sTARGIRL

By Jerry Spinelli

To fit in or to stand out, that is the question.

The Ugly Truth:

To fit in or to stand out, that is the question… well, at least it is the question of Jerry Spinelli’s coming-of-age novel Stargirl.

I first read this book when I was in the fifth grade, then again in the eighth, as a junior in high school, and finally, a week ago, as a woman in her mid-twenties, and each time I am left with a feeling of elation, peace and the need to shake up the world a bit.

Now, my constant returning to these pages only begs the question; why does a book written nearly 25 years ago have such a grasp on me at every stage of my life? Simple, because independence and uniqueness are celebrated within it.

In today’s world, it is so easy to become a Leo - someone who knows they have multitudes to them but refuses to reveal them out of fear of being rejected. Maybe it is because of our newfound dependence on social media or just a general shift in cultural appeal, but being a carbon copy is now the safest way to live one’s life. I know that I fall prey to the trends more often than not, but I also know that every time I cave, it feels like a piece of me loses its originality.

Stargirl serves as a reminder that it is okay to be different, okay to make a name for yourself (however unconventional it may be), and okay to want to write your own story. The tale also spills the truth of standing out, that you may receive notoriety for the risks you take, but you will be taking those risks alone. The “crowds” will follow only until they can no longer keep up with you, and then they will turn their misunderstanding against what they used to cherish. However, and as cheesy as it sounds, if you remain true to yourself, people will always remain a little in awe.

Leo serves as the perfect protagonist who is trying to keep up with everything around him but slowly comes to the realization that the more he tries to catch up with his peers, the world, and even Stargirl, he loses sight of himself. The questions he asks throughout the novel and the decisions he is forced to make are ones that we, as readers, can easily relate to. You can’t help but respect his troubles and commiserate with him in how hard choosing one’s own path in life can be. It feels good to celebrate his maturity, and it inspires you to look deeper into your own choices and question if you, or others, have led you to where you are in life so far.

For me, I will always end Stargirl with the message that life is not a linear, blank slate, but a bumpy adventure full of fireworks, color and crazy conversations.

PS: I hope somebody describes me one day like Leo described Stargirl.