Stargirl- Jerry Spinelli
Plot Diagram:
Exposition: Stargirl takes place in a small town in Arizona at Mica Area High School where the students believe they must all act a certain way in order to be accepted. Then along comes Stargirl, who rocks the boat.
Rising Action:
1. It is the first day of school, and there is a new girl who goes by the name Stargirl.
2. Stargirls starts playing her ukelele during lunch.
3. Kevin and Leo high five over the thought of Stargirl on Hot Seat, a high school TV program.
4. Hillari Kimble decides Stargirl is an actress and her being there is all a hoax to make everyone want to join clubs and go to games.
5. Stargirl sings happy birthday to Alan Ferko.
6. Kevin and Leo fight about putting Stargirl on Hot Seat.
7. Leo follows Stargirl around after school and sees her put a card in someone's mailbox.
8. Stargirl goes to a football game and frolics around on the field during the game.
9. At the next home game, more than one thousand people show up.
10. Stargirl does not show up at the football game.
11. Stargirl is invited to be a cheerleader and says yes.
12. The whole school is afraid to get close to her because she is different.
13. Hillari Kimble goes up to Stargirl at lunch and tells her not to sing happy birthday to her the next day.
14. Stargirl sings "Happy Birthday, Hillari" but not to Hillari. She sings it to Leo.
15. Kevin asks Stargirl why she sang to Leo, and she tugs on his earlobe, smiles, and says, "He's cute."
16. Kevin and Leo go to Archie's.
17. Leo and Kevin greet Archie and Senor Saguaro, the tall cactus.
18. They talk about Stargirl.
19. Archie tells them that Stargirl is "as real as Barney" and that the fact ones are everybody else.
20. By December 1, Stargirl is the most popular person in school.
21. At the last football game, she cheers nonstop with both teams, plays her ukelele with the band, and shimmies up a goalpost to tightrope across the middle to make a touchdown sign.
22. Hillari Kimble takes Stargirl's rat, Cinnamon, and drops him on purpose.
23. Dori Dilson sits with Stargirl at lunch.
24. The next day the whole table is full.
25. Stargirl enters the oratorical contest for district competition and wins first place.
26. Kids at Mica High School start acting like individuals.
27. Stargirl is signed up for Hot Seat.
26. Stargirl alters the Pledge of Allegiance, which offends some people. Others think it is funny.
27. Stargirl shows up at a funeral for someone she does not even know and is kicked out.
28. Stargirl gives a new bike to Danny, which creates trouble in Pike family.
29. Stargirl cheers for both teams at all basketball games, which upsets the other students.
30. The basketball team starts winning every single game.
31. During the second to last game, their team is creaming the opposing team, and Stargirl leaves the gym. She feels sorry for the other team and believes her cheering will only make the other team feel worse.
32. The cheerleaders ditch Stargirl and leave her at the other school's gym two hours away.
33. Stargirl pretends that the hot seat on Hot Seat is actually hot.
34. Cinnamon, the rat, runs around the room, which the teacher adviser claims is the best moment in the history of Hot Seat.
35. Everyone on the Hot Seat jury starts being mean to Stargirl.
36. The teacher destroys the tape of that episode.
37. Stargirl leaves candy hearts on the desk of every student in her homeroom.
38. During the biggest basketball game of the year, their team was losing, so Stargirl cheers louder for only their team.
39. When an athlete from the other team gets hurt, Stargirl runs out on the court and helps keep him calm.
40. Their team ends up winning the game.
41. Two day later they lose. Stargirl had cheered as loudly and as much as she could, but they still lost.
42. Someone on their side throws a big tomato at Stargirl's face, and Leo yells, "NOOOOO!"
43. The next day, Leo's finds a card from Stargirl that says "I love you."
44. Stargirl is kicked off the cheerleading team.
45. Leo goes to Stargirl's house and hides behind a car, but Stargirl sees him there.
46. Cinnamon licks Leo's ears, and then Stargirl go back to the house for the night.
47. Leo is in love with Stargirl, and Stargirl takes him to an enchanted place.
48. The next day at school, Leo walks with Stargirl in the hallway. Everyone is shunning them.
49. Leo has to decide if he wants to be with Stargirl or to not be shunned.
50. Stargirl delivers more birthday cards.
51. Stargirl and Leo go to the mall and play "Card Game."
52. Leo goes to Stargirl's house, and Stargirl shows him her happy wagon.
53. Stargirl takes pictures of Peter.
54. Stargirl and Leo kiss.
55. The shunning bothers Leo.
56. Stargirl puts up a banner at school that reads, "STARGIRL LOVES LEO."
57. Leo tries to explain how to be normal to Stargirl.
58. Stargirl changes back into Susan.
59. She invites Leo to go to the state speaking competition with her.
50 Susan also invites Dori, but Dori says no. Susan knows Dori will show up afterwards.
51. Susan is positive that she is going to win. She believes there will be a mob of people when she gets back to the school with her trophy.
52. Susan begs Mr. McShane to stop the car so she can get out. She runs around being silly for two minutes before getting back in the car.
53. She asks Mr. McShane about the Moa.
54. Susan goes to the competition and wins.
Climax:
1. Susan, Leo, and Mr. McShane drive home from the competion.
2. Susan is expecting a crowd of people to great her when she arrives back at the school.
3. Only three people are in the parking lot when they get there, Dori Dilson and two teachers.
4. Dori is crying for Stargirl.
5. Leo does not see Susan for the rest of the weekend, but on Monday, she is back to Stargirl.
6. Stargirl tells Leo that she is giving up on being popular and being normal.
Falling Action:
1. Stargirl tells Leo she knows he will not ask her to the ball.
2. Dori and Stargirl create a club called the Ukee Dooks.
3. Leo does not ask anyone to the ball, and he does not go.
4. At the dance, Stargirl shows up alone and just dances.
5. Stargirl asks the band to play the bunny hop, and almost the whole schools joins in on the dance.
6. At the end of the dance, Hillari Kimble goes up to Stargirl, says "You ruin everything," and then slaps her.
7. Then Stargirl finally moves and kisses Hillari on the cheek.
8. That was the last time anyone ever saw Stargirl.
Resolution:
1. Stargirl moves away to Minnesota.
2. No one ever sees her again. At every class reunion, people talk about her, but she never shows up.
3. Leo goes to Archie, and they talk about Stargirl.
4. On their last visit together, Archie and Leo bury Barnie in the desert. Archie wanted to return Barney home, just like Stargirl returned to where she felt she belonged.
Exposition: Stargirl takes place in a small town in Arizona at Mica Area High School where the students believe they must all act a certain way in order to be accepted. Then along comes Stargirl, who rocks the boat.
Rising Action:
1. It is the first day of school, and there is a new girl who goes by the name Stargirl.
2. Stargirls starts playing her ukelele during lunch.
3. Kevin and Leo high five over the thought of Stargirl on Hot Seat, a high school TV program.
4. Hillari Kimble decides Stargirl is an actress and her being there is all a hoax to make everyone want to join clubs and go to games.
5. Stargirl sings happy birthday to Alan Ferko.
6. Kevin and Leo fight about putting Stargirl on Hot Seat.
7. Leo follows Stargirl around after school and sees her put a card in someone's mailbox.
8. Stargirl goes to a football game and frolics around on the field during the game.
9. At the next home game, more than one thousand people show up.
10. Stargirl does not show up at the football game.
11. Stargirl is invited to be a cheerleader and says yes.
12. The whole school is afraid to get close to her because she is different.
13. Hillari Kimble goes up to Stargirl at lunch and tells her not to sing happy birthday to her the next day.
14. Stargirl sings "Happy Birthday, Hillari" but not to Hillari. She sings it to Leo.
15. Kevin asks Stargirl why she sang to Leo, and she tugs on his earlobe, smiles, and says, "He's cute."
16. Kevin and Leo go to Archie's.
17. Leo and Kevin greet Archie and Senor Saguaro, the tall cactus.
18. They talk about Stargirl.
19. Archie tells them that Stargirl is "as real as Barney" and that the fact ones are everybody else.
20. By December 1, Stargirl is the most popular person in school.
21. At the last football game, she cheers nonstop with both teams, plays her ukelele with the band, and shimmies up a goalpost to tightrope across the middle to make a touchdown sign.
22. Hillari Kimble takes Stargirl's rat, Cinnamon, and drops him on purpose.
23. Dori Dilson sits with Stargirl at lunch.
24. The next day the whole table is full.
25. Stargirl enters the oratorical contest for district competition and wins first place.
26. Kids at Mica High School start acting like individuals.
27. Stargirl is signed up for Hot Seat.
26. Stargirl alters the Pledge of Allegiance, which offends some people. Others think it is funny.
27. Stargirl shows up at a funeral for someone she does not even know and is kicked out.
28. Stargirl gives a new bike to Danny, which creates trouble in Pike family.
29. Stargirl cheers for both teams at all basketball games, which upsets the other students.
30. The basketball team starts winning every single game.
31. During the second to last game, their team is creaming the opposing team, and Stargirl leaves the gym. She feels sorry for the other team and believes her cheering will only make the other team feel worse.
32. The cheerleaders ditch Stargirl and leave her at the other school's gym two hours away.
33. Stargirl pretends that the hot seat on Hot Seat is actually hot.
34. Cinnamon, the rat, runs around the room, which the teacher adviser claims is the best moment in the history of Hot Seat.
35. Everyone on the Hot Seat jury starts being mean to Stargirl.
36. The teacher destroys the tape of that episode.
37. Stargirl leaves candy hearts on the desk of every student in her homeroom.
38. During the biggest basketball game of the year, their team was losing, so Stargirl cheers louder for only their team.
39. When an athlete from the other team gets hurt, Stargirl runs out on the court and helps keep him calm.
40. Their team ends up winning the game.
41. Two day later they lose. Stargirl had cheered as loudly and as much as she could, but they still lost.
42. Someone on their side throws a big tomato at Stargirl's face, and Leo yells, "NOOOOO!"
43. The next day, Leo's finds a card from Stargirl that says "I love you."
44. Stargirl is kicked off the cheerleading team.
45. Leo goes to Stargirl's house and hides behind a car, but Stargirl sees him there.
46. Cinnamon licks Leo's ears, and then Stargirl go back to the house for the night.
47. Leo is in love with Stargirl, and Stargirl takes him to an enchanted place.
48. The next day at school, Leo walks with Stargirl in the hallway. Everyone is shunning them.
49. Leo has to decide if he wants to be with Stargirl or to not be shunned.
50. Stargirl delivers more birthday cards.
51. Stargirl and Leo go to the mall and play "Card Game."
52. Leo goes to Stargirl's house, and Stargirl shows him her happy wagon.
53. Stargirl takes pictures of Peter.
54. Stargirl and Leo kiss.
55. The shunning bothers Leo.
56. Stargirl puts up a banner at school that reads, "STARGIRL LOVES LEO."
57. Leo tries to explain how to be normal to Stargirl.
58. Stargirl changes back into Susan.
59. She invites Leo to go to the state speaking competition with her.
50 Susan also invites Dori, but Dori says no. Susan knows Dori will show up afterwards.
51. Susan is positive that she is going to win. She believes there will be a mob of people when she gets back to the school with her trophy.
52. Susan begs Mr. McShane to stop the car so she can get out. She runs around being silly for two minutes before getting back in the car.
53. She asks Mr. McShane about the Moa.
54. Susan goes to the competition and wins.
Climax:
1. Susan, Leo, and Mr. McShane drive home from the competion.
2. Susan is expecting a crowd of people to great her when she arrives back at the school.
3. Only three people are in the parking lot when they get there, Dori Dilson and two teachers.
4. Dori is crying for Stargirl.
5. Leo does not see Susan for the rest of the weekend, but on Monday, she is back to Stargirl.
6. Stargirl tells Leo that she is giving up on being popular and being normal.
Falling Action:
1. Stargirl tells Leo she knows he will not ask her to the ball.
2. Dori and Stargirl create a club called the Ukee Dooks.
3. Leo does not ask anyone to the ball, and he does not go.
4. At the dance, Stargirl shows up alone and just dances.
5. Stargirl asks the band to play the bunny hop, and almost the whole schools joins in on the dance.
6. At the end of the dance, Hillari Kimble goes up to Stargirl, says "You ruin everything," and then slaps her.
7. Then Stargirl finally moves and kisses Hillari on the cheek.
8. That was the last time anyone ever saw Stargirl.
Resolution:
1. Stargirl moves away to Minnesota.
2. No one ever sees her again. At every class reunion, people talk about her, but she never shows up.
3. Leo goes to Archie, and they talk about Stargirl.
4. On their last visit together, Archie and Leo bury Barnie in the desert. Archie wanted to return Barney home, just like Stargirl returned to where she felt she belonged.
Characterization:
- Stargirl: She is one of the main characters. She was homeschooled for a long time but decides to go to high school so that she can make friends. Stargirl is a round and dynamic character. She is round because we know a lot about her. We know what she looks like and how she thinks. She is a dynamic character because she changes a lot throughout the story. In the beginning, Stargirl was content with just being herself. But after she was popular and then not popular, she wanted to be popular again. That is when Susan came into the story, but after betraying her true self, she returns back to Stargirl.
- Leo: Leo is the other main character. He is also round and dynamic. He is dynamic because he changes throughout the story. Leo goes from being like everyone else and not wanting to be seen with Stargirl to willingly spending his time with her. Leo is round because he is the narrator of the story, and we know all of his thoughts and actions.
- Archie: Archie is a wise old teacher who lives in a house with a giant cactus. He provides guidance to the kids, and he offers advice and explanations. He is a static character because he does not change throughout the story. He's stereotypical behaviors make him a stock character.
- Kevin: Kevin is Leo's best friend. He is the host of Hot Seat. He is a flat character because the story does not tell much about him. What we know can be summed up in about one sentence. He is a static character because there is not evidence of change in his character.
- Hillari Kimble: Hillari is a stereotypical mean girl, so she is a stock character. She is a static character because her character starts out mean and remains mean. She is flat because all we know about her is she does not like Stargirl and that she can be mean.
Picture Method
Chapter 1 - 3
Predict:
Predict:
- Stargirl is a movie star.
- This book is about high schoolers.
- There will be no talking animals.
This is how I imagined Cinnamon the rat. I imagined a little heart nose.
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This picture represents Stargirl playing the ukulele at lunch.
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This picture shows the Hot Seat that Leo and Kevin use on their show.
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Clarify:
Summary: It's the first day of school, and there's a new girl who goes by the name of Stargirl. She is a sophomore, and she acts differently than the other kids her class. She does things like sing happy birthday to kids in her class. Hillari Kimble thinks Stargirl is a hoax. Kevin is anxious to get Stargirl on Hot Seat, but Leo does not want her to be on it. There are a lot of theories about who and what she really is. She has no friends but is the friendliest person in the school. Leo follows her all over town to try to find out more about her.
Chapter 4 - 7:
Predict:
- Stargirl is not a movie star.
- To balk means to hesitate.
- A narc is someone who rats someone else out, usually for an illegal activity.
- Why does Stargirl act differently?
- Is she a fake?
- Why will Leo not sign Stargirl up for Hot Seat?
- Like Stargirl, I was the new girl in school several years ago. I remember the sea of people seeming to stare at me all day.
- Hillari Kimble is similar to other "mean girls" that I have come across and had to work with.
- Like Stargirl, I love to sing.
Summary: It's the first day of school, and there's a new girl who goes by the name of Stargirl. She is a sophomore, and she acts differently than the other kids her class. She does things like sing happy birthday to kids in her class. Hillari Kimble thinks Stargirl is a hoax. Kevin is anxious to get Stargirl on Hot Seat, but Leo does not want her to be on it. There are a lot of theories about who and what she really is. She has no friends but is the friendliest person in the school. Leo follows her all over town to try to find out more about her.
Chapter 4 - 7:
Predict:
- Stargirl will go on Hot Seat.
- Leo and Kevin will get in a fight.
- Leo will follow Stargirl again.
This picture shows when Stargirl climbed up the goal post at the football game.
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This picture represents when Stargirl join the cheer team.
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This picture is representing when Stargirl sang to Leo and he got embarrassed.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Kevin goes to the football game and calls Leo to tell him to get to the game. Stargirl is at the game prancing around the field. At the next game over a thousand people show up, but Stargirl does not. The next day the cheerleaders ask her to be one of them. Hillari tells Stargirl not to sing happy birthday to her, so she sings "Happy birthday, Hillari" to Leo instead. Stargirl calls Leo cute.
Chapter 8 - 11:
Predict:
- Stargirl was homeschooled.
- Converging means coming together.
- Hillari Kimble has a big mouth.
Questions:
- Is Stargirl real or is she an actress?
- Does she know that Leo followed her?
- Why does Stargirl act like that?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I love to do things just to make other people smile.
- I play stringed instruments, much like Stargirl plays the ukelele.
- Like Stargirl, I go to many of my school's football games.
Summary: Kevin goes to the football game and calls Leo to tell him to get to the game. Stargirl is at the game prancing around the field. At the next game over a thousand people show up, but Stargirl does not. The next day the cheerleaders ask her to be one of them. Hillari tells Stargirl not to sing happy birthday to her, so she sings "Happy birthday, Hillari" to Leo instead. Stargirl calls Leo cute.
Chapter 8 - 11:
Predict:
- Kevin will ask Stargirl to be on the show.
- Leo will start to like Stargirl.
- Stargirl will quit cheerleading.
This picture is showing when Hillari is holding Cinnamon and then dropped him.
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This picture represents Señor Saguaro, the tall cactus.
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This picture represents when Stargirl was left at the school by the cheerleaders.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Stargirl goes crazy as a cheerleader and everybody loves it. Hillari takes Stargirl's rat, Cinnamon, and drops him on purpose. People start to imitate Stargirl affectionately. She wins the oratorical competition. The students start acting more like individuals. Stargirl is scheduled to be on Hot Seat. People notice that Stargirl has her own unique way of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, which some think is funny but most think is weird. Basketball season starts, and Stargirl cheers. The team is undefeated. When Stargirl begins cheering for both teams, it angers the other cheerleaders. The cheerleaders trick the bus driver into leaving Stargirl a the opposing high school, two hours away from home.
Chapter 12 - 14:
Predict:
- Maricopas are Native Americans from Arizona.
- Archie knew Stargirl.
- Oratorical means public speaking.
Questions:
- Why did Hillari drop Cinnamon?
- Why does everyone suddenly like Stargirl?
- Why did Stargirl agree to Hot Seat?
Connections:
- Stargirl has a rat named Cinnamon. I help my dad take care of rats in his classroom.
- Dori and I both enjoy writing poetry.
- Like Stargirl, I have also been in an oratorical competition.
Summary: Stargirl goes crazy as a cheerleader and everybody loves it. Hillari takes Stargirl's rat, Cinnamon, and drops him on purpose. People start to imitate Stargirl affectionately. She wins the oratorical competition. The students start acting more like individuals. Stargirl is scheduled to be on Hot Seat. People notice that Stargirl has her own unique way of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, which some think is funny but most think is weird. Basketball season starts, and Stargirl cheers. The team is undefeated. When Stargirl begins cheering for both teams, it angers the other cheerleaders. The cheerleaders trick the bus driver into leaving Stargirl a the opposing high school, two hours away from home.
Chapter 12 - 14:
Predict:
- Hot Seat will go badly.
- Stargirl will quit cheerleading.
- Leo will feel bad for her.
This picture shows the candy hearts that Stargirl left on everyone's desk in her homeroom.
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This represents the tomato that someone threw in Stargirl's face.
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This is a picture showing the note that Stargirl gave to Leo. It says "Stargirl loves Leo."
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Stargirl goes on Hot Seat, and it went from funny to ugly. They end up not showing the video because the jury starts going crazy. The next day, everyone talks about it, and Stargirl leaves candy hearts for each classmate in her homeroom. At the basketball game that night, Stargirl only cheers for their team, but when an opposing team member gets hurt, Stargirl goes to help him. Two days later, they lose their first game. At the game, Stargirl continues to cheer when everyone else gives up, and at the end of the game, she gets a tomato thrown at her face. Only Leo protests. Later, Leo finds a card in his notebook that says "I love you" from Stargirl.
Chapter 15 - 17:
Predict:
- Chico is the handheld camera.
- A pantomime is a theatrical entertainment.
- Raucous means loud and unpleasant to listen to or behaving in a very rough and noisy way.
Questions:
- Will Leo and Stargirl become a couple?
- Did she give everyone a card?
- Who threw the tomato?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I have been videotaped on stage before.
- I have had friends who have gone by something other than the name their parents gave them.
- Like Stargirl, I often feel the need the help the underdog in a given situation.
Summary: Stargirl goes on Hot Seat, and it went from funny to ugly. They end up not showing the video because the jury starts going crazy. The next day, everyone talks about it, and Stargirl leaves candy hearts for each classmate in her homeroom. At the basketball game that night, Stargirl only cheers for their team, but when an opposing team member gets hurt, Stargirl goes to help him. Two days later, they lose their first game. At the game, Stargirl continues to cheer when everyone else gives up, and at the end of the game, she gets a tomato thrown at her face. Only Leo protests. Later, Leo finds a card in his notebook that says "I love you" from Stargirl.
Chapter 15 - 17:
Predict:
- Leo will start to like Stargirl.
- The school will start being very mean to Stargirl.
- Stargirl will not notice.
This picture is showing Barney, the skull.
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This picture represents Leo's ear, which Cinnamon "nuzzled."
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This picture shows when Stargirl took Leo to the enchanted place.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Everyone is saying Stargirl is in love with Leo, and Stargirl is kicked off the cheerleading squad. Leo likes Stargirl, so he hides behind a car at her house. Stargirl and Leo talk while Cinnamon is with Leo. The next day after school, Stargirl takes Leo to an enchanted place where they sit and try to forget themselves. They walk home hand in hand.
Chapter 18 - 23:
Predict:
- Stargirl only gave Leo a card outside of her homeroom.
- To be smitten= struck with love
- tamped= rammed or packed down or into something firmly
Questions:
- Are Leo and Stargirl a couple?
- Will the school make fun of Leo?
- Why does she like Leo?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I want to fit in while remaining true to myself.
- Like Leo and Kevin, I sometimes need to get advice from someone older.
- I have a hamster at my house named Peanut.
Summary: Everyone is saying Stargirl is in love with Leo, and Stargirl is kicked off the cheerleading squad. Leo likes Stargirl, so he hides behind a car at her house. Stargirl and Leo talk while Cinnamon is with Leo. The next day after school, Stargirl takes Leo to an enchanted place where they sit and try to forget themselves. They walk home hand in hand.
Chapter 18 - 23:
Predict:
- Stargirl and Leo will go to the enchanted place again.
- The people at school will think Leo is weird for being with Stargirl.
- Cinnamon will nuzzle Leo's ear again.
This picture represents Stargirl and Leo walking through the hallway together at school.
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This picture shows a card which represents the "Card game" that Leo and Stargirl played.
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This picture represents the loose change that Stargirl dropped around the mall.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: The school is shunning Stargirl, and because Leo is hanging out with her, they start to shun him too. Leo has to decided whether he cares more about Stargirl or about what the school thinks about him. Stargirl and Leo continue to hang out and go to the mall. Back at her house, they talk. Right before Leo leaves, Stargirl kisses him.
Chapter 24 - 26:
Predict:
- The whole school is shunning Stargirl.
- Mesquite is a type of wood.
- Leo does not like being shunned.
Questions:
- Does Stargirl realize they are shunning her?
- Why does Stargirl give cards to random people?
- Does Leo really accept Stargirl for who she is?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I have a friend that truly understands me just the way I am.
- I have an uncle who was raised Amish and was shunned by his people.
- Like Archie, I have a lot of fossils at my house.
Summary: The school is shunning Stargirl, and because Leo is hanging out with her, they start to shun him too. Leo has to decided whether he cares more about Stargirl or about what the school thinks about him. Stargirl and Leo continue to hang out and go to the mall. Back at her house, they talk. Right before Leo leaves, Stargirl kisses him.
Chapter 24 - 26:
Predict:
- Stargirl will run away.
- The girl will stop shunning Leo.
- Kevin and Leo will get in a fight.
This picture represents the banner that Stargirl hung up at the school.
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This picture shows the anchovy pizza that Stargirl got for lunch. She picked off the anchovies after Leo said nobody eats them.
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This picture shows two pebbles because there were only two pebbles in Stargirl's happy wagon.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Stargirl puts up a huge sign at school that says "Stargirl Loves Leo," and it embarrasses Leo. People and are making fun of Leo and ignoring him at the same time. Stargirl and Leo talk about breaking up, but neither of them want that. Leo just wants something to change, so he tries to teach Stargirl how to be "normal." Two days later, Stargirl vanishes, and Susan returns in her place. She tries to return to popularity as Susan, but is does not work.
Chapter 27 - 29:
Predict:
- Stargirl loves Leo, but Leo does not love her as much.
- Gumption means determined and full of courage.
- A palmetto is a palm tree.
Questions:
- Will Leo and Stargirl break up?
- Why does Leo not accept Stargirl?
- Where does Stargirl vanish to?
Connections:
- Like Leo, I have been embarrassed at school by a friend who thought she was doing something extra nice.
- I have had friends who have decided to change who they are just to make someone like them.
- Like Stargirl, I enjoy shopping for clothes.
Summary: Stargirl puts up a huge sign at school that says "Stargirl Loves Leo," and it embarrasses Leo. People and are making fun of Leo and ignoring him at the same time. Stargirl and Leo talk about breaking up, but neither of them want that. Leo just wants something to change, so he tries to teach Stargirl how to be "normal." Two days later, Stargirl vanishes, and Susan returns in her place. She tries to return to popularity as Susan, but is does not work.
Chapter 27 - 29:
Predict:
- Stargirl will win the oratorical contest.
- Stargirl will be popular again.
- Stargirl will want to be Stargirl again.
This picture represents the speech that Stargirl gave. It was called, "I Might Have Heard a Moa."
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This picture shows the trophy that Stargirl won for her speech.
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This picture represents the almost empty parking lot that awaited Stargirl and Leo.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Susan and Leo drive up with a teacher to the location of the oratorical competition. Susan makes the cut and performs for the public that night. The audience goes crazy during her performance, cheering and crying all at once. Stargirl wins the contest, and they head back to the school eager to show off the trophy. When they get to the school, the front lot was empty. Thy go to the back lot, where only three people are standing. Only one student is there to see her, and it is her friend Dori.
Chapter 30 - 33:
Predict:
- Only Leo goes with Leo to the contest.
- A yucca is a plant that grows well in the desert.
- Rousing means exciting and exhilarating.
Questions:
- Will Susan win the competition?
- Will Dori be there?
- Will there be a crowd of people waiting?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I sometimes act silly just because it feels right at the time.
- I like to learn why things are the way they are, as Stargirl does when she asks about extinct birds.
- Like Stargirl, I have felt good about winning an award.
Summary: Susan and Leo drive up with a teacher to the location of the oratorical competition. Susan makes the cut and performs for the public that night. The audience goes crazy during her performance, cheering and crying all at once. Stargirl wins the contest, and they head back to the school eager to show off the trophy. When they get to the school, the front lot was empty. Thy go to the back lot, where only three people are standing. Only one student is there to see her, and it is her friend Dori.
Chapter 30 - 33:
Predict:
- Stargirl will run away.
- Leo and Stargirl will break the trophy.
- Leo will comfort Stargirl.
This picture shows the cookies that Stargirl handed out to the whole lunchroom.
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This picture represents the Ukee Dooks group that Stargirl started. Only she and Dori were in it.
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This picture shows the bunny hop, which is the final dance at the Valentine dance. Stargirl started it.
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Clarify:
Questions:
Connections:
Summary: Susan's parents take her home, and by Monday she is Stargirl again. She acts like she used to. She tells Leo she is giving up on trying to be popular and tells Leo she forgives him for not accepting that. She tries to start a club called the Ukee Dooks, and she performs songs everyday after school with Dori. Nobody listens to them, not even Leo. Stargirl goes to the dance and alone and gets everyone to do the bunny hop. The students love her again. She leaves the dance and is never seen again. Fifteen years go by. During those years, Leo talks to Archie about Stargirl. On the last day with Archie, they return Barney back to the Earth because that was where he
- Susan is Stargirl again.
- An ocotillo is a desert shrub that is spiny and gets red flowers.
- A musical instrument used in flamenco dances.
Questions:
- Why did Stargirl leave?
- Will Stargirl still go to public school?
- Will Leo ever see Stargirl again?
Connections:
- Like Stargirl, I have experienced the feeling of disappointment.
- I have been to school dance before.
- I have participated in silly fun dances before.
Summary: Susan's parents take her home, and by Monday she is Stargirl again. She acts like she used to. She tells Leo she is giving up on trying to be popular and tells Leo she forgives him for not accepting that. She tries to start a club called the Ukee Dooks, and she performs songs everyday after school with Dori. Nobody listens to them, not even Leo. Stargirl goes to the dance and alone and gets everyone to do the bunny hop. The students love her again. She leaves the dance and is never seen again. Fifteen years go by. During those years, Leo talks to Archie about Stargirl. On the last day with Archie, they return Barney back to the Earth because that was where he
Themes
- The importance of being true to yourself: Stargirl tried life both as being her free-spirited self and as being normal Susan. She was much happier when she was Stargirl because the things she did as Stargirl came naturally to her.
- True friendship can withstand the bumps in the road: Dori was friends with Stargirl before anyone else was. Dori liked Stargirl for who she was and was upset when Stargirl became Susan. Even though she was upset, she still went to greet Susan back at the school after the oratorical competition just like Susan knew she would.
- Life should be an adventure: Stargirl lives life as an adventure. She is not afraid to try new things. She does not let the "fear of striking out" stop her from "playing the game." Stargirl does not care that the entire school is mad at her. She goes to the dance and dances anyway.
Motifs
- Love: Stargirl not only loves Leo, she loves the world around her. She finds love in everything and shows love in many ways throughout the story.
- The Past: Learning about and understanding the past helps us to understand ourselves. Archie uses Barney throughout the story as a way to explain Stargirl.
- Wisdom: Archie and Stargirl both offer nuggets of wisdom throughout the story. Kevin and Leo always go to Archie for advice. Leo also get wisdom from Stargirl.
Symbols
- Senor Saguaro: This tall stately cactus symbolizes wisdom. It is by Senor Saguaro that many discussions requiring deep thought and wisdom occur.
- The Mockingbird: The mockingbird symbolizes the human connection to the past. Archie believes that the mockingbird mimics the sounds of birds that are now extinct so that the sounds from them are not truly extinct and have a place in today's world.
Tone
- Cheerfulness: Stargirl is almost always cheerful and full of life. She created a cheerful tone in the beginning when she ran around on the football field. This tone continued throughout most of the story, including the end when she gets most of the students to participate in the bunny hop at the dance.
- Hopefulness: Stargirl was almost always very hopeful. Throughout the story, the reader realizes that Stargirl will not give up even when shunned. She just continues living life hoping and knowing everything will turn out great.
- Confusion and sadness: During the climax of the novel, when Leo and Stargirl arrive back at the school after the oratorical competition, the tone of the book changes for a short time. The reader can feel the tone decline from its usually cheeriness when Stargirl realizes she truly is not popular anymore.
Mood
- Upbeat: In the beginning everyone is upbeat and positive. They are curious about Stargirl because they do not understand her. Stargirl's upbeat personality makes everyone take a look and becomes infectious. This is evident when the basketball team wins so many games.
- Sad: The mood of the story appears to darken when Stargirl's popularity declines. This begins when Stargirl cheers for the wrong team during a basketball game, making her fellow classmates angry.
- Happy: At the end of the story, the mood is once again happy. Although Stargirl realizes she is not popular, she realizes that being true to herself creates more happiness inside of her than being popular ever did. She exits the story on a happy note after dancing at the dance as herself.