It was the first day of school at mica high school and the halls. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game. This articles plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Monkeynotes study guides download storedownloadable study guidesbook summary,book notes,notes,chapter summarysynopsis. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august. Maniac magee is often used as part of a classroom study in elementary schools. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of. Of the stargirl societies, jerry spinelli said, i was impressed and heartwarmed at the idea that my little story provoked such a response from those kids. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer.
The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter. A new girl, named stargirl carraway, appears at school the first day of his junior year. Jerry spinelli wrote 23 books, but nobody liked the first four, so only 19 have been published. 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. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by jerry spinelli that narrows in on the personalities and issues of students in high schools. A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Stargirl was another fantastic book jerry spinelli. Jerry spinelli in this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student. 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.
Please help improve it by removing unnecessary details and making it more. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. Stargirl jerry spinelli henry county public schools. Jerry spinelli began writing when he was 16 not much older than the hero of his book maniac magee. Stargirl by jerry spinelli monkeynotes summary study. 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. This novel was published by knopf books and was followed by smiles to go in 2008. This thrusts him smackdab in the middle of an internal conflict that continues for much of the rest of the novel. Do not come for me about accuracy to the book or movie because i wasnt trying to make it look anything like the book or movie. Love, stargirl if stargirl floats your boat, then be sure to check out the sequel.
In this novel, the major problem is the way stargirl is treated as an outsider by the students and peers at her new high school. Love, stargirl ebook by jerry spinelli 9780375890819. American author of childrens and youngadult novels, jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania, united states of america. The new york times bestselling sequel to newbery medalist jerry spinellis modernday classic stargirl 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.
Jerry spinelli books, author biography, and reading level. Jerry spinelli graduated in 1963 from gettysburg college and completed his ma in 1964 from johns hopkins university. It takes him about a month to a year to write a book. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli, and first. Somebody loves you, mr hatch by eileen spinelli 9780689718724 brand new. The novel stargirl by jerry spinelli is told from the firstperson point of view of leo borlock.
It was well received by parents and critics who praised the character stargirl and the novels. Archie, the neighborhood wise man and resident cool old guy, is a retired paleontologist. The only jerry spinelli book made into a movie so far is maniac magee. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love. Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits.
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. He is known for such works as maniac magee 1990, wringer 1997 and. Like many of spinelli s other young adult novels, stargirl deals with. It was unthinkable that stargirl could surviveor at least survive unchangedamong us. Spinelli was already a celebrated childrens author by the time the book was written and it met with critical success, being lauded for its message of nonconformity.
Spinelli published love, stargirl the sequel to his previous bestseller in 2007. Like much of spinellis best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory. Like much of spinelli s best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature. Jeffrey and molly, who are always fighting, have been especially helpful. She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. Author jerry spinelli plays two major events in the novel off of each other.
To eileen, my stargirl and to loren eiseley, who taught us that even as we are. Stargirl ebook by jerry spinelli 9780375890024 rakuten. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august 2000. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on stargirl by jerry spinelli. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of stargirl by jerry spinelli. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Stargirl is the focus at both events but in very different ways. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in. The book begins with the introduction of the character leo borlock. 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. 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. After his high school football team won a big game, his classmates ran cheering through the streets all except spinelli, who went home and wrote a poem about the victory. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out.
Along the way i married another childrens writer, eileen spinelli, and from our six kids have come a number of stories. Jerry spinelli, stargirl stargirl is what her name claims to be. 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. Jerry spinelli s stargirl, published in 2000, is a young adult novel dealing with the challenges of nonconformity and the difficulties of high school.
Leo is as ordinary as it gets, struggling to conform to the rest of his peers, he has to. Jerry spinelli has 81 books on goodreads with 831615 ratings. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. I loved the concept and jerry spinelli s cast of characters leap right off the page at you. The stargirl community note includes chapterbychapter summary and. Somewhere in the midst of stargirls arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. Author jerry spinelli plays two major events in this novel off of each other.
While writing, spinelli likes to wear comfortable jeans, moccasins, and a flannel shirt. Jerrys autobiography is called knots in my yoyo string. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it. After stargirl wins the oratorical contest, leo says that the cheering is as wild as that of the crowd at a championship basketball game. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about.
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