Leo Borlock follows the unspoken rule at Mica Area High School: don't stand out—under any circumstances! Then Stargirl arrives at Mica High and everything changes—for Leo and for the entire school. After 15 years of home schooling, Stargirl bursts into tenth grade in an explosion of color and a clatter of ukulele music, enchanting the Mica student body.

But the delicate scales of popularity suddenly shift, and Stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different. Somewhere in the midst of Stargirl's arrival and rise and fall, normal Leo Borlock has tumbled into love with her.

In a celebration of nonconformity, Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity—and the thrill and inspiration of first love. (Trade PB)

What a good book! =) I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even though it's a story written for teens, the message applies to all ages. Be yourself and don't let others change you to fit in with them. Reading this made me wish I knew a Stargirl... =) Spinelli has a good handle on the quick shifts of teen popularity and pressures to fit in. I'm looking forward to tracking down more of his books to read. =)

Book # 1 - 2005

Thanks to all who participated! This book is now heading back to Alaska... =)

Released on Friday, January 07, 2005 at about 3:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Sent to Fellow BookCrosser in Book Ring!, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Heading off to the first reader in the ring... Hope you enjoy it! =)

Thank you! Just my luck, I had two other rings come in on the same day. I will get to this one soon and get it sent on its way.

I started reading this book yesterday and realized that I have read it several times. I guess it just keeps looking like a good book to me! I will pass it on for others to enjoy as soon as I get an address.

This book will be mailed tomorrow as I just realized the Post Office is closed today.

I will read this soon and pass it on to the next person. Looks good.

I thought this was a great little book that I finished in one sitting. It was a sad story but enjoyable.

"She was bendable light: she shone around every corner of my day."

RELEASE NOTES:

sent to affinity4books

I got this in the mail today. Great timing since I just sent off 2 rings to the next recipients. I'll start it this weekend.

Great book! I also liked Maniac Magee by this author. I found the ending more realistic than sad. I wish I had known a Stargirl, but I'm honestly not sure how I would have reacted to someone that different in my conformist high school. The very end was sweet but a little odd on Leo's side, I thought- like why can't he move on? (trying not to give anything away here!)

My favorite quote, p.12: "I liked the feeling the moonlight gave me, as if it wasn't the opposite of day, but its underside, its private side, when the fabulous purred on my snow-white sheet like some dark cat come in from the desert."
mailing this week

RELEASE NOTES:

mailed off today!

Received today. I'll read this as soon as I finish my current reads. Thanks!

I liked this -- it was a good story with a good message. Of course, I probably would have enjoyed it even more when I was a teen!

I've PMed yourotherleft for an address. I'll send this off as soon as I can get to the post office next week.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to yourotherleft. Enjoy!

This arrived safely. I will read it and pass it on as soon as I can. Thanks!

Sending on to Skylerdragon today.

I enjoyed this story about a really original character in a place where originality isn't always valued (high school). I can definitely see the realism in this account except for the fact that so many high schools don't get a "Stargirl." I really appreciate Spinelli's ability to create interesting and original characters in the vein of Stargirl and Maniac Magee. He really brings them to life. In the end I wanted Leo to be different than he was almost as much as he wanted Stargirl to be different.

Thanks for sharing, havfaith! =)

Thank you for including me in this ring. The book arrived today safe and sound. I should be ready to mail it on back home this week, so I'm also contacting the founder of this bookring to get her address. Anyone got a porcupine tie?

Incredible story. I loved every page of it. My heart is still racing with happiness! I loved it truly!

I'm lucky enough to have met my stargirl. I imagine most people have, but a book like this really makes you appreciate it!

I tried contacting havfaith to send this book home! No response! So when I got a message from a ring participant who was skipped(silverstarry), I told her I would send it back to her. I'm putting this one in the mail today.

Happy BookCrossing!

RELEASE NOTES:

Enroute to silverstarry of Kensington, CA.

Just received this in the mail today - can't wait to read it!

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I didn't hate this book or anything, but I didn't like it as much as I'd hoped I would. Stargirl tells the story of Leo, a high school junior, who encounters a girl unlike anyone he's ever seen at his small suburban high school. She doesn't seem to care what anyone thinks of her strange clothes and ukelele playing. At first, the students are wary of her, afraid that the joke is on them. After a few months, they fall in love with her independent spirit, but their infatuation with Stargirl doesn't last long and they turn on her. In the mean time, she and Leo start hanging out. At first he is content to simply be in her dazzling presence, but he is still programmed to care what everyone else at school thinks. When he is ostrasized along with Stargirl, he asks her to be normal in the hopes that people will accept her (and him). I won't give away the ending, but it had a bit of the wistfulness of Breakfast at Tiffany's or The Virgin Suicides.

Although it's easy as an adult to wish that Leo had been strong enough to weather being shunned at school, it's understandable that at that age he caved to peer pressure and just wanted her to be like everyone else so that they could fit in. I found it amusing that when Stargirl initially appeared, there were so many rumors about her but no one bothered to actually talk to her and find out the truth about her - an accurate reflection of what happens all too often.

I am looking forward to seeing this movie - I am a fan of Paul Feig's work (Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared) because he captures teenagers so accurately.

Thanks to havfaith for sharing this book!

Mailed back to havfaith!

DC# 0304 1070 0002 4158 8144

Arrived back in Fairbanks today. Thanks to everyone who participated. I have a friend who might want to read this now. If not, it will be continuing it's journey most likely through wild release. =)

RELEASE NOTES:

Loaned to a friend

My sister got this at a garagesale on a fall day in September in Alaska. Giving it to my daugter to read and mess with.

CAUGHT IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA USA

it was such a great book! I couldent put it down,so i was walking around my house with it a lot ^_^ I really needed a good book,and I got it! YAY!!! I saw people reading it a long time ago and almost picked it up in elementary school,but I never did.Its sooo romatic!
It says that we have to describe how i caught the book and what i plan to do with it.
1) I got it from my Aunt Ba who works with my dad so I had to wait a little before he finaly remenbered to bring it home.
2)I am planing to give it to my friend,or maybe leave it in on of my classes and have a note inside about what to do with it if they dident see the book crossing sticker on the inside flap L L
U well bye bye booky wooky =^+^=

CAUGHT IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA USA

I got the book from my friend Kelly. I was told it was a good book but I had no idea how wonderful it really was til I read it. I finally finnished it and am handing it to my best friend so she can fall in love with it too!!!!

Part of me wishes I knew stargirl and part of me wishes I was stargirl! She is a true inspiration. I hope everyone can get a chance to read this book.

CAUGHT IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA USA