready to go to Phoenix for the contest that she is in. In the car she is with her teacher and Leo. She also invited Dori but she didn't come because Dori was mad at Susan because she changed herself. On the way there all Susan did was talk about things and also on how she wanted Leo to grab her big silver plate when she won because she didn't wanna drop it or anything. When they arrived they checked in into the hotel and the next morning Susan was taken to another place were she would give her speech. She was the second to last. At the end she won but her speech as totally different it was new. She just said what came out of her mouth. When they returned there was only a few people there and one being Dori holding a sign that read "WAY TO GO SUSAN, WE'RE PROUD OF YOU" |
Chapter 30 & 31 Predictions: 1) No one will care if Susan won. 2) Leo gets tired of her. 3) Everything just goes down hill for Leo and Susan. Clarifications: I don't really get these chapters. I don't understand how it goes from coming to school to talking about a dance. And also I don't understand why she leaves. Questions: 1)Why did sh change back to Stargirl? 2) Why didn't Leo ask her to the dance? 3) Why did all the guys want to dance with her? 4) Why did Hillari slap Stargirl? 5) Why did Stargirl leave at the end ant not come back? Connections: 1) I have friends that changed themselves but then later became who they really were and wanted to be. 2) There was this movie were this girl got slapped because she having fun with this other girls boyfriend. Summary: Susan changes herself back to Stargirl. She brings cookies that have smiley faces on them but a certain person smashes it. Stargirl then talks with Leo and she knows that he will not be asking her to the ball. That day all girls getting ready for the ball with there corsages, limos and pretty dresses. The guys looking nice. Stargirl is all alone on and a guy named Raymond Studemacher danced with her. Since that all the guys wanted to dance with her. At a certain point Stargirl went up to Hillari's boyfriend and took him to the dance floor to dance. Hillari was upset and at the end she goes up to Stargirl and slaps her and since that night nobody has seen Stargirl. |
Chapter 32 - "More Than Stars"
Predictions: 1) Stargirl will not come back. 2) Leo of course is not dating her anymore. 3) Everything will go back to normal. Clarifications: I didn't really get these last chapters because it went all to fast. Fore example in Chapter 32 did time pass by or were they still in the present time? And when it got the the end of the chapter I did somewhat understand because time did go by and it was explaining what had happen to him and the rest of the people. Questions: 1)Why did Stargirl move? 2) Did Leo is like/love her? 3) How come Stargirl never showed Leo her "office"? 4) Why did Stargirl take pictures of so many people? Connections: 1)I have had a really good friend move far before. 2) I have had a really person die, it was really sad. Summary: Stargirl had moved. Leo was really upset about it. He went to speak to Archie about it, but it seemed like he wasn't paying attention to him. Leo then spoke to Senor Saguaro, he than told Leo that Stargirl had moved to Minnesota. He also showed Leo, Stargirl's "office" it was all filled with yellow books, newspaper, paint, and much more. He then saw a box with stuff it said "Likes and Dislikes", and it had pictures of certain people that Stargirl would take pictures of. And one of the persons was him. At the end of it all it talks about what happened to the other people and how there lifes went. Kevin didn't get into the television bussiness neither did Leo. Leo didn't have a family yet but he became a set designer after going to the enchanted place Stargirl took him to. At the end Archie moved, Senor Saguaro had passed away and the enchanted place is now an Elementary school. A month from Leo's birthday he got a package in the mail. It was a porcupine |
Themes
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Love is one of the themes because Stargirl loved a lot of things during the book. For example, her love for Leo was strong, she would do anything to make him happy. Even change herself so that he would be happy. Also her love for the world is another. She was nice to everyone is always respected them and she loved and appreciate places. Like her enchanted place, she loved it because she could go there and just think about everything.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/6/23666600/2177979.jpg)
Friendship is another theme. It's something that everyone needs to be happy because they know they have someone or people to rely on. For example Stargirl had a lot of friendships. With Leo, Senor Saguaro, and Archie. Even though the school liked her a first they weren't exactly real friendships. With her true friends she enjoyed being with them and also could tell them anything.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/6/23666600/3036709.jpg)
Identity was a big one. Its something that shows who you are. It was shown throughout the book in Stargirl. For example she was Stargirl at the beginning and was outgoing, weird good, nice, and everything but after Leo talked to her she changed herself to an ordinary girl in school. She didn't just change her look but her attitude changed too. She was less weird. But at the end she became herself and she loved it.
Motifs
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Changing yourself is one because Stargirl did it in the book. She did it mostly because Leo had asked her to because she didn't want to get ignored because he was going out with her.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/6/23666600/9873560.jpg)
Being who you really are is another. Even though you might think that being yourself might make others think that your weird and not make any friends, its fine being who you really are. For example, when Stargirl first came she was herself from the beginning and didn't care what people thought about her. If she made friends then good and if not then so be it. She was fine with who she was.
Symbols
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The Moa is one of the symbols. The Moa is a kind of bird that was extinct million years ago. The Moa helped Stargirl win the contest because that's what she was thinking about when she started saying her speech.
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Barney is another symbol of the book. Barney is a 60-million-year-old Paleocene rodent skull. It was Archie's, he liked to talk about it with Leo a lot.. Its a symbol because when Leo went to Archie's after Stargirl left, Leo had asked him if she was even real. This is an example that Archie used Barney saying that it was real. Real but rare just like Stargirl because its something that doesn't come along that often.
Tone(s)
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Wise is a tone during the book because Starigrl is very wise in what she does and says. For example. when she dose her speeches everyone is so amazed with what she says and can't believe that it can come out of Stargirl because of the way she is.
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Thoughtful was another. It was shown throughout the book by Stargirl was thoughtful when it came to people. For example when she was making that scrapbook for that little kid. She was think about him when he gets older and she wanted to show him how he was as a kid. Also when she wrote "I LOVE LEO" on a bed sheet with red paint, it showed that she though it threw and wanted Leo to see it and feel what she felt.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/6/23666600/3918965.jpg)
Caring is another. Stargirl always cared for the people even though some didn't like her after what she did at the basketball game. For example when Stargirl went to Phoenix for the contest and Dori was mad at her she still cared about her and wasn't going to stop being her friend because Dori didn't go with her.
Mood(s)
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Happy was one because Stargirl was always happy. And so was Leo. For example Stargirl would always be happy when it was someones birthday because she would sing Happy Birthday to them. That made her happy because it showed people that she knew their birthdays and would get singed to.
![Picture](/uploads/2/3/6/6/23666600/7467288.jpg)
Relaxed was another mood in the book. The enchanted place was the relaxing part. For example when Stargirl and Leo went there they could just sit there and talk or not even talk and just look out. They loved that place. And that's were Stargirl would practice for her speech.
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Upset was anther. It was shown by Stargirl and Leo at different parts of the book. For example. for Stargirl she was upset when she made a sign saying that she would scratch their back if they would talk to her and no one did and that made her upset. And for Leo it was mostly at the end when Stargirl had left and not come back. He was upset because he really did love and care about her and he still wanted to be with her. He loved the way she was.