Raves and Faves: Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

In an effort to ensure that my love of reading isn’t entirely surgically removed, I plan on listing books, short stories, and such that I find worthy of mention as I come across them. I’ll be listing them as YAL (Young Adult Lit) or My Own Personal Fave. Or something like that. For the YALs, I’ll be posting an annotated form of my rationale.

The first one I’m covering is Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

Personal note on Stargirl that wasn’t in the rationale: This is a *fantastic* book. It’s a multi-leveled, and multi-faceted book, and one that really opened my eyes to the quality of stuff for teenagers that is out there. I had no idea there were books this good out there. It’s true: I loved this book. I want to teach this book. I think it’s that important of a book. But, to be honest, had someone turned me onto it simply as someone who loves a good read and not just as a teacher-in-training, I’d have still loved this book. It’s one of those books that lends itself to optimism, despite the poor behavior of the students because it just may cause them to realize the consequences their actions may have. It can be read by junior high students as well, as the issues that they are concerned with mirror those of high school students that are presented in the book.

So now for the rationale.

Intended Audience for Stargirl

The novel Stargirl, authored by Jerry Spinelli, has the intended audience of secondary students, that is, grades nine through twelve. It is appropriate for average readers although advanced readers will also benefit from this book.

Summary of Stargirl

The novel is about the introduction of an unusual teenaged girl into the experience of a normal teenaged boy. This girl, Stargirl, causes quite a stir when she first appears with her ukulele, singing in the cafeteria. The novel records her journey from outcast to celebrity, and her return to ostracism once more. Perhaps more significantly, it also shows the reaction of Leo, the allegedly normal teenaged boy. His journey is also seen; as the narrator, he experiences his own fascination, adoration, and eventual disdaining of Stargirl as he deals with his own tumultuous feelings.

Why I Chose Stargirl

This book would be a positive addition to the curriculum as it has many benefits. From a literary standpoint, it is more than simply a “teenager’s book.” It offers themes such as social acceptance and rejection, individuality versus conformity, and the importance of conscience. It also offers readers something other than the “usual fare” of high school literature: it involves characters with whom students can truly identify. By having characters that are of the same age, in a familiar setting, students are able to better make connections between the book and their own lives, and such connections can lead to better receptivity to learning.

Possible Objections to Stargirl

The novel does not address any specifically controversial subjects, such as violence, but it does introduce some ideas that might offend more authoritarian parents who are opposed to such concepts of meditation and plant reverence, as they are also concepts familiar to alternative religions. Another possibility of objection comes from the peer cruelty that Stargirl and Leo experience. There are instances where they are, collectively and singly, shunned, as well as taunting of Stargirl by other members of the school. This cruelty unfortunately is common in high schools. Given recent events, it is a rather mild representation of what can and does happen. To these objections, as well as others that might occur, I would respond by stating the benefits of reading this book far outweigh any potential problems. I would encourage the parents to actually read the book. If, having done that, they still take issue with it, I would further discuss the nature of their objections with them, such as explaining that meditation can both be seen as non-religious, and that it can also be seen as a form of non-specific prayer.

Conclusion

Should any parent object to this novel as a study text, I would strongly request that they read it and then address any issues personally with me. I truly believe that the positive aspects of this novel, both within the text itself and its ability to be used as a bridge into more traditional or “canon” texts far outweigh any possible objections. Should a parent after having read the text, still object, I would either guide students around those “objectionable” parts or allow the child of the parent to choose another book.