Leo is as ordinary as it gets, struggling to conform to the rest of his peers, he has to chose between having a normal life or a life with stargirl. Stargirls entrance to school is a big deal for all the students in this small arizona town. Stargirl by jerry spinelli chapter 5 summary and analysis. Stargirl is new at mica and everyone stares at her with disgrace, except one boy named leo. Her unique personality was fun for a while, but when the basketball team lost and blamed her, she. After 15 years of home schooling, stargirl bursts into tenth grade in an explosion of color and a clatter of ukulele music, enchanting the mica student body. Stargirl s entrance to school is a big deal for all the students in this small arizona town.
Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal, and stargirl, a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. He did not take part in classroom discussions or afterschool activities. Through this crafted book the characters and reader will experience an emotional tale about the perils of popularity, friendship, and first love.
Stargirl summary the prologue wastes no time telling us that the narrator, leo borlock, is attracted to the unusual in our world. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting. Critics praise the stargirl character, and its overall message of nonconformity. In fact, stargirl doesnt seem worried about the fact that she doesnt have many friends. Stargirl movie tiein edition by jerry spinelli, paperback. A sequel love, stargirl was released on august 14, 2007. Stargirl is an amazing book about individuality and nonconformism. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. In a celebration of nonconformity, jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularityand the thrill and inspiration of first love. Stargirl is one for the ages this book has changed me, i aspire to be like stargirl she is unique and amazing in her own way. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it. Dec 08, 2012 this is a booktalk i recorded for my young adult fiction course, libs 310 dl with uwsuperior distance learning. He played for the green sox little league team in his hometown of norristown, pennsylvania, and dreamed of one day playing for the major leagues, preferably as shortstop for the new york yankees.
A slideshow commercial for the book stargirl by jerry spinelli slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Stargirl, was the new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. Stargirl questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on stargirl. Your purchase helps us remain independent and adfree. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters leap right off the page at you.
Free stargirl worksheets and literature unit for teachers. This is a girl who absolutely cannot be boxed in, pigeonholed, or tied up with a pretty little bow. When leo tries to talk to her about the fact that everyone in school has shunned her, she explains that the fact that he and dori talk to her is enough. Find places in the novel that reinforce these themes and discuss.
This study guide consists of approximately 40 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of stargirl. Leo realizes that hes in love with her, but has a difficult. Leo falls in love with her, not because of her beauty, but because shes different. Stargirl quotes by jerry spinelli meet your next favorite book. Mass market paperback in stock more buying choices mass. A bittersweet paean to eccentricity and nonconformity, it is also a scathing commentary on teenagers, which makes its popularity with them all the more interesting. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august 2000. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Free stargirl study unit worksheets for teachers to print.
Many characters had a great personality and others had a horrible one,but it was really interesting while you read it. Stargirl was the unusual new girl who went from being the joke of the school to the most popular. Stargirl and dori, the only two in the group, do a duet in the courtyard. Print copies of the stargirl literature circle questions printable for students. Stargirl, in the book stargirl, by jerry spinelli, is different. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, a publishers weekly best book of the year, and received other numerous awards and honors. This becomes clear when he tells us about his love of porcupine ties. Stargirl dresses and acts different than anyone at mica high, and she doesnt care what anyone. She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school. She immediately starts a stir with her wacky outfits and even more wacky behavior.
She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. Like many of spinellis other young adult novels, stargirl deals with. We heart stargirl and so will you this book has a lot to do with. See more ideas about book club books, kids book club and stargirl quotes. It had lots of drama and it had lots of funny parts. Book summary mica area high school has never seen anything like susan stargirl caraway, a classic manic pixie dream girl who wears native american buckskins, plays the ukulele and cheers for. She teaches him to be unique in the massive world, no matter who is watching you and what people think. Jerry spinelli booklist jerry spinelli message board. When stargirl arrives at mica high school, people notice her. Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. Aug 01, 2000 newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. After stargirl changes back to susan, leo says she looked magnificently, wonderfully, gloriously ordinary.
Leo told her that she should care about what the world thinks of her and if she doesnt, people will make fun of her. See whats streaming, limit strong violence or language, and find picks your kids will love with common sense media plus. To stargirl, it is much more important to have a few good, close friends than to be popular. Prepare a short speech for an oratorical contest on a topic such as have the courage to be yourself.
A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. Stargirl has received a lot of praise from critics. Stargirl teaches leo the greeting card game on page 114. My summer reading book is called stargirl by jerry spinelli. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly. This is a gently mystical, thoughtprovoking, and enchanting rumination on conformity. She did carry a large canvas bag with a lifesize sunflower painted on it.
Stargirl book series 2 books all formats kindle edition from book 1. This is a booktalk i recorded for my young adult fiction course, libs 310 dl with uwsuperior distance learning. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Everyone loves stargirl, shes crazy, shes weird, and most importantly shes unique. The entire schools not sure what to think of her and the kind things she does. She dances in the rain, decorates her desk for class, and cheers for. Stargirl came back to school and she was totally different. It is, in some ways, a ya version of the little prince, or a female version of spinellis own awardwinning maniac magee. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a loving tribute to fathers and sons. Leo is an average boy who is not popular, but not geeky, he goes to a school where everyone is basicly the same, where everyone tries to fit in.
A homeschooled girl named stargirl begins attending the public high school for her sophomore year. And, even though they are good, the others make fun of them. The night of the ocotillo ball arrives, and leo has not invited stargirl to go with him. From the second she sets foot in mica high school, wearing a. Oct 08, 2012 a slideshow commercial for the book stargirl by jerry spinelli slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. I would recommend you read this book because i know you will like this book. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000 stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Then stargirl arrives at mica high and everything changesfor leo and for the entire school.
His stated goal was to be a male model and appear on the cover of gq. Somewhere in the midst of stargirls arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. In this book, the main character leo borlock meets a new girl in his school. It gave us an insight into every teenagers mind trying to figure out whether different is. Jerry spinellis writing was excellent and creative and innovative. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. I just finished the book and im very surprised on the ending that happend.
When stargirl decides to form a singing group leo and kevin believe she is getting goofy again. Spinelli uses his young heroine to tackle the difficult adolescent issues of selfesteem, popularity, and friendship. She wears unusual costumes, and plays the ukulele while singing to people. Stargirl really listened when leo said that no one liked her and that she is a nobody. Mica high changed completely because of a person named stargirl. Stargirl, who up till now has been homeschooled, starts school at mica high as a tenth grader, where leo is starting his eleventh grade year. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000. In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but she did not know what a football was. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the year. It was really exciting to read and really interesting. Characterization other important characters exposition setting. Ever since stargirl helped a player from the other team, they all have hated her. Naiba book award for young children teachers guide stargirl overview background through the characters of leo and stargirl, author jerry spinelli shows the importance of accepting people for who they are. A bittersweet paean to eccentricity and nonconformity, it is also a scathing commentary on teenagers, which makes its popularity with them all the more.
She stopped at an empty table, laid down her bag, slung the. She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. The day after the ball, stargirl moves out of town, and the choice that leo makes impacts him for the rest of his life. Stargirl strums her ukulele and dances in the rain. Popularity, fitting in, and sameness are all key themes in stargirl. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website. Growing up, jerry spinelli was really serious about baseball. Somewhere in the midst of stargirl s arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. See the definition, listen to the word, then try to spell it correctly. Leo, a high school student, is fascinated by a new girl at mica high who calls herself stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of stargirl, stargirl. My friend told me after i read it you only have one chance to be the real you, yes its scary and tough and not everyone will accept you but you must be able to live your life freely and happily stargirl does just that. Mica, arizona, a small town in usa mica high, the high school where leo and stargirl went to archies house, the home for a retired professor that has lots of weird stuff the time is present and then fast.
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