Setting-Arizona

Author-Jerry Spinelli

Characters-Leo, Stargirl, Kevin, Hilary Kimble.

Stargirl

Stargirl is very different. You see, when Stargirl first goes to Mica High school

Everyone hates her, but then, suddenly they all turn on her

Here's where it gets ugly. Stargirl becomes a cheerleader and everything's going great. But then, at the basketball games, she does cheer for her team when they score a basket, but she also roots for the other team when they score a basket. Everyone blamed Stargirl for the team's losing streak. Stargirl is really different. She decorates her desk for every class, she sings happy birthday to you when it's your birthday in the lunch room for the whole school to see, she's always strumming her ukulele, and Cinnamon, her pet rat is always riding on her shoulder. She dances and twirls instead of walking to class, she wears skirts all the time, and absolutely no make-up whatsoever.

Now, Hilary Kimble absolutely hates Stargirl. Hilary Kimble is one of those, "thinks-she's-all-that" girl. Yah know, captain of the cheerleaders, stuck-up blonde type. And she hates having Stargirl being different. She just can't stand her! Since Hilary hates Stargirl, she expects everyone else to hate her. They hate her for everything that makes her different, they hate her because she isn't normal, they hate her because she isn't one of "them." Except just one person totally disagrees,....Leo Borlock.

Stargirl catches Leo's heart with just one smile. Leo does believe she's different that's for sure, but it doesn't see it as that bad. He does sometimes wish she was different and more like "them." But he likes her the way she is, but he would NEVER admit it. Never ever, at least not out loud. Every night, when the moonlight is shining threw Leo's window, he thinks of her, so beautiful, but somewhat out of reach.

But on Valentine's Day, that all changes. When Leo arrived at History class, he got a valentine from someone that said "I LOVE YOU", signed not with a name, but a drawing of a little girl with a star over her head. He suspected it to be Stargirl and asked his best friend Kevin if he got one too. Kevin didn't. it turns out, Stargirl had a crush on Leo, and just Leo. After school, Stargirl suggested that she take Leo to her "enchanted" place. Leo tagged along. It was miles before they reached the "enchanted" place. But when they got there, it seemed worth it. Stargirl had taken Leo to a dessert. A beautiful dessert. So when they got there, they just sat on a rock till sunset, just sitting with their eyes closed. Thinking, dreaming. As the year progressed, they spent more and more time together. On weekends, they were best friends, but in school, there were merely strangers. Never ate lunch together, never really talked in between classes. Just on weekends, they clicked. One weekend, Stargirl kissed Leo. Leo smiled for the rest of the week. That's when people started calling Leo "Mr. Stargirl" or"Starboy."

But then, people started ignoring him. Just like they did stargirl, now they just ignored Leo too. This drived Leo bananas! Leo didn't like being ignored, he needed to be known.

One day, during Spanish class, Leo looked outside to see a huge piece of paper tacked to the wall that read "STARGIRL LOVES LEO." At first, Leo wanted to grab the teacher to the window, throw his head back and scream "LOOK SHE LOVES ME!!!!! AND I LOVE HER!!!!!" but then, he thought, and that wasn't a very good idea. He also was very ashamed. They already ignored him but now, now they REALLY ignored him. One hour later Leo looked outside and the signed had been ripped down, he was sort of relieved.

He had tried his best to avoid Stargirl. He didn't want to confront her. But after school starigrl found leo in the courtyard. And she asked Leo, "so Leo did you see it"" All Leo said was,..."We need to talk" Leo and Stargirl had a conversation. Leo was now asking her to become the very thing that could destroy her.....normal. Stargirl questioned him "Don't you love me the way I am"" and of course he loved her, he just didn't want to be ashamed to be with her in public. After that Star girl disappeared for two days. Two days later, in the lunchroom, A girl came up behind Leo and said, "Like me now"" Stargirl Caraway had vanished, this was now Susan Caraway. Susan looked very normal, jeans, hoop earrings, toe rings, finger rings, heavy make-up, chewing gum, she was now normal. And now I know what your thinking, "oh normal? Now everybody wins!" but no. this was a huge failure. Yes it lasted a while and Leo was so happy. After a while of trying to be popular, Susan quit. Yes she quit trying to be normal for it wasn't working at all. Stargirl was back.

The dance was coming up, and Star girl knew Leo wouldn't ask her to it. And she was right. Leo didn't even go. He simply rode on his bicycle and watched. But star girl arrived with her best friend Dori. Oh and Star girl looked like she was from heaven. She had a light yellow dress, a sunflower on her wrist, baby breath in her hair, long beautiful waves in her honey golden hair. She was beautiful. And Leo thought so too. Star girl started a dance called the bunny hop. Everyone joined in except for Hilary Kimble and her date, Wayne Parr. When the bunny hop was going on, Hilary went straight up to Star girl and simply slapped her right across the face. Star girl smiled, kissed Hilary Kimble on the cheek and left.

After that night, Star girl was never seen again.

This book was awesome. This book taught me to be myself and don't care what everyone else does, or thinks. And to live like there's no tomorrow, cherish every moment and never look back, and to value not the thought of others, but the thoughts of ones you love.

I recommend this book to you, and to anyone.

By: Emmanuel Hanomansingh