Ukeleles, Sunflowers, Beauty

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Reviewed by Leila
Jerry Spinelli has written another amazing book called Stargirl. It's about an extraordinary, weird girl named Stargirl who is attending Mica High School in Arizona. When a boy named Leo looks into her eyes, he knows at that moment that she is special. He starts getting close to Stargirl and Leo starts to realize that he has to make a choice: Stargirl or "them" (the crowd).

Leo is like any normal high schooler, confused about love. He doesn't know whether to pick Stargirl, his love, or the crowd. He knows the consequences for both and he is having difficulties. I felt a little bad for Leo because he had to make a big choice and I wouldn't be able to make that type of choice. Also, Stargirl is the type of girl who stays true to herself and doesn't let anyone influence how she acts. She doesn't care if people think she is weird, she just goes with whatever happens. Stargirl is one of the best books by Jerry Spinelli.

Jerry Spinelli has written a sequel to Stargirl called Love, Stargirl. He has also written Crash, Loser, and Wringer and they are all great books. Be sure to read Stargirl because you'll never read a book like it.


Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Reviewed by Leila
Love, Stargirl is the sequel to Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. Stargirl has moved to Pennsylvania from Arizona and has started a new life. New friends, new house, new school (homeschooling), but still the same love. But then she meets Perry and her feelings change. She has started feeling like Leo did when he had to decide whether to pick Stargirl or the crowd.

The book is filled with letters that Stargirl writes to Leo and hopes one day to give it to him person to person. Something that interested me is how it seems as though Stargirl gets a chance to feel what Leo felt when he had to choose Stargirl or the crowd. Stargirl meets a boy named Perry and she has to decide whether or not she likes Perry. She still has mixed feelings about him but is the truth going to be revealed or will you have to make up your own story? Also, there is a girl named Dootsie and she is always the one that makes Stargirl feel cheery after a crisis has happened.

Jerry Spinelli is a great writer and has written many books. Many of which you will read once you get attached to one.

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
Reviewed by Jackson
If you have any reading taste at all, you will most definitely love reading Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, who I now see as a writing god. In this sequel to the previous book Stargirl, the young Susan Caraway is moping over her ex-boyfriend, and decides to write him the world's longest letter. She has moved from Arizona to Pennsylvania, and has made several friends. These colorful characters consist of Dootsie Pringle, the five year old human bean; Alvina Klecko, whose temper is a force to beware; Betty Lou, an agoraphobic donut lover, and a master thief, who goes by Perry. The best thing about the book is unraveling the estranged traditions of Stargirl herself. The only bad thing about this book is that it comes to an end. The characters seem very real, even Stargirl, who is very peculiar. The strange weather in Pennsylvania gives the setting a lifelike perspective. The blankets of snow, the heat waves, and the spring blossoms are exceptionally spectacular. It is not humanly possible to get bored when reading this book. With all the drama action, and stealing, this book becomes difficult to put down. Girls ages 10 to 15 may like this book, and I only say so because I assume thats who the audience is. But hey, if you're a boy who seems to be interested in it, don't let my assumption hold you back. Love, Stargirl is like hot chocolate and cured ham to a person who hasn't eaten in days. Unless you would rather sit inside, reading the food label on a package of provolone cheese, I would recommend this book to you.

Librarian's note:
Our nearest planetarium? Just up the street near Jequie Park. Check the schedule. Next show: 12/21/2009, star party if not too cloudy.

See also: Jerry Spinelli on the writing process.
Read Milkweed.
Ever see the Stargirl book trailer? Good idea. or does it spoil your own images?

(sunflower image courtesy of 3268zauber at the wikimedia commons, protected by a creative commons share-alike license)