The Storyteller Squad

Friday Fun Reads: Star Girl

Remember the weird kid in school?

When Stargirl shows up, no one wants to be tagged with her. After all, who strums the ukulele and sings happy birthday to students in the high school cafeteria? And who carries a pet rat in a backpack? Stargirl. She is strange. Funny. Nice.

One student admits, “She seems to be in touch with something that the rest of us are missing.”

Everyone is secretly drawn to her. Why? Stargirl isn’t afraid to be herself.

Author Jerry Spinelli weaves a warm story around true stereotypes and our desire to fit in—to belong.  Like the main character, Stargirl is upbeat and opens the reader’s heart to fragile teen friendships and the high cost of popularity.

I’m not usually a fan of books that promote a “be yourself theme” because living this way can become self centered and selfish. However, Stargirl isn’t about trying to win attention for the sake of attention. It’s a book about simple kindness. Stargirl challenges how we see and treat others.

Stargirl has been endorsed as Young Adult. I suggest sixth through ninth grade readers will enjoy it most.

Let me know what you think. Leave commments on Storytellerquad posts this month for entries to our drawing and August giveaway.

Gretchen Carlson My website: http://gretchen-carlson.com

Gretchen Carlson

Gretchen has eaten goat stomach dished up by an East African refugee and nibbled hors d’oeuvres at a governor’s mansion. Her background in journalism and education has fed her heartbeat for people and stories. As a pastor’s wife, the front door of her home—like her heart—is always open.

1 comment

  • That sounds like a good book but it is recommended by my friends as a strange romantic book and they wouldn’t recommend it but I will still try it anyways.