Stargirl

Currently, I am reading the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. I am about half-way through the book, and things are just starting to get interesting. Stargirl, a very interesting character started going to a public school in Mica after being home schooled for most of her life. Mica High School is a very monotonous place and the student body lacks individuality. Stargirl on the other hand, has a crazy personality. She enjoys dressing in crazy costumes, has a pet rat that she takes everywhere, sings and plays the ukulele during lunch, and changes her name to what she feels fits her. The students are just starting to accept her personality, and they're finding their own individuality. This book is interesting because of the way the author writes. Jerry Spinelli writes in an almost abstract way that gives colorful life to the words on the page, and vividly describes his characters. I think he wrote this book because he wanted to show us how many times in every day life we lose its meaning and "conform to the norm". He showed this through one of his major themes, which seems to be individuality. The best character in the book is Stargirl because she best represents the theme. She came to a place where every one was basically the same, and she was incredibly different. When the people around her tried to change her and make her more like them she stayed true to her personality. The people around Stargirl changed opinions of her, but she never really changed herself. The quote, "Then came the boos. She did not seem to notice." represents Stargirls unwillingness to recognize other people's dislike of her and attempts to change her. One thing this story makes me wonder is how can Stargirl be so oblivious? How can she not have an ego and not react to the things people say to her?