Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl

10th grader Susan Caraway was just like any other girl. Except for the fact that she is the antithesis to any girl you have ever thought about, met, or stereotyped in high school. She goes by 'Stargirl' She smiles and wins the heart of Leo, the narrator. Everyone seems to envy her upon first meeting her. She's a new student at Mica in Arizona and new students usually don't fair well. But new students often don't parade around lunchrooms with their ukuleles singing 'happy birthday' to strangers on their actual birthdays. Don't overlook the fact that she actually knows their birthdays, this is part of the allure of Stargirl.

Unfortunately, the students at Mica didn't know how to handle this eccentric girl whose display of individualism draws no likely comparisons. At first, she's popular. Then she goes on the school's famed program Hot Seat and subsequently becomes a martyr. She is asked to become a cheerleader and is excited at the opportunity. But she does something interesting: she roots for the team that's losing, no matter if its Mica or not. And students do no react well. She fades from glory and never regains her initial spice.

Stargirl would be an absolutely terrific novel to teach to high-schoolers. It should be on the shelves of any independent reading library for young adolescents. It teaches a message of being yourself. Stargirl's antics are heartwarming and are for all the right reasons. She is never one to judge and loves everyone for their inner soul. She is so dang innocent, but she really knows what she's doing. Stargirl's life goal is to make people happy, how can you not like a girl like this? The other message this novel puts forth to young adults is not to judge someone. Stargirl's melancholy demeanor after she is ridiculed on the television program and for her cheerleading stunts demonstrate to young readers the effect that bullying or chastising can have on a young girl, even one with so much kindness in their hearts. Spinelli's book is fun, quick, hopeful read that takes the reader away for the traditional school culture we see in many other YA novels.