Identity And Conformity In Stargirl, By Jerry Spinelli

Identity And Conformity In Stargirl, By Jerry Spinelli
Throughout the novel Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, several topics across the novel contribute to the overall theme. From identity, conformity to bullying,
the topics of Stargirl cover everything under the Mica sun. Conformity is touched after everyone in Mica Area High School is described as
conformists, blending into one another. Identity is challenged by Stargirl as she breaks away from conformity. Bullying makes its debut after the kids at
MAHS reject Stargirls quirky ways. Overall, the Stargirl novel puts a fresh take on the underlining theme most people aren't true to themselves unless
they are confident. To begin, Stargirl defies the term normal throughout the novel with her identity as the quirky over the top person she is. "She
laughed when there was no joke. She a danced when there was no music. She had no friends, but was the friendliest person in school" (Page 15,
Spinelli). This quote by Spinelli shows that Stargirl is different than everyone else, not only in the way she dresses and looks, but also in her
demeanor and outlook in life. The book goes along to say that the kids at Mica Area High School couldn't make her out. In fact, Stargirls identity and
refusal to join the rest of the school in their conformity lifestyles, is drawn out though character Hillari Kimble spreading the rumour across the entire
school that "She (Stargirl) isn't real" (Spinelli, Pag 7). going onto to tell Mica Area High School her conspiracy about Stargirl being a ploy by the
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Stargirl Research Paper
Stargirl is about a unique girl that does not fit in at school, but at the end she becomes a very popular girl. Leo Borlock is in the eleventh grade at
Mica high school in the state of Arizona. Mica is a normal school all students are very similar everyone likes the same clothing, music and foods but
the new tenth grader Stargirl Caraway. The first day of school stargirl was wearing an old dressed that covered her shoes carrying her ukulele and her
pet rat Cinnamon. That same day at lunch she started playing her ukulele while dancing and singing. The next few days she was wearing an old
flapper dress, a kimono and A Indian buckskin and at lunch would sing the famous birthday song to some students. Most students fear Stargirl but Leo
Borlock

Personal Narrative: Stargirl
She gave us something to talk about. She was entertaining. At the same time, we held back. Because she was different. Different. We had no one to
compare her to, no one to measure her against. She was unknown territory. Unsafe. We were afraid to get too close. Stargirl Caraway. She's strange,
she's different, and like no other. Her actions and behavior are so peculiar that it overwhelms us all. She sings the song "happy birthday" to everyone,
brings her pet rat to school, and dances in the middle of a football game. However, she somehow managed to get the students of Mica High–school to
love her. But don't be fooled, hold back because she's still different, she's unknown territory. Personally, Stargirl reminded me of the way we react to
newly

Stargirl Book Report
Book Report
I chose to read the book called "Stargirl" by "Jerry Spinelli". This is a story about a girl who was different, ordinary, special you could say, compared
to her classmates. She had just moved from Minnesota to Mica, Arizona. Her fellow classmates thought she was weird and goofy because she didn't
do or looked like them. The students started making up stuff about her and being mean to her and only two ended up being her only true friends.
The story took setting mostly at the high school. Stargirl was a junior most of the story. There were other places Stargirl and Leo had gone to like
Archie's house, and Stargirls enchanted place. The story is taken place in the past in almost the whole story. You actually don't know the story is being
told and not telled until around the end of the book.
Leo wanted Stargirl to be normal because people were mean to her and she was weird and goofy. Stargirl loved him so much... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
At the Ocotillo Ball everybody was having so much fun and Stargirl was leading it. Hillari told her she had to ruin everything and that's when she
slapped her. Hillary was expecting a slap against her cheek but what she felt were lips, Stargirl gently kissed her on the cheek and left and ever
since then they haven't seen her again. After fifteen years a lot has changed. Kevin stayed in Mica, Arizona as an insurance salesman and I
became a set designer. The school has a new club called the Sunflowers, the marching band has a ukulele, there is a crowd that always cheers if the
other school makes a basket. There is a school where Stargirl's enchanted place was and Archie's house does not look the same. I think that the story
was about a girl who changes her school in a good way and has no ego, does not hold grudges, and cares for other people. This book can teach a great
lesson and I recomend reading

Stargirl, A Microcosm of Societal Conformity Essay
Imagine a thirteen year old middle school girl, wearing Guess boots and an Abercrombie hood in order to fit in. Visualize a thirty five year old man
listening to the top forty radio stations and watching American Idol, so he can have something to add to the discussion with his co–workers over coffee
break. The various types of behaviours stated before are pertained to as conformity. Conformity refers to the process by which an individual's attitudes,
beliefs, and behaviours are influenced by other individuals. Except, how do these necessities manipulate a being? Social psychologists have conducted
an assortment of experiments and concluded that, through a range of forms of social influence, groups can alter their members' personality.... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When this romance initially commences, Leo notices people treating him differently as if he is an alien. This is because Stargirl is an extraordinarily
typical girl who doesn't track the culture of the school. She plays an ukulele, keeps a pet rat in her tote bag, treats everyone with kindness and
serenades them in the lunchroom on their birthdays. As a result Leo requests Stargirl to transform her identity so she can fit into the school, and people
won't look down upon them. He wants her to conform into the society. She adjusts her name into "Susan"–an "ordinary" high school girl. The reader
discovers in this progression that she is discontented pretending to be what she isn't. Ultimately, she is happiest when she is factual to herself. As
she articulates "Every once in a while someone comes along who is . . . a little more in touch with the stuff we're made of, it's our identity what
really perceives who I am rather than assimilating I rather enjoy myself as who I really am. " (Spinelli, Stargirl 177). This advocates that perhaps
one can take a message from her and be a little truer to one self. Rather than following what others say and having no genuine identity, it is vital to
build up an own identity a way one can be referred to as.
Spinelli explicates in Stargirl, even the most influential people, who fire up the conformity don't really have their own identity. This is because they are

Stargirl Essay Topics
Stargirl summery
Stargirl is a book narrated by Leo Borlock. He's an eleventh grader who is content to conform to his close–minded high school environment. In this
school environment everyone has a particular place and a new person will collapse under this organization. But Stargirl didn't. Stargirl Caraway is an
unapologetically unique student who has been homeschooled and now is attending high school for the first time. For the first half of the school year,
Leo observes Stargirl and her classmates' reactions to her odd behavior. The students are slow to warm up to her; she is nothing like they have
experienced before. Hillari Kimble is totally determined to destroy any chances she has at making friends. However, a few things fall together for
Stargirl, and after a very entertaining incident at a football game, she joins the cheerleading squad. Suddenly, she's popular, and Leo's thoughts become
more and more consumed with her. But the dream can't last forever. Her enthusiastic cheerleading, which made her popular in first place, eventually
leads to Stargirl's downfall. She cheers for everyone, in every situation, not just her home team. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Now even he is the target. He needs to decide who he cares about more: Stargirl or everyone else? He continues to stand by her side, but breaks down
one day and tells her how bummed he is now that everyone hates him. He tells her that she has to change in order for them to stay together. Stargirl
cries, and then just like that, she disappears.
Susan, the former Stargirl, emerges and tries to become normal to please Leo. Leo eagerly takes on the role of coach, training her to be like everyone
else. Soon it becomes clear that the students do not accept her any better now that she is dressing and behaving more like them. Eventually, she chucks
the whole normal plan and embraces her true identity, and Stargirl shows up again the next

Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl
In the highly acclaimed book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, life in the nondescript Mica Area High School in Arizona is rather dull until a unique and
oddball girl by the name of Stargirl Caraway arrives and turns everything around. Told in the perspective of a boy named Leo, the story is about how
Stargirl stands out from the mainstream life of the high school body. They have a hard time reacting to her weird and quirky habits, but they begin to
accept her until she ends up becoming the most popular girl in the school. This all goes down wind though, and Stargirl is faced with the fact that she
needs to start fitting in and acting normal. In a five star review on Goodreads, Jared states that he loves this book because it's about individuality ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Countless people today, especially youths, have a hard time fitting in with everyone else and think they need to live and act like a conformist.
Many are afraid to express their individuality and stand out because of the fear of being looked upon as weird, different, or even freakish. The
student's at Mica High first looked at Stargirl in this way, but once they became used to her presence, they realised how great her spirit really was.
Even though in the middle of the story they started to reject her, at the end she leaves a lasting impression on them all, especially Leo. She dressed
in what she wanted to and not what was in style, she had a pet rat that she carried with her everywhere, and she sang and played the ukulele
whenever she felt like it. There's a lot of pressure that takes place socially in school, but through every little thing that Stargirl did, reader's can
gain the confidence to be themselves and not care what anyone else thinks. Someone will eventually love them for who they are. There is a quote
from the book that says: "She laughed when there was no joke. She danced when there was no music... She was elusive. She was today. She was
tomorrow... We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through
and away she flew." This is saying that Stargirl was true to herself no matter what. She tried to fit in at one point, but she learned that doing that would
never work and that no matter what, society couldn't force her to be anything different from herself. This is the main lesson of the whole story and it's
what makes the book great – readers' can take away something good to relate to their own

Nonconformity In Stargirl
In the novel Stargirl a teenager in high school is very outgoing and a little "weird" to the other students at Micah High School. She has to face a big
decision to become a conformist to the high school norms or be a nonconformist and be her unique self. She meets a boy Leo who will impact her
decision heavily. The other students are very rude to her because they are, in away, scared of her because she isn't "normal". Archie a old man that
students often went to for stories understood Stargirl and helped other to except her. Stargirl caught Leo's eye the very first time he saw her, she was
wearing a long white dress similar to a wedding dress. Leo knew stargirl was different from the rest of them. She was very unique and didn't really care

Stargirl Quotes
This quote is from Chapter 13, page 63. From the minute Stargirl Caraway stepped into Mica High School it was evident to everyone she was
different. One of the first things people notice about Stargirl is her unusual name. It turns out, she names herself and changes her name periodically. I
infer from the quote that because Stargirl is a free spirit she does not feel bound by the same social norms we do. Therefore, she feels no obligation to
go by her real name. Also, I believe based on Stargirl's actions throughout the book; she is saying that you need to stay true to yourself and not let
anyone or anything decide who you are; not even your name. Further, I surmised that she feels it is okay to be different in a society that is always telling
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She strums a ukulele, carries a pet rat in her tote bag, serenades fellow students in the cafeteria, and leaves cards and gifts for people she does not
know. Therefore, it is no surprise that when Stargirl was asked while she was on Hot Seat, the in–school TV show, to explain her name, her answer
conveyed her own ideas about cultural and social norms. We read that although "Stargirl's given name was Susan," she felt no compulsion to go
by it. She dropped it because she "didn't feel like Susan anymore." Additionally, she goes on to share several other unusual names she had given
herself, like Pocket Mouse, Mudpie, and Hullygully. She also disclosed that she picked the name Stargirl one night while "walking in the desert,"
looking at the stars, "it just sort of came to me, fell onto me." Additionally, she believes that we are much more than our names, and our names are
not a reflection of who we are. Therefore, as we grow and change, so should our names. She says, "I'm not my name. My name is something I wear,
like a shirt. It gets worn, I outgrow it, I change it." Changing her name on a whim or based on her emotions seems perfectly reasonable to her. Stargirl
disregards what others think, and she stays true to

t all begins on the first day of school when Leo's friend Kevin walks up to him and asks him if "he seen her". All he can think about is what
everyone's been talking about all morning and why they're all so worried about the new girl?
Well he finally hears the name Stargirl Caraway in his science class. Stargirl is wearing an old fashioned wedding gown, she has shoulder length hair,
she doesn't wear makeup and she has big eyes. Leo doesn't think she's ugly but he doesn't find her gorgeous either.
Stargirl is a very unique individual who was homeschooled up until her junior year of High School. She goes from being homeschooled to a normal
school with hundreds of students who she doesn't fit in with. Her real name is Susan but she tends to change ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hillari Kimble is one of Stargirls worst enemies who tries to do everything in her power to ruin every chance Stargirl has at making new friends.
She doesn't believe Stargirl is real she believes that the administration planted her there as a tortuous way to scam the students into having more
school spirit. Many people believe her at school and the word keeps spreading around all day long. But leo believes that the story is foolish and
childish. But kevin hopes the story is true so he can film it on "hot shot".
In the beginning of the story everyone is so charmed by Stargirl, but then they start to realize how weird she is. When she joins the cheer team
Stargirl cheers for every little thing she sees in the hallways, she also cheers for the other teams, and she cheers everywhere she goes. When they
realize that Stargirl is cheering for other teams every time they make a point the girls talk to her about it but when they realize she doesn't care what
they think, they pull a prank on her. They tell her that someone forgot something in the gym when she goes back in to get it for them they tell the
busdriver everyone's on the bus and leave her stranded at Red

Stereotypes In Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl
Jerry Spinelli's book, Stargirl, is a fiction book that tells a story of a young student named Leo. Leo attends Mica High school along his best friend
Kevin and the other Mica High students. The school is a completely average school with cliques and social expectations. That is until Mica High is
flipped upside down when the ukulele playing–new girl walks in. Stargirl steals the attention of every Mica student as she dances down the halls,
runs across football fields, and sings happy birthday to every student every day without a care. Her oblivious attitude blinds her from seeing how the
school only cheers for her because they think she's a joke; some students claim she was placed in the school as an actor to pump school spirit, others
believe she's out of this world, and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Everyone seems to think her unique attitude is a joke and they pretend to play along. The students go crazy for Stargirl's extreme cheerleading and put
her on the cheer team– at first it's great and the school basketball team is undefeated and strong, that is until the playoffs hit. Stargirl cheers for
everything; whether they're losing, the opposing team made a point, or just for no reason. This backfires and the school starts to hate her
cheerleading since she cheers the opposition as well. Soon after Leo gets a note from Stargirl that says "'I LOVE YOU.'" (72) From then on Leo is
faced which the choice of his peer's acceptance or a happy life with Stargirl. The school quickly turns on Stargirl as she roots on the other teams and
with Leo and Stargirl blindly in love, they don't realize they are being shunned. Stargirl continues to be herself and it almost gets worse– it seems as if
everyone hates her. Leo soon realizes the shunning and convinces Stargirl in order for it to be stopped Leo tells her she has to change, therefore
"Everlyn Everybody" is

Analysis Of Stargirl By Jerry Spinelli
I am reading Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and I am finished with the book. This book is about a girl who is very different from everyone moving to this
new school. At first everyone seems to lover her, but it all changes later in the year. One gu named Leo gives her chance and he learns that being
different is ok. In this paper I will be connecting and evaluating. I can connect to the character Stargirl because we are both very different from the
crowd. One way is that we both do things differently from everyone else. Stargirl is very unique when it comes to things. One example of this is when
she says high to strangers in the hall just to be nice (Spinelli 10). She also brings her rat Cinnamon, to school everyday and people usually don't
bring their pets to school. She also would wear a different style of clothing everyday. One day it would be a kimono and another it would be indian
buckskin. Like Stargirl, I also do things differently. I prefer to not turn things into a fight, and instead negotiate through problems. I also like to
work by myself on projects as I feel like I am able to work much better by myself. Unlike most people, I am also a huge pessimist and look at may
things from a negative point of view. We also both like different things from everyone else. Stargirl likes a lot of different things. She liked to sing
Happy Birthday to people on the birthday in the middle of lunch (Spinelli 9). She also would cheer for her team even more than their own cheer team

Stargirl Character Analysis
In the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Stargirl, the main character is a quirky teenage girl. In the middle of the book, Stargirl started to change into a
more popular girl. Stargirl stated to wear regular jeans, sandals, and t–shirts when she only used to wear dresses. Three reasons why Stargirl should not
have changed are you should not let anyone peer pressure you to be something new, also, you should not let other people speak for you. Lastly, you do
not need other people's approval of yourself. The reason why Stargirl did change was that she was being made fun of by other people in her school
and Leo her boyfriend wanted her to change.
To elaborate on my first reason why Stargirl should not have changed, which was you should not allow people to peer pressure to be something
new, in the text it states on page 137, "The point is, in a group everybody acts pretty much the same, that's kind of how the group holds itself
together. Everybody? she said. Well, mostly, I said. That's what jails and mental hospitals are for, to keep it that way." This evidence shows how
Leo, Stargirls boyfriend is peer pressuring Stargirl to change to become more like everyone else. In addition on page 140, it says,"She looked
Magnificent, Wonderfully, gloriously ordinary. She looked just like a hundred other girls at Mica High Stargirl had vanished into a sea of them and I
was thrilled." To add on, everyone is unique and should feel unique. You do not have to be like everyone else, instead, you

Stargirl Quotes
A book called, Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, is a novel about a boy and a unique girl that have issues being together because of their companions. The
novel, Stargirl, is about Leo Borlock, the narrator, and a unique girl who calls herself, Stargirl Caraway, thus the name of the book. Stargirl is falling
in love with Leo, a boy at Mica Area High School (MAHS). The catch to this story is that Leo and Stargirl are having trouble being together because
MAHS is full of conformity. Leo conflicts between being a conformist and his desire to be with Stargirl, as she is a non–conformist. This conflict
drives Leo from a conformist to an individualist. Leo changes in the story by his inner thinking, dialogue, and revealing actions.
Leo's identified changes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In Chapter 16, Leo is going over to Stargirl's house to talk to her. As he is walking up the driveway, Stargirl says,"Remember when you followed
me into the desert that day after school?" (Spinelli, 80). After that, Leo wanted to stay and curl up there on the driveway and go to sleep. He felt
happy to be with Stargirl. In Stargirl, it says, "'I love filers!' she exclaimed. 'Filers are found at the bottom of where the eye doesn't travel'" (Spinelli,
112). Before he knew her better, he thought Stargirl was a stalker and felt uncomfortable being with her. After that day, Leo felt more comfortable
knowing how she found out about other people's lives. Through dialogue, Leo has shown his change from thrilled to comfortable with Stargirl.
Leo shows that he has transformed throughout the story by revealing actions. In chapter 3, Leo reveals, "Then one day after school I followed her. I
kept a safe distance" (Spinelli, 16). This shows Leo being interested in Stargirl but keeping a border. Later, Leo follows Stargirl from school, again,
and She turns and says, "Remember when you followed me into the desert that day after school?" (Spinelli, 38).This opens Leo up to communicating
with Stargirl. Leo changed from feeling uncomfortable and like a stranger to being friendly and comfortable with her because he got to know

The Main Character In Starbeck's 'Stargirl'
Stargirl is the main character from the novel "Stargirl". Stargirl is a unique character, which explains why I'd like to be like her. She is a total rebel.
She does things her own way, and most of the time she doesn't seem to be concerned about whether or not people think she's strange. She is a natural
teacher, even though it doesn't seem to be her intention to teach, but it comes to her naturally. For example, she points out all the little things that she
notices and finds the beauty of them. Star girl also is a victim of bullying yet she flat out doesn't notice. She is too busy being compassionate towards
the very same people who treat her like dirt. Stargirl is a very caring person. That is what i like most about her personality.

Stereotypes In Stargirl By Jerry Spinelli
Is being a one of a kind a key to success? Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a novel about a girl that attends a new school and everyone starts to become
aware of the fact that she is not "normal". As people start getting to know Stargirl, they start to realize that she is quite annoying due to her distinctive
personality. For instance, she starts going around the lunchroom and starts singing "happy birthday" to whomever when it's their birthday. From this I
can infer the author's intended message is to be nobody, but yourself in a world where everyone expects you be just like them. This message was
revealed throughout the story in many situations. As Stargirl was new at Mica High, she had no one to sit with, but as time passed one day the text
stated "No longer did Stargirl eat ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The moment students heard this news their reactions were indescribable. They started to go to every basketball game at Mica High. Students even tried
to sneak into practices and looked through the gates. The moment Stargirl started to cheer everyone thoughts turned upside down. Stargirls cheers
enchanted the crowd. The bigger highlight of Stargirls cheers was that the basketball team had perfect winning record. In the journey of Stargirl's
cheerleading career she had gained an enormous amount of popularity until one day. Stargirl made a big mistake that the crowd didn't like her for, but
in her opinion she thought it was the right thing to do. As Stargirl was cheering she decided to cheer for the other team and help a boy on the other
team when he got hurt. When the crowd saw this they were shunned. The negative comments the crowd had said got to Stargirl they made her
tremendously disappointed. The theme was evident by Stargirl not giving up on herself even though she lost her motivation and support from the

There's a lot of people who are conforming and few people who are individual. "Stargirl" written by Jerry Spinelli is the book that is about an
individual girl and other conforming students. The main character of this book is a girl who names Stargirl. She is a new student at the Mika high
school and she is known as a strange girl because she always wears weird outfits and she does not behave as other students. Spinelli uses
characterization and conflict of Stargirl to demonstrate that stay in an individual is good for people who don't want to disturb by others and to force
someone to conform would disturb their life.
In Stargirl, Spinelli uses characterization of Stargirl to show people should stay individual if they want to do whatever they want. In the beginning of
this book, Spinelli describes Stargirl's appearance such as clothes that she wears. Spinelli describes her clothes as: " Several times in those early weeks
of September, she [showed] up in something outrageous. A 1920sflapper dress. An Indian buckskin. A kimono"(20). This description of her clothes
shows that they are not appropriate for school. Spinelli uses the word "outrageous" and the specific types of her clothes such as "kimono" to describe
how her clothes are weird. Here, Spinelli shows her individuality because no one would wear traditional clothes for another country or dress to school
unless there is some kind of event. On the other hand, in the middle of this story, Spinelli starts to show her

Character Analysis: Stargirl
"She is today. She is tomorrow". These are the words that are plastered on posters all across Mica. Susan Caraway, more commonly known as
"Stargirl", has recently announced that she will be running for mayor in Mica's upcoming election. Stargirl is recognized amongst Micans for her
generous, outgoing personality as well as her individuality. These three traits are what would make her Mica's ideal mayor. Stargirl's generous, giving
personality would benefit Mica's citizens by possibly inspiring them to follow suit and spread generosity. For example, on almost every holiday,
Stargirl bakes treats for the entire student body of Mica High. She also mails cards and presents to seemingly random people. This kind of attitude
could influence citizens,

Stargirl Case Study
1. The gift of the porcupine necktie prepared the way for other events by implying that Stargirl was the necktie. Leo loved porcupine neckties ever
since his uncle gave him one and he has always wanted to collect a ton of them. As years go by he still cannot find another, until one year, on his
birthday, he receives one in the mail from an anonymous sender. This may have been suggesting that Leo had been searching for someone special
but couldn't find anyone, until Stargirl mysteriously showed up. 2. Stargirl immediately became the target of gossip at school because she is
weird and doesn't fit into any crowd. Stargirl is pure hearted and unique. She loves rain, her pet rat, and making people smile. These things may not
always be acceptable and normal, but Stargirl didn't care about that. That's probably why she stood out, she didn't care what people said like others
do. 3. Leo and Kevin were especially excited by the presence of this new student because they felt she would be the perfect guest on their show.
Leo and Kevin have a show called "Hot Seat". In their show they interview strange, unique, popular people. The only problem is there are no strange
people in their school. So when Stargirl appears it seems like their golden opportunity to make their show even more known and popular. 4.
According to Hillari Kimble, Stargirl was at Mica Area High to spy on the students and bring in more school spirit. Mica Area High is known as the
school with zero school spirit and

The Characters In Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl
"Outrageous?" he enquired, "I hope so. Thank goodness for the outrageous among us." Jerry Spinelli, the author of Stargirl, shut down questions about
his characters being unrealistic. In this case, Spinelli is referring to Stargirl, a nonconformist girl among monochromatic peers. She stays true to herself,
despite shunning & taunts, so impressively that some may say she's quixotic. However, people like Stargirl are, have been, and always will be all
around us, although not as dramatic as portrayed by Spinelli, she represents our inner, creative and insurrectionist self.
People may say Stargirl is idealistic, but that's the point! Both the blandness of the students at Mica High and Stargirl's eccentricity are greatly
exaggerated. It was meant to be on the border of fantasy & reality. "The story, and in particular the characters, are intended to raise dust in the corners
of credibility. To challenge our routine way of seeing ourselves," noted Spinelli in a book interview. Stargirl is an extreme, but achievable, case of
individuality. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We are untitled, unnamed, natural, suspended between was and will be." The potential to be a Stargirl is a part of us, no it is us. It's who we truly
are. Everything that makes us special is what makes you seem so carefree and whimsical, if you dare to show it. For example, Stargirl. She does not
attempt to hide who she truly is, but instead lets her uniqueness shine through. Others, many others, stifle it, they hide behind their smiles, generic
clothes and meaningless words. All of us are different, but the only way others can realize this is if you let your true personality shine

Different Personalities in Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli Essay
How far can you go to lose yourself? What distance are we willing to tred to dim the glow of your own starlight? In Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl several
characters have vastly different personalities. Or do they? Is Leo Borlock really different from Hillary Kimble? Do they not both care for normality?
For the attention of others? When Stargirl Caraway arrives, a butterfly engulfed by mist, the world shifted and grasped for an opportunity to hold onto
something... divergent. An anomaly so far down their path, they could hardly reach it. So they grow to hate it, dead grass rising but never quite
touching the soft delicacy of Stargirl's petals. If something can't be understood, it is not good enough to be loved. That's how we've all been raised; ...
It is society as a whole telling us the individuality can be reached while raising you to conform to its generalized population. In the previously cited
book, Stargirl Caraway embodies this idea. Leo Borlock, on the other hand, embodies the rest of us. As children, our minds are our own, and we
follow the ways of this extrovert girl that thinks deserts dance and enchanted places are a reality. While, as we grow society has unexplicitly forced
us to follow the group, because they have really not given us any other options. This can be related to Robert Frost's poem Nothing Gold Can Stay in
which children are unique and golden, although slowly they begin to see things with the rest of the world, through a single point of view, and lose their
individual color.
Furthermore, any person's individuality is delicate. And extremely fragile. A friend or loved one can very easily change someone, even if it's very
slight. As kids, we have idols. People we deeply admire and wish to be like. We do anything, even while growing up, to bend ourselves to become
what we feel is comfortably close to our hero. This is why we large populations torturing their bodies physically and mentally to achieve their goal.
We're all little people pleasers– fighting relentlessly for a taste of feeling perfect. On and on we struggle for approval, and we don't even know
whose. Leo, for example, would do anything to receive approval from Stargirl, the girl he loves. As she proved mutually for him, when

Stargirl By Jerry Spinelli
Have you ever read the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, the girl who's different personality causes students at her school to dislike her. Stargirl has a
romance with Leo. Stargirl' l actual name is Susan. Stargirl should not care what people think of her. Stargirl has three friends Leo, Kevin, and Hillary
Kimble. Stargirl is very different. You see, when Stargirl first goes to MicaHigh school, everyone hates her, but slowly they become her friends.
Stargirl left homeschooling and enrolled in the tenth grade of a public high school in Arizona. She was a free spirit with a lot of enthusiasm. The other
students had difficulty understanding her when she arrived. Students liked her when she cheered for the football team by cavorting on the football
field. She was asked to join the cheerleading squad and she did join. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She decorates her desk for every class. She sings happy birthday to you when it's your birthday in the lunchroom for the whole school to see. She's
always strumming her ukulele, and Cinnamon, her pet rat is always riding on her shoulder. She dances and twirls instead of walking to class.
Stargirl went to the Ocotillo Ball without a date. She danced by herself at first, but then she asked the band to play a bunny hop. She led the bunny
hoppers first around the outdoor dance floor, then over a wider area, and then out into the desert where the line disappeared for a long time before they
returned. Everyone except Hillari, a student who never liked Stargirl, had a great time. "When Stargirl cries, she sheds not tears but

The book Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, is about a girl named Stargirl Caraway. Stargirl recently enrolled in a new high school after being
previously homeschooled. She was different from the other students in several ways. Stargirl wore different outfits and acted differently from the other
kids. She plays her ukulele at lunch and she is nice to everyone despite not receiving the same treatment from the other kids. After amusing behavior at
a football game, Stargirl becomes a cheerleader and is the most popular girl in school. However, Stargirl was cheering for the opposing team during
basketball season, the student body turned on her. After some time during the school year, the student body accepted Stargirl for who she was after the
dance. Throughout the story, Stargirl was treated too harshly by the other students from the first few months of school when everything about her was
being judged and through her acceptance, eventual rejection, of her by the students. Stargirl came into the school welcoming to her new community.
Her niceness was surprising to the other students. "In the hallways, she said hello to perfect strangers. The seniors couldn't believe it. They had never
seen a tenth–grader so bold." (Spinelli 10). Her boldness was also demonstrated by her participation in class where she made up songs, asked
questions that were different than the subject matter being taught, sang happy birthday to people in the lunchroom and veering off track on the cross
country team. "We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through
and away she flew." (Spinelli 15). The activity in which Stargirl began to showcase her personality was cheerleading. What started out as a joke to the
community with her crazy dancing and cheers led to Stargirl becoming a cheerleader for the football and basketball teams. "The change began around
Thanksgiving. By December first, Stargirl Caraway had become the most popular girl in school. How did it happen? Was it the cheerleading?" (Spinelli
36). Up to this point, the students went from questioning Stargirl's differences to accepting them in three months. Stargirl was quickly

Stargirl Quotes
People try to hard to be popular in Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Stargirl becomes Susan to try to be popular, but it did not work. The most important
lesson that we learned from Stargirl is that popularity does not matter, no matter how much you are hated. In the book, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli it
shows that popularity does not matter when Stargirl was cheering for the other team even though everyone hated it. What is happening in the quote
is Stargirl is being really nice and friendly to the other team, While everyone else does not like what she is doing. "Dribble Dribble sis Boom Boom we
don't bite we don't nibble we just say howwww–dee friends were the electrons who are yyyyyyou?" The quote supports the theme because it shows
Stargirl singing

Stargirl Quotes
The phrase "Why fit in when you're born to stand out?" (Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl) is false in the context of how Stargirl acts. Throughout the novel,
Stargirl acts differently from her classmates, which has negative effect on her classmates. During the novel Stargirl cheers for the opposing team–
encouraging others to do so as well– and acts in a manner that other students see as desirable. The way that her actions affect the Mica High students is
discouraging and competition and causing students to abandon their self–identity, respectively.
During the course of the novel, Stargirl chooses to cheer for the opposing team during athletic events. If Stargirl's method of cheerleading (encouraging
both teams) were to become favorable, it would ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Stargirl is on her rise to and is popular, many people abandon themselves in favor of becoming more like her. In the text it shows that a large
quantity of students from Mica High try to become like Stargirl– they play ukuleles during lunch, buy pet rats, and dance in the rain. This is detrimental
to the school environment as well as the individual students. If every student were to adopt the temperament and habits of Stargirl, "normal" would be
the way Stargirl acts. If everyone were to become incredibly talented, or if everyone were to act like Stargirl, nobody would be difference. Difference
comes from an individual standing apart from others– when everyone is different, nobody will me. This is damaging to a school environment because
what once was socially acceptable, and what once was comfortable for most students will be drastically changed. Difference and individuality is
relative to the group that one belongs to. When someone tries to stand out– apart from their uniqueness and their originality within their social group–
they essentially abandon their self–identity. Self–identity is important, as it is a way for people to express themselves within their

Why Is Stargirl Unique
Star girl is a very unique person. From the beginning she was a fish out of water. She has her own personality and doesn't want to be like anyone
else and not many people act like her. One way she is unique is she knows every kid in the schools birthday and sings to them at lunch. She also
shows conformity when she is with her friends. She is the new girl at school and that means she has a tough crowd to please. She doesn't understand
the rules at Mica High, and she just goes around doing her own thing.
Stargirl has always been known to do her own thing. She doesn't care to be like others or fit in. She is a rebel and doesn't even know it. She cheers
for people picking up litter, performing at halftime at football games, and much more. She

Stargirl Quotes
One theme of the book Stargirl, by Jerry Spenelli, is that you should always be true to yourself. The book is an uplifting story set in Arizona, at Mica
High School, where a mysterious and free–spirited girl, Stargirl, starts her first day of school, after being homeschooled her whole life. She came to
school on her first day of tenth grade wearing and off white dress, so long, it covered her shoes. Stargirl had hair the color of sand that fell to her
shoulders, and she carried her ukulele and her pet rat around school with her. Stargirl definitely captured everyone's attention, but, with just one smile
she captured Leo Borlock's heart. A quote that supports the theme occurs everyday, as everybody continues to observe her each, and

Stargirl Essay Questions
In the book Stargirl by: Jerry Spinelli has many scenes/chapters that make me question something happening in the book. This book is about a
unusual, outcast girl, trying to fit in. Stargirl is so different that she is the main part of my questions. I wonder if these questions will get answered
soon in my reading. First and foremost, I wondered, Where does Stargirl really live? The text evidence that made me question this was, "After a
while she veered from the highway. I hesitated, then followed. She was walking directly into the setting sun, now a great orange perched atop the
mountain crests." This made me question, Where does she live because by the highway is a dangerous place. Also, she is going for a long walk home
usually if that

The gift of the porcupine necktie is unique because not many ties have porcupines on them, so it foreshadows how the whole book will be about
someone who is different because no one has the same qualities or at least shows them..
Stargirl is the gossip topic because she doesn't try to fit in. Examples are how she would make a "home" of her desk, brings a daisy every week and
sings and plays her ukulele in the middle of lunch.
Leo and Kevin are excited to put Stargirl on the Hot Seat and see if she actually is a plant and expose her if she is.
Hillari Kimble thinks she's a plant to see if anyone's doing drugs or selling them, or for school spirit.
He wasn't with his friends and he could be himself and think. He thought about her more often at night because he kept thinking about if she was real
or fake. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was boring, plain, easy to copy.
Many more people came to the next football game because the game before Stargirl was there, was dancing on the field, and when the second half
started, grabbed the football off the tee and started dancing around with it and hugging it.
In "She seemed marooned in a sea of staring, buzzing faces," they are comparing a sea to buzzing faces. 8b. Most of the MAHS body didn't like her or
hang out with her at first because they didn't want to be seen as "different" or "weird" and marooned by their friends. 9. Stargirl was told from the
point of view from a high school student named Leo Borlok. 9b. If the book was told from Stargirl's point of view, then the book would be
completely different, because you wouldn't get the point of view of someone who views her as different and weird. If it was in Stargirl's point of
view, it might even have been written a different way because for her, the school is an exciting new place where she could be herself and make new

Conformity In Stargirl
Stargirl Essay
Conformity is when a person changes him or herself to fit into a group. In order for someone to do this, he or she usually has to give up one of their
personal qualities. It is highly argued over whether this is a good or a bad thing. One such book called Stargirl, demonstrates both the negative, and
positive side of conformity. In the novel, author Jerry Spinelli suggests that conformity isn't necessarily a bad thing, many just use it to become a
leader. When someone has conformed to fit into a group they might not realize what they did. Some people conform subconsciously to a person. They
follow without knowing it. In the novel Stargirl, a boy named Wayne Parr was the leader of Mica High School. The thing is, the students

Stargirl Monologue
I don't agree with Leo's choice because he only just made the problem even more difficult for Stargirl and himself. During the shunning and after his
visit with Archie there were times where Leo would avoid Stargirl and also he wishes that they could be more like them or they could be more like
Stargirl. He doesn't really do anything to fix the shunning. The only thing he did was change Stargirl into Susan, but it seems like it was more for Leo
not for Stargirl. He seem to love Susan more than Stargirl because she finally more like them. Like the rest of Mika students.
When Susan went back into Stargirl because she realize that being normal and trying to be popular wasn't helping the shunning at all. People still
wouldn't talk to her. Leo

Stargirl Research Paper
Fitting in is a natural human desire. The idea of it goes through everyone's minds at least once in their lifetime. No one wants to be cast aside. In
the novel, Stargirl, written by Jerry Spinelli, fitting in is demonstrated in many ways, such as when Stargirl first attends Mica High School, when
Leo gets ignored, and when Stargirl transforms to Susan. Stargirl has always been homeschooled up until her freshman year. When she transitions
to traditional school, she boldly sticks out with her quirky personality, and not in a good way. Already on the first day, there are rumors circulating
around her. Everyone thinks she is an actor who was planted by the administration in order to encourage more school spirit. Kevin even says "'I
mean if she's real, she's in big trouble. How long do you think somebody who's really like that is going to last around here'" (Spinelli 9)? He is
pointing out how different Stargirl is, and... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At first, to Leo, it felt as if everyone was giving him and Stargirl the space they needed. But as time goes by Leo soon realizes that the reason why
there is so much space between him and everyone else was because everyone distanced themselves from him because of Stargirl. Later he asks
Stargirl to be like everyone else, and so she disappeared for a few days only to come back completely transformed. After a few days of not seeing
Stargirl, Leo all of a sudden hears, "'What do you have to do to get somebody's attention around here?' I turned, but it wasn't her. The girl standing,
grinning in front of me wore jeans and sandals, had burnt–red nails and lipstick, painted eyes, finger rings, toe rings, hoop earrings I could put my hand
through, hair..." (Spinelli 139). Through Leo's pressure, Stargirl took on a challenge of her own, to be like everyone else. She wanted to help Leo not
feel left out so she conformed to Leo and everybody else's standards just for Leo's

Stargirl Stereotypes
On the first day of school, students from Mica High in Arizona are talking about the new girl named Stargirl Caraway who has been homeschooled.
They mostly talk about her behavior. She plays her ukulele and sings the song Happy Birthday to people who she doesn't even know. Stargirl also
carries her pet rat Cinnamon in her bag with a sunflower on it. Two boys named Leo Borlock and Kevin Quilan were interested in Stargirl. They both
have a disagreement on putting her on the Hot Seat, which is a school television program. Leo thinks that the broadcasting is going to cause a problem
and doesn't want to do it, but Kevin thinks that it is going to very popular. Eventually, the do the show and it did not go very well. Although people
don't interact

Self Acceptance In Stargirl
In Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli shows us that happiness comes from self–acceptance and being true to yourself, rather than seeking the approval of others.
When Stargirl first comes to Mica High, everyone is shocked by her long dresses and odd behaviors. She is far different than anyone else they had
ever seen, and because of this, her peers do not accept her. While this would make most teenagers would be devastated by the rejection, it has no
effect on her happiness or treatment of others. Leo says, "She laughed when there was no joke. She danced when there was no music. She had no
friends, yet she was the friendliest person in the school" (15). This shows that from the start, Stargirl's happiness comes from within, not from others'
opinions. She did not need others to be friendly to her in order for her to accept everyone else, nor did she need others to ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Around the middle of the story, Stargirl decides to become "normal" to appease Leo, but quickly loses her happiness. In the book, Leo describes a
wagon in Stargirl's room that represents her mood. When she is happy, she puts stones in, and when she is unhappy she takes stones out. At the start
of the story, Stargirl has over twenty stones in the wagon, despite being ostracized from society. When Stargirl turned into Susan, Leo noticed a
change. He says, "That night we did homework together at her house. I ducked into her room to check out her happy wagon. There were only two
stones in it" (143). The lack of stones shows that she dislikes her life when she tries to be Susan, rather than being herself. This means that If the
stones are a metaphor for Stargirl's happiness, it is clear that changing into someone she is not in order to make Leo happy makes her miserable. She
clearly was more fulfilled being true to herself, even if it meant having no friends. This suggests that happiness comes from acceptance within, rather
than having the approval of

Stargirl Quotes
Summer Reading Assignment
Cholet Barone
I have chosen to read Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I have chosen this book based on my personal interest and interest in this specific genre, which is
fiction, young adult literature, and children's literature. This book takes place at Mica Area High School in Arizona. Leo Borlock is your average
eleventh grader, and he is the only one who accepts Stargirl for who she is. Sarah "Stargirl" Caraway is a unique tenth grader, and she is rejected by
everybody in the school. She dances in the rain, plays the ukulele at lunch, and wears strange outfits. Stargirl had small bursts of popularity, but they've
never lasted long. Soon after Leo accepts Stargirl, they began a relationship together. As the relationship... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For Stargirl, it let her true identity shine through. Another direct quote from the book that justifies the theme is "One morning we had a rare
rainfall. It came during her gym class. The teacher told everyone to come in. On the way to the next class they looked out the windows. Stargirl
was still outside. In the rain. Dancing" (Spinelli, page 11). This quote supports the theme because to Stargirl, this was a very typical thing for her to
do. A final quote from the book that justifies the theme is "Star people are rare. You will be lucky to meet another" (Spinelli, page 177). This quote
supports the theme because it describes what Stargirl's true identity is. Stargirl identifies as a 'star person'. I would recommend this text to a friend for
three specific reasons. First, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fiction, young adult literature, and children's literature. Second, I
would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Jerry Spinelli's work. Third, I would recommend this book to anyone who is an avid reader, like
myself, looking for an excellent book. I believe the overall message of this book is "Be unique". This message fits the theme of "Search for Identity",
because Stargirl found

Normal Stereotypes In Stargirl
Everyone is their own person. People change mostly due to fact that they want to be accepted. Every once in a while youВґll find someone who is
really themselves. In the book ВЁstargirlВЁ a teenage girl goes to a new high school where everyone there conformed to one. "Stargirl", whos real
name is Susan, is different. Different than everyone at that school. She wears outrageous outfits, has a pet rat, plays a ukelele, she even sings happy
birthday to everyone in front of everyone! According to Mica High, she by far doesn't apply for the "Normal" stereotype.
Stargirl catches the eye of another student that goes to the high school as well with her odd behaviors. Leo is one of the many "normal" kids at the
school, who will soon acquire strong feelings towards Stargirl. He has no idea what type of journey he is about to go through. Archie, who is a
older man that likes to somewhat "teach" the kids around the neighborhood. Archie is a major key in helping Leo understand Stargirl and who she is.
Stargirl notices Leo and gives her eyes pleasure. She then begins to leave little hints that she likes him. Leo approves, but also is embarrassed due to
the fact that she's kinda singling him out. They are also just two different people, Leo is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They are two different people, personality wise. Leo then realizes that he doesn't want the attention, so he persuades her to change, to become more
normal. Stargirl then becomes susan, a normal typical high school teenager. Normal clothes, normal teenage things. Everyone was in awe, kinda as if
they've never seen her before. She went from this amazing, outgoing person, to this boring typical high schooler. She wasn't happy with susan, she
wanted to be stargirl. It's who she really is. She don't want to be like everyone else, so she decided that she isn't going to be. It might cost her Leo, but
she don't care. She wants to be stargirl, and it's

Summary Of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl
Stargirl is a realistic fiction chapter book that was written by Jerry Spinelli and was published on August 8, 2000. Stargirl has been awarded the
2003 Grand Canyon Reader Award for Teen Book, the 2003 Iowa Teen Award, and the 2004 Charlotte Award. Stargirl was also nominated for many
more awards as well (such as the 2002 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, the 2003 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award, and
the 2006 Lincoln Award, to name a few). According to Goodreads.com,Stargirl is a "celebration of nonconformity" and I believe that is the best way to
define this book. Stargirl follows Leo Borlock, a junior at Mica High School in Arizona. At Mica High School, fitting in is an unspoken rule. Then Leo
meets Stargirl Caraway, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I was the person who stood out because I had a strong self–confidence in who I was in school. Before that, though, I was in Leo's shoes. I knew
someone similar to Stargirl. I knew a girl who was homeschooled and when she started school, she really stood out because she had never been
socialized like I had. She did not have the peer pressure to dress or act a certain way. No long after she arrived, she began to change to fit in. Unlike
Stargirl, this girl changed and embraced being different from who she once was. I do not like to admit it, but at the time I was the Leo to her Stargirl –
meaning I had a bit of an influence on her change due to the peer pressure. It was not until I reached my sophomore year of high school that I truly
began to embrace who I was and my difference. I was around the same age as Stargirl and I was having a difficult time embracing who I was when
I was always accustomed to blending in. When I read about Stargirl's confidence and how comfortable she felt in her own skin, it reminded me of
the struggles I overcame to feel this way. At this point in my life, I feel a strong connection with Stargirl in that I know who I am, and I feel
confident with just being me. I only wished I had read this book as a kid, maybe I would not have pressured my friend to conform to the expectations
of my school or have such a difficult time to build up the courage to embrace my differences

Stargirl Analysis
Here's a heads up about STARGIRL: most of the novel is trying to summarize Stargirl Caraway, but that is where the problem lies. She cannot be
contained. She can't be boxed up and tied with a pretty ribbon – she is a free spirit, she is "like another species," according to Kevin (Spinelli 32). She
doesn't care what people think – at all. From the first day at Mica High, Stargirl is an odd duckling. She doesn't quite understand all the unwritten
rules at her new school either, so she just goes along doing her thing. She sings "Happy Birthday" to complete strangers, cheers for people picking up
litter, and performs impromptu halftime shows. She wears victorian dresses, a kimono, a flapper dress, an Indian buckskin, and much more. No matter...
According to Archie, "She seems to be in touch with what some of us are missing," (102). Teaching just comes to her naturally: she points out little
things she notices, like the beauty of an old man sitting on a bench. Through her observations, Leo comes to a realization that he "walked in a grey
world of nothings," (108). Stargirl is also the victim of intense bullying. Leo says it best: "Classrooms, hallways, courtyard, lunchroom–everywhere I
went I heard her disparaged, mocked, slurred," (165). But here's the thing, Stargirl doesn't notice. She isn't like your average teenager – wrapped up in
herself and if people judge her. She is too busy being compassionate towards the same people who treat her like chopped liver. Stargirl doesn't let it
bring her down; she just continues being the friendliest girl in school. Overall, Stargirl girl is a quirky, free–spirit, who doesn't care what people think
about her. She is content with one or two friends, and doesn't even notice people insulting her. She connects with the universe in a much deeper level
than anyone else, and that gets passed on to those who spend time with her. She is so incredibly cheery and compassionate, even to those who do not
reciprocate, which shows a lot on her part. Stargirl is a "rare bird,"

"Stargirl" Analysis Essay
Stargirl was another fantastic book Jerry Spinelli. 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 Leo's friend that likes the stoplight, and Hillari Kimble the popular bratty
one. This book takes place in MICA, Arizona. Now, in paragraph one I will discuss the plot ofStargirl. Next, I will talk about the theme in Stargirl.
Finally, I will evaluate Jerry Spinelli`s job on the novel Stargirl. Stargirl is a very unique individual. She is very thoughtful of other people and doesn't
do much for herself. When Stargirl goes from homeschooling to a normal school with hundreds of kids, she doesn't fit in. She finds a good ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Archie is a very wise man, and people respect him and his home, and all are welcome into it.
The theme of Stargirl is to always be yourself, it's the best person there is for you. It tells you to be a Stargirl, be different don't follow the crowd.
People will like you for you and if they don't then it`s their loss. It teaches you valuable lessons, like to never let people come in the way if you really
love someone. To just push them aside and let you make the choice, what`s more important my peers or someone that I love? They give many
examples of this in the book, here are some..... ~`` We did not know what to do make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a cork board like a
butterfly, but the pin merely went through and she flew away.``– pg. 15 This piece of figurative language is saying they tried to change her, or put her
into place. But when they tried, she barely changed and striated from the crowd. ~It was during one of these night moon times that it came to me that
Hillari Kimble was wring. Stargirl was real.``–pg.12 This is saying that he thought about Stargirl and she was just really being herself, and she was
different but it was ok. ~``. The lie dormant and waiting, these mud frogs, for without water their lives are incomplete, they are not fully themselves.
For many months the sleeps like this within the earth. And then the rain comes. And a hundred pairs o eyes pop out of the mud, and at night a

Identity And Conformity In Stargirl, By Jerry Spinelli

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