Love Stargirl is the second book that Jerry Spinelli has written about Susan Caraway. This book is the sequel to Stargirl that was published in 2003. Stargirl is a very eccentric sixteen year old. She has a pet rat named Cinnamon and she carries him in her pocket throughout the entire story. Her real name is Susan Caraway, but throughout the book she introduces herself as Stargirl. She is home-schooled and is under the watchful and loving eyes of her parents.
Recently, the Caraway family has moved from Arizona to Pennsylvania because Susan's father has decided to pursue a career as a milkman. This move proves to be very difficult for Susan, and she becomes sad, lonely and depressed. She begins writing long letters to Leo, her first love. In these letters, Susan shares her most personal thoughts and concerns about how alone she feels in her new town and expresses her desire to be reunited with Leo, her one true love. The text is written in a journal entry format. The first entry to Leo is on January 1st because Susan "loves beginnings and would love if every day of the year were January 1st."
Since she is home-schooled she does not have the opportunity to meet many teens her own age. She meets some of the people and families living on her block. In the story, she befriends a little girl, an agoraphobic middle aged woman, an eleven year old who seems mad at the world, and a widower mourning the loss of his wife. She is a very extroverted character, yet throughout the book she is very lonely and puzzled by her inability to get over the loss of Leo.
She refers to her daily letters to Leo as, "the world's longest letter." She has no intention of ever sending the letters to Leo, but puts down on paper her feelings, her thoughts, her hopes, and her dreams.
I think this book is a great read for students in the 6-8 grades. Love, Stargirl helps readers understand that everyone is different and how these differences should be celebrated. Jerry Spinelli's ending to Love, Stargirl leaves the reader hopeful that if you are true to yourself you can find happiness.
6 comments:
This is a great review, Mary--thanks for sharing. Spinelli is one of my favorite authors.
I'll look forward to your analysis of the relationship between this book and the contemporary world--it seems to be tapping into the current fascination with "outside of the box" spirituality and thinking, as well as perhaps this idea that as a nation as a whole we are in a period of recovery from losses associated with 9/11 and the war in Iraq?
Take care,
Tom
Great Review! You gave us just enough and kept us interested. I also lve that this book can appeal to all types of students, even those home-schooled. I have read this and I know it has many connections for our students.
Home schooling is bad for just this reason. It leaves these kids with a deficit in their social skills. I think that you may learn just as much when home schooled as when going to school, but you loose out on the life skills that you acquire in school.
This review is really good. I like that you focus on how Stargirl is an extrovert but still feel alone. This seems like it shouldn't happen, but there are so many kids who have different, amazing ways of doing things, but still cannot be accepted. This would be a good book to have in the classroom!
I also like Jerry Spinelli's writings. Your review gives readers a detailed idea of what to expect from this novel Mary. Thanks and good job! Including a link to the first in this series and maybe others by Spinelli would be a nice addition to your post.
Mary I really enjoyed your review. The summary gave enough information but not too much that it took away from wanting to read the novel. My students read a lot of Spinelli's work and your review encouraged me to read his as well. I liked how at the end of your review you touched upon the theme of the novel. When I read it, I wanted you to share a little more on the topic, but then I realized that, that is what makes this a good review, you have left the reader wanting more.
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