Told from the point of view of Arizona high school junior, Leo, the book recounts his interactions with the mysterious Stargirl who begins 10th grade at his school. It's a story about conformity, love, and finding one's self. In my first reading in 11th grade and my reading of it now some years later, I still find myself highly attached to the characters.
What I find remarkable about the characters in this book is that the traditional cliques don't really exist. Mica Area High School is a huge monolith of non-distinction where "even [the] dorks and nerds had a MAHS stamp on them." I believe this united front makes the exclusion of Stargirl and Leo more pronounced. It would be interesting to see how this drama would have played out if maybe the school had been more like a Mean Girls setting. And I also wonder at which is the true portrayal of an American high school: a setting where everyone is more or less the same or one splintered into little groups. As an adult and educator, I would be interested in asking Mr. Spinelli these questions and his opinions on the matter.
As for my students, I would really love to expose them to this book because of its social connotations and the issues raised by the characters. Things I would want them to get out of reading...
- Who am I? Do I embrace my quirks, and am I proud to be myself? Is "my self" a self that lifts up others? Stargirl doesn't shy away from who she is. She represents a freedom and honesty in life. I think part of the reason she is able to be this free is because her self is all about doing what is best for others and emptying herself out. Without ego and restraint, she lives her life. How much better would this world be and how much freer would we be if our true selves were all about others.
- How do I approach others who are different from me? What does loving other people mean? Stargirl shows compassion equally to everyone, even to those who would be her enemies (the rival team's player and alpha girl, Hillari Kimble). Stargirl loves Leo and Leo says he loves Stargirl, but he doesn't have the courage to support her in being herself. I think a lot of times, we spend time trying to figure out how we can make others conform to ourselves, I think I would like to be a person who loves others truly for who they are, without hindering them.
- How do I live in distinction? The antithesis of Stargirl's vitality is the apathy of Wayne Parr, a boy known only for his good looks and his lack of achievement. This is an idea very close to my heart and personality. Some thing that really bothers me when I'm at the middle school is the attitude of "good enough" with no desire to be better or try one's best at something. We can't be shy to stand up from the crowd and do our best. I truly believe we succeed better as a collective when we are all trying to do our best.
One of my favorite quotes is done by Marianne Williamson, and I think it sums up the message of Stargirl and her story:
"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do to the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
