Stargirl book theme ideas

Love, stargirl if stargirl floats your boat, then be sure to check out the sequel. The book centers on an eccentric and compassionate 10th grade student at mica area high school in arizona named susan stargirl caraway, who has spent her previous years in homeschooling. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in stargirl, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. In stargirl, both leo and stargirl, along with many of the other characters, explore new ideas. She uses her staffs light powers to cover her entire body in pure stardust light, increasing her speed, strength and stamina. On the back of your poster explain why this part is your favorite. Jerry spinellis novel stargirl contains multiple themes as they concern relationships among people.

Stargirl the book check out the stargirl book unit with this free sample. See more ideas about teaching, kindness activities and kindness challenge. Stargirl 2002 read online free book by jerry spinelli in. Above all else, stargirl is an absolute celebration of the joy and even the necessity of nonconformity. If you teach the book stargirl, this resource will help you greatly.

Throughout the book, stargirl joins a cheerleading team, meets leo, and heightens her popularity status at school. I loved the concept and jerry spinellis cast of characters leap right off the page at you. In groups, students will work with their themes as we read, noting quotes that relate to their themes and their own questions and responses to the book. In stargirl, both leo and stargirl, along with many of the other characters, explore new ideas and knowledge and are better off for their journey. Written with an honest and humorous tone, spinelli draws readers into leos mind as he desperately tries to figure out stargirl without ruining his. Stargirl movie tiein edition by jerry spinelli, paperback. Hook your students conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and. Written by timothy sexton a celebration of nonconformity. Prepare a short speech for an oratorical contest on a topic such as have the courage to be yourself. Free stargirl worksheets and literature unit for teachers. Individuality and conformity jerry spinellis young adult novel stargirl highlights the kindhearted quirkiness of a high school girl who calls herself stargirl. Book recommendations by theme are listed here in order to help teachers, book club organizers, and other readers find books organized around a common principle, or big idea. As we read stargirl, each student will be assigned a theme to follow throughout the novel e.

She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school. She stopped at an empty table, laid down her bag, slung the. Mica, a form of rock, seems to represent the conformity bound high school students. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal, and stargirl, a new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. If you want to discuss an important concept or theme through the lens of different books, these lists might help you find titles to help you begin those discussions. On the back of your poster explain why this part is your favorite and why it was significant in the book. Another theme for this novel could be always be yourself no matter what. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a loving tribute to fathers and sons. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. This is a teaching unit for the novel stargirl by jerry spinelli. This would be a theme for this book because after a long time of being a student of mica high, star girl decided to become someone she is not.

We can tell that throughout the book, the one character that stays consistent in stargirl s life is this rat. But by the end of the book, shes totally cool with who she is. Create a poster using magazines or your own drawings that portrays your favorite scene from stargirl. Stargirl was another fantastic book jerry spinelli. So lets instead look at how stargirl is one of the most individualistic characters of all time, regardless of gender. In her answers in class, she often spoke of sea horses and stars, but she did not know what a. Stargirl is about the conflict between conformity and individuality, about what happens when an utterly unique, couldntcarelesswhatothersthink character enters a closeminded, insular. In jerry spinellis stargirl, the small town setting gives the story context, and the high school setting makes the ideas and themes of the story come to life. Study guide book summary book notes plot synopsis chapter summary download notes. These handouts will require students to analyze the authors craft and literary elements such as point of view, conflict, and setti. Discussion of themes and motifs in jerry spinellis stargirl. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the year. Their attack reveals one of the central ideas of the novelthat groups of people find nonconformists.

I think its judgment because stargirl doesnt car how other people thinks about what she does and how she acts diffrently. Someone who seems outoftime and outofplace at micha high school. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000 stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Oct 20, 2012 as we read stargirl, each student will be assigned a theme to follow throughout the novel e. Jerry spinellis young adult novel stargirl highlights the kindhearted quirkiness of a high school girl who calls herself stargirl. Judgment i think that the theme in stargirl is judgment. A boy becomes intrigued by a mysterious and quirky student named stargirl and spends his time trying to know more about her. Love, stargirl is a sequel to the spinellis bestseller stargirl, which is referenced throughout the book. These notes were contributed by members of the gradesaver community. For these two, even the most mundane locales, like, say, a shopping mall, are meant to be explored. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Spinelli himself says, in an interview printed in the back of the book, the character is intended to raise dust in the corners of credibility, to challenge our routine ways of seeing ourselves. She did carry a large canvas bag with a lifesize sunflower painted on it. Eleventhgrader leo borlock narrates throughout the story.

This study guide consists of approximately 40 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of stargirl. Filmmaker julia hart explains the change indiewire. If everyone had taken the time to fully understand her, like leo did, everyone would have realized the amazing person inside of her. The stargirl community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography. This works great if the two are read in reverse order love, stargirl and then stargirl. One of the themes, or morals of this story is never judge a book by its cover. Conformity and individuality have you ever felt pressured to do what people expect of you. Book summary stargirl, as narrated by leo borlock, follows a unique high school student through the highs and lows of nonconformity. Create an artistic rendering of stargirl as she appeared in the novel and label it with the chapter in which she appeared that way. Stargirl by jerry spinelli i am a gregarious reader myself, even in my teens, and i remember buying this book for the cover design alone. As the book takes a turn, she starts the lose friend after friend. Comprehension by chapter, vocabulary challenges, creative reading response activities and projects, tests, and much more.

She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the. This meaning that no one should have judged star girl by the way she appeared or by the way of her being different. Even thought some people do like star girl s new look and personality, she is not being herself and some people do not like this. Archie is a mentor and friend to leo and other kids in the neighborhoods. Like much of spinellis best work, it straddles the line between reality and fantasy, dwelling in the land of legend and allegory. Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. And that exploration doesnt always have to be physical.

See more ideas about reading lesson plans, 6th grade reading and stargirl quotes. It is, in some ways, a ya version of the little prince, or a female version of spinellis own awardwinning maniac magee. Courtney whitmore, also known as stargirl, is a playable dlc character for injustice 2. Themes theme analysis the importance of being ones self. All the reminiscing is new to the uninitiated reader and builds intrigue about her past with leo and mesa, az. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her. The sample includes vocabulary, comprehension questions, and a constructed writing prompt for chapters. Although stargirl is shunned by many at school for her unique presence, leo borlock, a fellow classmate, finds her inspiring and soon finds himself headoverheels in love.

Stargirl by jerry spinelli star girl, my childhood, growing up, my books. He added interesting characters, such as, leo the quiet and shy one, stargirl unique and fun one, dori dilson stargirl only friend, archie the wise and elderly one, kevin leos friend that likes the stoplight, and hillari kimble the popular bratty one. With grace vanderwaal, graham verchere, giancarlo esposito, maximiliano hernandez. This is a gently mystical, thoughtprovoking, and enchanting rumination on conformity. Aug 19, 2010 the book centers on an eccentric and compassionate 10th grade student at mica area high school in arizona named susan stargirl caraway, who has spent her previous years in homeschooling. The colors are lovely, and the star and girl is drawn in stick figures, like it was drawn by a preschooler. It is one of those ya books that are relevant and replete with life lessons for all to learn, whether you can relate to the characters or not.

We can tell that throughout the book, the one character that stays consistent in stargirls life is this rat. Mar 30, 2018 stargirl by jerry spinelli i am a gregarious reader myself, even in my teens, and i remember buying this book for the cover design alone. Stargirl knows that true love is all about acceptance. The most obvious theme is the careful look at conformity and how it limits us, making us latch onto false values and. What is the main idea in the novel stargirl answers. From the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of stargirl, stargirl. On stargirls first day at school she wore a long dress, and brought a ukulele with her, she sung someone happy birthday, she sung to a complete stranger. Stargirl teaches leo the greeting card game on page 114. Spinelli made his picture book debut with my daddy and me, a. Stargirl would probably not even be cool with that herself.

Have the students create a new book jacket for this book including cover art, paragraph summary of the book and a blurb about the author. This oftentimes tense and emotional story explores the fleeting, cruel nature of popularityand the thrill and inspiration of first love. Stargirl is a touching and thoughtful book, a celebration of individualism and a condemnation of the kind of society that would stifle it. The action takes place at mica area high school, where the changing atmosphere of the school reflects the students struggle with the ideas of. This unit contains readymade, commoncorealigned handouts to accompany each chapter of this book. I could feel my heart practically breaking inside me as i was reading this book. Then, on page 87, leo describes the saguaro cacti, a recurring theme in the book. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer.

Free stargirl study unit worksheets for teachers to print. See more ideas about novel studies, stargirl quotes, literary analysis. Stargirl who was homeschooled, now goes to a school, where everyone is the same, with pretty much no differences, no individuality. I think its judgment because stargirl doesnt car how other people thinks about what she.

Create a poster using magazines or your own drawings that portrays your favorite. In her relationship with leo, she couldnt really accept herself, because leo couldnt accept her. The word begins with a brief introduction to leo at the age of twelve, and chronicles his move from his home state of pennsylvania to arizona. Harts film doesnt alter the heartbreak of the books ending, but a slight. See more ideas about cool words, words and me quotes. The moa, on the other hand, and extinct bird from new zealand seems to represent stargirl. The theme of a novel is a message about life that is present in the story. It is 82 pages of material to use before, during, and after reading the novel. A bittersweet paean to eccentricity and nonconformity, it is also a scathing commentary on teenagers, which makes its popularity with them all the more interesting.