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. Hillari learns being mean to others will only get you so far in life. The character of stargirlsusan caraway in stargirl from. There are some small cuts to characters from the book, like leo s friend kevin and stargirl s ally dori dilson, and i personally dont think the school is as mean to stargirl in the movie as. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of stargirl by jerry spinelli. The book begins with the introduction of the character leo borlock.
All thoughts and actions are told from leos perspective, or point of view. At the same time this part of the plot shows us another human flaw, selfishness. At first everyone is surprised to see stargirl at mica high. She has become a mythological figure, a student who was the football teams good luck charm and then left town after winning a speech competition. He is the one who has changed leo s opinion about star girl. The thing is, theres no difference between me and the universe. Additionally, every episode of stargirl will be available to stream on the cws free digital platforms, following its broadcast on the cw network. We may love our narrator and protagonist, but sometimes he makes it pretty hard. Stargirl is a ukulelestrumming, plainfaced, costumedonning character that enters a cookiecutter student body at an arizona high school.
Hillari kimble a popular, loud senior who dates wayne parr and hates stargirl. When stargirl asks him why, he flatout tells her because nobody likes you 25. He is a retired professor who has known stargirl since before she called herself stargirl. Stargirl came back to school and she was totally different. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. Kevin is very bold and is willing to take big risks. A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. Love, stargirl picks up a year after stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who moved away so suddenly at the end of stargirl.
For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Leo borlock protagonist of the story, a junior who is friends with kevin and dates stargirl. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Stargirl by jerry spinelli is a story about the impact one girl has on her peers at mica area high school. Fifteenyearold susan stargirl caraway longs for her boyfriend, leo borlock. Stargirl by jerry spinelli paperback book the parent store. And then the world is free to flow into me like water into an empty bowl. The character of leo borlock in stargirl from litcharts.
Im not outside my world anymore, and im not really inside it either. He added interesting characters, such as, leo the quiet and shy one, stargirl unique and fun one, dori dilson stargirl only friend, archie the wise and elderly one, kevin leos friend that likes the stoplight, and hillari kimble the popular bratty one. Leo told her that she should care about what the world thinks of her and if she doesnt, people will make fun of her. Characterization other important characters exposition setting. Stargirl 2002 read online free book by jerry spinelli in. Though she has opened him up to new ways of experiencing life, when forced to choose between stargirl and everyone else, leo does what any teenager would do, and that choice reverberates down the rest of the. While the reader does become acquainted with her during the reading of the book, she maintains her mysterious quality. All the differences between the stargirl book and movie.
She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. I loved stargirl s character and childlike innocence, i loved the romance between her and narrator leo, i loved the book on cd read by john ritter. Leo, killer of stargirl but first, he tries to have his cake and eat it, too. The main focus on the novel is on stargirls individuality and other peoples reactions towards it. Character development for leo from stargirl by jerry spinelli final thoughts i think that leo changed a lot.
The book i read was stargirl written by jerry spinelli. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through. For example, many of the students, including leo, do not believe that stargirl. 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. What are some character traits of stargirl caraway.
Leo was the only person that realized the true colors of star girl and he is the only one who actually understands her. A good place to start looking for information supporting this is chapter 23. The story stargirl is bookended with two very similar occurrences. What are the character traits for main characters in stargirl. Stargirl is an upcoming web television series based on the dc comics character stargirl. Leo s uncle gives him his porcupine necktie before he moves to arizona.
Leo praises stargirl for her kindness, bravery, and nonconformity, and the two begin a tentative romance. The main characters of this young adult, fiction story are stargirl caraway, leo borlock. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter, in diary form, going from date to date through a little more than a years time. In the middle of the book, stargirl started to change into a more popular girl. Round his thoughts are portrayed throughout the novel, dynamic he wants to be different with stargirl by the end of the book, protagonist he is picked on for being with stargirl. Is a round and a dynamic character stargirl is round because during the course of the book we are clearly told what acts like and looks like and how unique she is and that shes not afraid to show who stargirl is. Leo vs self leo really likes stargirl but hes more worried about what people think about him so he doesnt know if he should be around her at school. Leo is the narrator of the book, or the one telling the story. Character profile for leo borlock from stargirl stargirl. We are given hints that he is an average or above average looking young man. A beloved new york times bestsellernow in trade paperback.
They spend more and more time together, and leo experiences her unusual lifestyle and starts helping her with various projects, such as leaving cards for people they dont know and dropping change on the sidewalk for others to find. Buy a cheap copy of love, stargirl book by jerry spinelli. He is a quiet, observant, sensitive 11th grader who doesnt enjoy the spotlight. This is a lesson about leo borlock, one of those peers and the narrator of the story. Jerry spinellis stargirl, published in 2000, is a young adult novel dealing with the. She was a 10th grade girl with blonde hair and freckles. Evelyn everybody is a character that susan and leo invent when leo is attempting to normalize. Sometimes it is hard to put the book down because you get hooked reading and dont want to stop. The book is narrated in the first person from the protagonists perspective and takes the form of many letters. Pdf stargirl book by jerry spinelli free download 186. At first he thinks that star girl is strange and is going to be the topic of the year. She slaps her at the dance before stargirl disappears. Archie archie, the neighborhood wise man and resident cool old guy, is a retired paleontologist.
People start to like her more with her jeans, hoop earrings, toe rings, finger rings, heavy makeup, chewing gum, and calm attitude. Cite examples from the book that show how archie helps one of the main characters. She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. Stargirl is the story of a boy named leo and how he is changed by his relationship with stargirl. Leo is an average high school boy whose life is changed when he meets and falls in love with a strange girl named stargirl.
The plot of the book begins when the character of stargirl is introduced to mica high. Leo and his friend kevin have a talk show called the hot seat, this show is for kids in his school who want to see what is going on. Since spinellis stargirl is written from leo s perspective, readers see stargirl from the narrators point of view. Stargirl and dori, the only two in the group, do a duet in the courtyard. Jerry spinellis story stargirl takes us to mica area high school for the school year. One example of indirect characterization from stargirl is her playing the ukulele in the cafeteria. He received a porcupine necktie for his fourteenth birthday and doesnt know who sent it. Leo wants desperately to be with stargirl without being shunned by his entire school. Stargirl is a comingofage story about an average american high schooler who finds himself drawn to the new girl at school. Love, stargirl picks up a year after stargirl ends and reveals the new life of the beloved character who. Then, on page 87, leo describes the saguaro cacti, a recurring theme in the book.
Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. It picks up where the previous novel left off after stargirl left mica high and describes her bittersweet memories in the town of mica, arizona along with the involvements of new people in her life, in. The first edition of the novel was published in august 8th 2000, and was written by jerry spinelli. So the story has indeed been written and disney would theoretically work from this source material thats essentially about the worlds longest letter, as stargirl reports her adventures to leo. This character dreams of being a sports announcer someday and seems comfortable in his own skin, but he seems a little more sensitive to his feelings and the feelings of others than most of the other characters in the novel. The book is narrated by one of the main characters, leo. Leo borlock follows the unspoken rule at mica area high school. As a reader, i find myself hoping all along that he will find the motivation to stand up for what he actually wants stargirl. Get an answer for in the book stargirl what is the indirect characterization and find homework help for other stargirl questions at enotes. The main character of this book is susan caraway, but everyone knows her as stargirl.
Stargirl, leo, and other characters learn a lot through this book. Her name is stargirl and she is different then everyone else. The two fall in love and at the end of the year she vanishes. The story is about a girl stargirl who is not afraid to be unique. Leo and his friend kevin have a talk show called hot seat. Two porcupines were tossing darts with their quills. He tells her, i think you should try to be more like the rest of us 25. The stargirl quotes below are all either spoken by stargirl susan caraway or refer to stargirl susan caraway.
Leo s amiable character and their sweet relationship is charted in the 2000 prequel to this book, stargirl. No writer guides his young characters, and his readers, past these pitfalls and. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it. Replacing these items were makeup and nail polish, big hoop earrings, and all other normal things that all other girls wear at the school. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. 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. Leo is the narrator and one of the main characters in stargirl.
In the book stargirl by jerry spinelli stargirl, the main character is a quirky teenage girl. Is leo a basically good guy who made a mistake and deserves a second chance, or is he a spineless designated hero who it would be best if stargirl never saw again first installment wins. Leo tells stargirl that in order to stay together, she must change. Thats not exactly something that most students do in real life or the book. Stargirl was another fantastic book jerry spinelli.
Then stargirl arrives at mica high and everything changesfor leo and for the entire school. Leo borlock, the firstperson narrator of jerry spinellis stargirl, tells the story of. And, she and her ukulele strolled right through it. With unforgettable characters and a timeless premise, this story is sure to spark lively debates about popularity, kindness, and courage. When stargirl caraway enters leo borlocks life, her impact is both disturbing and permanent. And, even though they are good, the others make fun of them. Archie is a mentor and friend to leo and other kids in the neighborhoods.
In the beginning, leo receives an anonymous gift of a porcupine necktie something he collects. Leo s main turmoil comes from being in love with, and wanting to date stargirl but being ashamed of how different she is. I havent been this happy about a book in a long time. Stargirl is a 2020 romance film based on the 2002 jerry spinelli childrens book stargirl. Stargirl vs self she goes to school every day pleasing other people and all she gets back is hate, but she still keeps doing what she does. Exploration stargirl shows leo he should value the smaller things in life. Leo borlock is first presented as an average 11th grader at mica high.
Stargirl is different from everyone else at school. When stargirl decides to form a singing group leo and kevin believe she is getting goofy again. 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 stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. However, one day he gets a odd package on his doorstep. This is portrayed through the character leo, stargirl s closest and only friend at her new school. Leo borlock, the narrator of the story, was a student at mica high school. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters leap right off the page at you. The sequel is not as popular as the first book, probably because the first book is common reading material for elementary and middle school. The book stargirl by jerry spinelli explores various aspects of human behavior and offers insights into major problems of humanity through the eyes of a young and innocent girl. The first day that the new stargirl went to school leo did not recognize her, until stargirl s voice came out of a strangers mouth. Prepare a short speech for an oratorical contest on a topic such as have the courage to be yourself. As the story progresses, leo learns to be more open minded. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 186 pages and is available in paperback format.
This is the main theme in jerry spinellis latest offering, stargirl. Love, stargirl is a 2007 young adult novel by jerry spinelli. They ran a television show at school called hot seat, which kevin hosted. He received another one in the mail, but it did not say who it was from. He is the first to befriend stargirl, and tries to get her to come on the school program hot seat. The story opens on the first day of school when we meet the narrator, leo, and. Stargirl chapters stargirl by jerry spinelli summary and analysis.
Stargirl has decided to become susan again, because leo had asked her to change for him so he could go out with a normal person. Stargirl sang to him on his birthday, the second day of school archie brubaker archie was a retired professor who had known stargirl for years, since long before she started going to mica high school. Inside was a giftwrapped package tied with yellow ribbon. 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. What are character traits for leo in the book stargirl.
Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. But just as quickly stargirl becomes the most despised student, shunned by the others, and leo, now her boyfriend, is shunned with her. Free download or read online stargirl pdf epub book. In the book, he doesnt share much about his interests, other than his interest in. Leo borlock is stargirls former love interest from mica, arizona. Stargirl had no rat, ukulele, or outrageous clothing. This part of the book also shows how much people are willing to do for love, in this case even abandoning their own identity. Stargirl is round because during the course of the book we are clearly told what acts like and looks like and how unique she is and that shes not afraid to show who stargirl is.
There are multiple occasions that leo has the choice to defend stargirl from the harsh judgments and actions of his and her peers, and he never chooses to. As a hobby, leo borlock collects porcupine neckties. Throughout the story, archie helps leo understand stargirl and his feelings about her. He already gives some unique characteristics, including his love for porcupine neckties. The setting for stargirl was mica, a madeup town in arizona. Aug 01, 2000 newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Her hair is the color of sand and falls to her shoulders. Leo borlock, the novels narrator and the viewpoint through which we see the other characters, is an introverted, observant, curious, and intelligent eleventh grader. What are the character traits of leo from stargirl answers. Several days later, coming home from school, i found a plastic bag on our front step. It will make its digital debut on dc universe on may 18, 2020, with a episode first season.
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. 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. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. Leo borlock, the firstperson narrator of jerry spinellis stargirl, tells the. Love, stargirl is a 2007 young adult novel by jerry spinelli the book is the sequel to the new york times bestselling book, stargirl, and centers on the worlds longest letter in diary form. The night of the ocotillo ball arrives, and leo has not invited stargirl to go with him. He moved to mica, arizona, from pennsylvania a few years ago and decided to start a porcupine necktie collection at this time.
Stargirl really listened when leo said that no one liked her and that she is a nobody. Kevin decided that he and leo needed to confer with archie. Stargirl stated to wear regular jeans, sandals, and tshirts when she only used to wear dresses. 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. Suddenly, stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different, and leo, panicked, urges her to do the one thing that can destroy her. But first, he tries to have his cake and eat it, too. Stargirl teaches leo the greeting card game on page 114. Sure, were talking about hundreds of kids here, but for the most part. In 2007, knopf books published spinellis stargirl followup. It is because of kevin why leo finally wanted star girl to be on hot seat.
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