The other day, I finished reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I was quite happy with myself; the book was only $7 sold in my Barnes & Noble and it lasted me two days, so it was definitely worth the read! =) However, more than the fact that it was under ten dollars and long enough to last me over a day, Stargirl was a heartfelt, beautiful novel – the kind I’ll be keeping on my nightstand for the next few months!

Stargirl Caraway is her own person – a ukulele on her back, a rat on her shoulder, her beautiful sandy brown hair falling just perfectly –  she captures Leo Borlock’s heart with her stunning smile. Everyone loves her. The cheerleaders want her on the squad, Leo and his best friend Kevin want to do an interview with her – you get the picture. She’s new, she’s fresh. She’s everything little Mica High has never had to experience before – she’s different. 

But just as quickly as the bouncy little sprite that walked into Mica High that first day after being home schooled her entire life came… she left even quicker. Everyone turned on her. She was no longer ‘Stargirl.‘ She was Susan. No one liked her anymore. In fact, they hated her. They hated her for being different, they hated her for cheering for the other team at the games, they hated her for her stupid little ukelele and disgusting rat, and especially when she sang happy birthday to someone in the cafeteria. I mean, what is that? Everyone thought she was fake. It was a show, it was a stunt – yes, that’s what it is! The teachers just sent someone like her for everyone to get into the school spirit. So they ignored her. No one talked her. No one.

Except for Dori Dilson… and Leo. Leo, who stayed. Leo, who loved her… or did he? Did he really? After all, he was the one who wanted her to change. But when Stargirl left, and Susan came… “Who are you if you lose your favorite person? Can you lose your favorite person without losing yourself? I reach for Stargirl and she’s gone. I’m not me anymore.” And then she’s gone. Without even a goodbye; she and her family move far out of the state and Leo fears he’ll never see her again.

But everyone remembers Stargirl. The cheerleaders begin to cheer for the other team when they score, people still strum ukuleles every now and again… she’s still there. She left an impression on them – an impact – that they’ll never forget.

As for me, this is a heartwarming story that literally made my heart melt. Stargirl is indescribably wonderful in every way, and she changed my way of thinking… because, really, she’s not different. She’s just like everyone else. In fact, she is more so because she is who we really are. And I love how Jerry Spinelli spun this beautifully written tale like he did – he covers true love, and popularity, and ‘different’ people can be so much like us.  Is it possible? Read it for yourself.

Two thumbs up!