The document provides a summary of the book "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli. It summarizes the plot in three sentences: An unusual new girl named Stargirl comes to school wearing unique clothes and calls herself Stargirl. At first she is shunned but then people start to like her. However, after her school loses an important game, the students blame Stargirl and begin shunning her and her boyfriend Leo again. The summary then asks what might happen next in the story.
2. Biography
Jerry Spinelli was born on February 1st, 1941 in Norristown,
Pennsylvania. He has written Stargirl, Crash, Knots in My Yo-yo
String, and many others. I enjoy his books very much.
Jerry became a writer at age 16, after he wrote a poem that
got published in the newspaper. He first wanted to write adult
books, but later chose to write for kids, when his grownup books
were rejected by publishers. His first published children’s book
was Space Station Seventh Grade. Again, he wanted it to be a
novel for adults, but since the main character was 13, it was
published as a kids’ book. Spinelli wrote many other books also,
all of which for kids. The book Stargirl was even made into a
movie in 2009.
Jerry was an amazing man. He served in the Navy, married,
and had six kids. He is an interesting and talented person.
3. Summary
Inthe book Stargirl , an unusual new girl shows up at school. She
wears long flowing skirts and overalls. She is very different and calls
herself Stargirl. At first, no one wants anything to do with the
interesting teen, then people start to like her. They admire her
singing and ukulele playing. They start to do what she does, but then
something happens that makes them change their mind. She
becomes a cheerleader for basketball, but she cheers for both
teams, so when Mica High (her school) looses an important game,
they blame her. They start shunning her and Leo ( the main
character/Stargirl’s boyfriend). This goes on for quite a while. Leo
wonders if it will ever stop. What do you think happens next? Do you
think the shunning will stop? Will something change to make the
story a little bit different? Read Stargirl to find out!
4. Characters
Main Characters
Leo- the main character and narrator of the book. He is a Junior at Mica High in
Arizona, and is a pretty normal kid. He is kind of Stargirl’s boyfriend The book
doesn’t really give a description, but if I had to guess I would say he is about
normal height and weight.
Stargirl- the out-of-the-ordinary new girl. She is a Sophomore. She has sandy
colored hair and freckles. She wears long skirts and other unusual clothes. She is a
generous person. Her real name is Susan but she likes to make up her own names.
Hillari- the popular mean girl. She is a Junior. She is very against Stargirl and is
convinced that she is “fake” and that this unusual, spunky personality cannot be
real.
Supporting Characters
Kevin- Leo’s best friend. He is a Junior also. He is an average teen with a great
sense of humor. He likes to fool around a lot.
Archie- a friend of the teens. He is a scientist and like to teach them new facts.
He also likes to teach them important lessons about life and friendship. He is an
old man with an interesting personality.
Dori- one of Stargirl’s only friends during the shunning. She is always by
Stargirl’s side, helping her out.
Stargirl’s parents- a very normal couple. They are supporting of Stargirl and her
different ways of life. They are kind and loving. They are good parents to Stargirl.
5. Breakdown of Plot
Introduction:
Stargirl comes to Mica High School in Arizona.
People do not know what to make of her.
Stargirl sings to people on their birthdays.
Stargirl meets Leo.
Rising Action:
Stargirl becomes a cheerleader.
Stargirl speaks in a contest and wins.
Stargirl roots for both teams as a cheerleader.
Stargirl and Leo become closer to each other.
Stargirl changes to try to become more popular
Climax:
Everyone except Dori shuns Leo and Stargirl.
Falling Action:
Stargirl goes to an oral speaking contest and wins.
The school has a dance for all the students.
Things start to change a little.
Conclusion:
Some people start to accept Stargirl again.
Leo finds out about all of Stargirl’s little secrets like how she
knows it is someone’s birthday and more.
6. New Vocabulary
Titters-n. nervous laughs; Accustomed to seeing stiff, mortified
contestants, the audience responded with nervous titters. Pg.119
Blithely- adv. of a happy lighthearted character; She went straight to
the food line, smiling blithely. Pg.25
Impromptu- adj. made, done, or formed on or as if on the spur of a
moment; Then, impromptu, he reached out and stroked the nose of
Cinnamon, who was perched on Stargirl’s shoulder. Pg.47
Raucous- adj. boisterously disorderly and loud; Our once-raucous
fans were stunned into silence, and that’s when it happened. Pg.55
Mesquite- n. any of several spiny trees or shrubs; Hair blew in a
faint, smoky smell of mesquite. Pg.116
7. Movie Characters
Leo played by Zac Efron.
Stargirl played by Lindsey Lohan.
Hillari played by Hayden Panettiere
8. Movie Actors Continued
Archie played by Gene
Hackman
Kevin played by Channing Tatum
Dori played by
Vanessa Hudgens
Stargirl’s parents played by Diane Lane and Daniel Craig
9. Soundtrack Tunes
I chose this song for the part of the book where Stargirl takes Leo to her
enchanted place in the desert. She tells Leo to “erase himself” and start
over. That is why I chose this song for this book.
“A Horse With No Name”
On the first part of the journey I was looking at
all the life There were plants and birds and
rocks and things There was sand and hills and
rings The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz
And the sky with no clouds The heat was hot
and the ground was dry But the air was full of
sound I've been through the desert on a horse
with no name It felt good to be out of the rain
In the desert you can remember your name
'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain
La, la ... After two days in the desert sun My
skin began to turn red After three days in the
desert fun I was looking at a river bed And the
story it told of a river that flowed Made me sad
to think it was dead You see I've been through
the desert on a horse with no name It felt good
to be out of the rain In the desert you can
remember your name 'Cause there ain't no one
for to give you no pain La, la ...
Etc.
10. Final Rating
My final rating forStargirl would probably be a 4 1/2 out
of 5 stars. I gave it this because I really enjoyed most of
the book, butsome parts were a little slow. I liked how
well they described the personalities and I thought the
book was really interesting, and it also shows you it is
okay to be different.
11. Other Recommendations
Other Books By Jerry Spinelli:
Crash
Other Books Like This:
A Mango Shaped Space
Rules
Out Of My Mind
