Like many of spinelli s other young adult novels, stargirl deals with. Jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 is an american writer of childrens novels that feature. 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. Like much of spinelli s best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory. Love, stargirl if stargirl floats your boat, then be sure to check out the sequel. 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. I loved the concept and jerry spinelli s cast of characters leap right off the page at you. Spinelli first decided he wanted to become a writer at the age of 16, when his high school football team won a big game. The book begins with the introduction of the character leo borlock. 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. This novel was published by knopf books and was followed by smiles to go in 2008. 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. Somebody loves you, mr hatch by eileen spinelli 9780689718724 brand new. 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.
This thrusts him smackdab in the middle of an internal conflict that continues for much of the rest of the novel. She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august 2000. 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. The only jerry spinelli book made into a movie so far is maniac magee. She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. Somewhere in the midst of stargirls arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. Love, stargirl ebook by jerry spinelli 9780375890819. Jerry spinelli has 81 books on goodreads with 831615 ratings. 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.
Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her. Author jerry spinelli plays two major events in the novel off of each other. 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. It takes him about a month to a year to write a book. Stargirl was another fantastic book jerry spinelli. Stargirl is a young adult novel by the writer jerry spinelli that was published in the year 2000. 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. 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. Spinelli published love, stargirl the sequel to his previous bestseller in 2007. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli.
A new girl, named stargirl carraway, appears at school the first day of his junior year. The novel stargirl by jerry spinelli is told from the firstperson point of view of leo borlock. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of stargirl by jerry spinelli. It was unthinkable that stargirl could surviveor at least survive unchangedamong us. 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. The stargirl community note includes chapterbychapter summary and. While writing, spinelli likes to wear comfortable jeans, moccasins, and a flannel shirt. Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. After stargirl wins the oratorical contest, leo says that the cheering is as wild as that of the crowd at a championship basketball game. 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. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in.
Jerrys autobiography is called knots in my yoyo string. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli, and first. Designed and developed by temean consulting 2017 no part of this website may be reproduced without written permission from this sites webmaster. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. Spinelli himself says, in an interview printed in the back of the book, the character is intended to raise dust in the corners of credibility, to challenge our routine ways of seeing ourselves. To eileen, my stargirl and to loren eiseley, who taught us that even as we are. Awardwinning childrens book author jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania. 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. He is known for such works as maniac magee 1990, wringer 1997 and. Stargirl by jerry spinelli monkeynotes summary study. 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.
Jerry spinelli began writing when he was 16 not much older than the hero of his book 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. Jeffrey and molly, who are always fighting, have been especially helpful. 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. Jerry spinelli books, author biography, and reading level. She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by jerry spinelli that narrows in on the personalities and issues of students in high schools. Jerry spinelli wrote 23 books, but nobody liked the first four, so only 19 have been published. This articles plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it.
Stargirl ebook by jerry spinelli 9780375890024 rakuten. 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. It was well received by parents and critics who praised the character stargirl and the novels. Monkeynotes study guides download storedownloadable study guidesbook summary,book notes,notes,chapter summarysynopsis. Dont miss the sequel, love, stargirl, and jerry spinellis latest novel, the wardens daughter, about another girl who cant help but stand out. Stargirl, a young adult novel by prolific and critically acclaimed author jerry spinelli, was published in august. Jerry spinelli 1941 jerry spinelli born february 1, 1941 in norristown, pennsylvania is a noted childrens author, specializing on novels written for and about early adolescence. Stargirl jerry spinelli henry county public schools. American author of childrens and youngadult novels, jerry spinelli was born on february 1, 1941, in norristown, pennsylvania, united states of america. 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.
Maniac magee is often used as part of a classroom study in elementary schools. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on stargirl by jerry spinelli. The majority of the book takes place when he is sixteen. Jerry spinelli in this story about the perils of popularity, the courage of nonconformity, and the thrill of first love, an eccentric student. 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. It was the first day of school at mica high school and the halls. Stargirl is the focus at both events but in very different ways. Jerry spinelli graduated in 1963 from gettysburg college and completed his ma in 1964 from johns hopkins university. The novel takes the form of the worlds longest letter. Like much of spinellis best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory.
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