Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Most middle school and high school students these days are so wrapped up in fitting in. So what do they do? Well, in my town, I know that most girls have a pair of Uggs, shop at Hollister or Abercrombie, roll their shorts for gym class, and wear eyeliner and mascara, and always are concerned of what others think or make of them.

In Jerry Spinelli's book Stargirl, a new student at Mica High shows her town how to do random acts of kindness for other people. She shows them it's okay stand out. Stargirl walks into school on the first day wearing an off white dress all the way down to her toes, her pet rat perched on her shoulder, and a ukelele in her hands. She leaves everyone speachless after serenading someone with the Happy Birthday Song on her ukelele in the cafeteria. How did she know it was their birthday? Is she some phony the school board sent to liven up the school? Is she real? Everyone is talking about Stargirl. One wise man says she's as real as we get.

The main character, Leo Borlock, falls in love with Stargirl. It turns out she adores him, as well. Soon enough, Stargirl becomes one of the most popular people in school. After doing something that most high schoolers would consider 'weird' or 'un-cool', Stargirl becomes shunned by everyone except Leo. Now everyone is ignoring Leo, too. Throughout the book, Leo is being asked the same question over and over... mostly by himself, "Whose affection does he value most, hers or others?"

After reading Stargirl, I felt inspired to not care what others think anymore. Stargirl is now one of my favorite book characters of all time. This book made me laugh out loud, and cry. Stargirl brings many smart messages in the end.