Stargirl (Stargirl Series), Love

This book is flipflabbytastic meaning amazing. I loved this book and I already. Read the next one,love star girl. Read it its flipflabbytastic!! :-) its also very convincing I want to try to warde myself after I read that part of the book. Although u might not know what that means ill no if u read it.

Stargirl has moved to Pennsylvania and decides to write the world’s longest letter to Leo. She describes her day to day activities, trying to get over Leo, how sad she is for so long, and people in her new town. In typical Stargirl fashion, she cares deeply for everyone and wants everyone to be happy. She seems to have learned a lot from her disastrous year in public school.

Love, Stargirl covered just over one full year in Stargirl’s life. It gave an interesting perspective on how she dealt with what happened the previous school year and also gives a lot more about her parents. Sometimes the story dragged along, probably because of the way it is laid out with a few entries per month. It’s a good book and a great follow-up to Stargirl. I recommend reading Love, Stargirl to teens and adults (but definitely read Stargirl first).

Stargirl would have been enough. I could have lived not knowing what happened to Stargirl after she left Arizona. And I would have been contented. But still I dived into Love, Stargirl because I was curious if she and Leo would ever be together again. By the end of the book, I got the answer. The question now is: Did I regret my decision to read Love, Stargirl? Yes and no.

I had a love and hate relationship with Stargirl all the time I was reading the book. Sometimes I wanted to hug and comfort her; other times I just wanted to shake her so hard and pound some sense into her. Don’t get me wrong. She’s wonderful and kind and unique, but there were times that I just find her frustrating and childish. I mean, she’s sixteen but she was acting like a twelve-year-old. I hated the way she acted around Perry. That’s not the Stargirl I loved in the first book. That’s some silly, lovesick teenager. I really didn’t get at all why she got attracted to Perry. They have absolutely nothing in common. Man, how relieved I was when Stargirl finally realized how she really felt.

All that aside, I still love Stargirl. (I realize that it’s only when she’s thinking about and hanging out with Perry that I don’t like Stargirl. Pfft. That particular infatuation wasn’t cute at all. Team Leo all the way!) I found her friendship with Dootsie really adorable. How many sixteen-year-olds nowadays would be friends with a very energetic six-year-old? Like what Mrs. Caraway said, she’s the little sister Stargirl never had. I liked that. It was also good to see how Stargirl affected Alvina in the littlest ways. The change in Betty Lou. The friendship with Charlie. The talk with Arnold. That’s the Stargirl I knew.

I thought the reason why Stargirl’s beginning to sound normal to me was because I was reading from her perspective. Somehow, the novelty of Stargirl disappeared. Or faded, at least. I realized (again!) that she’s beginning to sound normal because in her mind, she’s perfectly normal. That the things she does are normal. Like marking the sunrise every week for months until Winter Solstice. Or having a pet rat. Or befriending an agoraphobic. Or “babysitting” a grumpy eleven-year-old. Or writing the longest letter to the boy who broke her heart. Those are perfectly normal things in Stargirl standards. And they’re all amazing and admirable.

A lot of things in Love, Stargirl made me tear up. Cinnamon after the fire. (Enough said.) Cinnamon and Arnold. Winter Solstice. (It was overwhelming even though I couldn’t see it with my eyes. I felt it.) Stargirl’s question to Leo. Leo’s answer. (Goosebumps all over!)

And the ending! It made me sad and happy and hopeful at the same time. It was a nice kind of sad, though. Just the tiny ache in your chest from all the hope bursting inside you. You know what I mean? That’s what I felt. I’m happy that Stargirl got the answer she’s been waiting for. And it’s an answer that made her happy and at peace with herself and the fact that even though she and Leo are apart now, there’s still hope.

I don’t exactly regret reading Love, Stargirl. I liked it. But as I said, I could live with just Stargirl. While the sequel is also fascinating, I loved and enjoyed the first book more. Nonetheless, Love, Stargirl is still a good read.

Review by Tween: Love, Stargirl is the second book in the series about a high school girl who is unique and has problems fitting in. I gave this book five stars because it kept my attention from start to finish. I couldn't put it down. I wish there was more. I like that it had a important message for kids. Stargirl shows that kids shouldn't listen to popular people who are just trying to put you down. I recommend this book to kids who are 11 and up because it is about high school and there's kissing and has mature vocabulary and ideas.

Title: Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Pages: 274

Days spent reading it: 4 days.

Why I read it: This book is the sequel to Stargirl, which I loved.

Brief review: I looked forward to reading Love, Stargirl since I heard it was coming out. The original Stargirl was a great twist on the boy meets girl tale, and I thought the sequel would be just as original. Sadly this book did not live up to the standard set by its predecessor.

Love, Stargirl is written as if it was Stargirl's journal. So it is not a straightforward tale, instead it follows the everyday exploits of our heroine. Some days are interesting; others, not so much. The love story that made the first book so wonderful is missing and instead Stargirl is paired up with a 6 year old named Dootsie, and a myriad of random people from the town.

My biggest problem with the story is that I have read the same plot before. Because of Winn-Dixiehas many of the same elements. These include: multi-generational misfits in town pulled together by an especially loving girl, big celebration at the end, and a random pet that serves a major character. The truth is Because of Winn-Dixie was much better and written years before. And the sad thing is that Stargirl is such an original character, it is a shame to see her wasted in a regurgitation of a tried and true plot.

I wanted to like, Love, Stargirl, but it just was not that great. The slow beginning picks up by the end, and the theme of love and loss is handled very well, but this book is just sub-par compared to the original material. Not terrible, but not great. Stargirl fans are sure to pick it up, but they would preserve their memory of Stargirl better if they left this one on the shelf. Really it is my respect for the original Stargirl that compels me to be honest in evaluating this offering by Spinelli.

Favorite quote: "May our reunion be not a finding but a sweet collision of destinies!"

Stars: 3 out of 5.

Final Word: Unoriginal.

I loved the first one--it was about Stargirl from the point of view of Leo, her boyfriend--but if possible I loved this one more because it was about Stargirl from the point of view of STARGIRL!

I read the first book because a friend said Stargirl reminded her of me, and in a way I agree. This book made me more sure of that--I recognize this character in myself and I relate to her on nearly every level (though I don't like pets, so a pet rat is right out). I LOVED watching her give herself permission to explore love in different ways. I LOVED watching her involve herself in meditation and experience nature in her special way. And I especially loved the way she took meaning in small things, had such a good heart, and wrestled with her feelings without ever seeming to be dishonest with herself.

On January 1, the year after Stargirl moves away from Arizona, she starts a letter to her old boyfriend Leo. The letter becomes her diary of her new life in Pennsylvania, which she keeps over the course of a year. She is back to being home schooled, meditating in deserted places, and reaching out to others with kindness and love.

This is a major step down from its prequel, Stargirl (which enchanted me). One reason is that the book mixes Stargirl's account of her daily life (which is interesting) with extensive, unending pinings for Leo. Epistolary novels can be interesting (Dear Exile is one that I enjoyed), but usually that's because the other person writes back. In this case, Leo is made a significant character because Stargirl constantly talks to him and about him, but he's silent and that slows the book down.

Part of the magic of the first book was that Stargirl herself was magical. She was kinder and more loving and more inclusive than anyone any of us know. As Spinelli said in an interview, she was intended to "raise dust in the corners of credibility" [1]. She is a magical, inspiring person to aspire towards but never to quite understand (kind of like Dumbledore). Spinelli makes her more of a real person now that she is the narrator of this book, and that takes away some of the magic.

In her pining for Leo she also seems to have lost some of her random reaching out to strangers, at least at the beginning of the book. She is still kind to those around her, and she occasionally has those moments with strangers (like leaving donuts for an old man in a cemetery), but her life is less filled with random kindness (like leaving change on the ground to make lucky finders happy).

Finally, Spinelli re-writes history a little bit at the end. (In some books, doing that will lead crazed fans to inflict bodily harm on an author.) He inserts some events that clearly would have been part of Leo's narrative at the end of the first book, had they occurred.

All that said, Stargirl is still a kind, wonderful person, and the book eventually picks up steam. It ends with a climactic, feel-good event (think of the Ocotillo Ball at the end of the last book) and plenty of optimism. The ending bumped my rating up from two to three stars. And Spinelli leaves the door open for a future book to answer our questions about that porcupine tie Leo received at the end of the first book.

(Maybe I was just bitter that this book doesn't have an audiobook narrated by John Ritter. Couldn't they have gotten Chrissy or Janet to narrate this one?)

[1] Jerry Spinelli, in an interview published at the back of the 2000 Knopf paperback edition of Stargirl.

Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl" may be my favorite book of all time. It's not only a well told tale about individuality and innocent love, it's also a completely transforming read to the people who became engrossed with the character of Stargirl Caraway and her outlook on life. I enjoyed the book so much that I purchased "Love, Stargirl" (the sequel) before I even finished the first book. But then it sat on my shelf, unread for months. I was actually nervous about reading it. Maybe I was scared that the mystery and intrigue of Stargirl would be ruined, as this book is told through her point of view. Maybe I was unsure that Spinelli could recreate the magic that the first novel sparkled with. Whatever the reason was, I forgot it by the time I was a quarter-way into this book, as I was mesmerized by the new ways that Stargirl and the cast of characters that surround her could captivate me.

The character does lose a bit of the mysterious air she had about her in the first book, but that's not a bad thing. The first book was told through Leo's point of view, and since he was a regular, "normal kid," the reader also kind of pictures themselves in Leo's shoes when they meet the out-of-this-world Stargirl. I know I did. And this book is sort of like a letter to Leo, as well as the normal readers who loved but never really fully understood her... but now we get a chance to. We see her interact with a large cast of quirky and heartbreaking characters, all who have their own wonderful stories to tell.

It's a light read in some ways and heavy in others. It'll constantly move you, bring you to tears every so pages, and might just change the way you look at things. This book, and Stargirl, is simply a celebration of living in the now.

10/10 Classic.

The original book in the series "Stargirl" was an elegant little self contained novella that had a fascinating main character. This time Spinelli tries to write from a teenage girls POV - and essentially fails. And fails not so much from the perspective, but from an entirely uninspired storyline. If you loved "Stargirl" you'll probably be disappointed in this..

Stargirl has moved away from Arizona. She's moved away from Archie, Mica Area High School, and of course, Leo. Now living in Pennsylvania, Stargirl's happy wagon is almost empty, and it seems to just keep getting worse. Luckily, she has Cinnamon (her pet rat), her five-year-old neighbor Dootsie, Alvina the pip, Perry Delloplane, Betty Lou, and the upcoming winter solstice to cheer her up. In the "world's longest letter," Stargirl writes to Leo about all these people, and the adventures she shares with them.

This book was just as fabulous as the first, but in a different way. Stargirl is not the same as she was in the first book. She doesn't people-watch, or make biographies for the kids across the street. Instead, she builds a calendar out of spatulas on "Enchanted Hill," and befriends a wide variety of people. She's still Stargirl, but she's not as different or mysterious as she used to be.

Love, Stargirl is similar to many of Jerry Spinelli's other books, because the ending was the most powerful part of the book. It has a message that you tend to think about after you have finished reading it.

I think that kids in middle school and high school would especially enjoy this book, because they can relate to it the most. Stargirl's personality and the boy issues she faces with Leo may also make this book more appealing to a female audience. Stargirl is a powerful character, and after reading her never-ending letter to Leo, it makes you hope that he will reply to her letter.

Title: Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Pages: 274

Days spent reading it: 4 days.

Why I read it: This book is the sequel to Stargirl, which I loved.

Brief review: I looked forward to reading Love, Stargirl since I heard it was coming out. The original Stargirl was a great twist on the boy meets girl tale, and I thought the sequel would be just as original. Sadly this book did not live up to the standard set by its predecessor.

Love, Stargirl is written as if it was Stargirl's journal. So it is not a straightforward tale, instead it follows the everyday exploits of our heroine. Some days are interesting; others, not so much. The love story that made the first book so wonderful is missing and instead Stargirl is paired up with a 6 year old named Dootsie, and a myriad of random people from the town.

My biggest problem with the story is that I have read the same plot before. Because of Winn-Dixiehas many of the same elements. These include: multi-generational misfits in town pulled together by an especially loving girl, big celebration at the end, and a random pet that serves a major character. The truth is Because of Winn-Dixie was much better and written years before. And the sad thing is that Stargirl is such an original character, it is a shame to see her wasted in a regurgitation of a tried and true plot.

I wanted to like, Love, Stargirl, but it just was not that great. The slow beginning picks up by the end, and the theme of love and loss is handled very well, but this book is just sub-par compared to the original material. Not terrible, but not great. Stargirl fans are sure to pick it up, but they would preserve their memory of Stargirl better if they left this one on the shelf. Really it is my respect for the original Stargirl that compels me to be honest in evaluating this offering by Spinelli.

Favorite quote: "May our reunion be not a finding but a sweet collision of destinies!"

Stars: 3 out of 5.

Final Word: Unoriginal.

I loved the first one--it was about Stargirl from the point of view of Leo, her boyfriend--but if possible I loved this one more because it was about Stargirl from the point of view of STARGIRL!

I read the first book because a friend said Stargirl reminded her of me, and in a way I agree. This book made me more sure of that--I recognize this character in myself and I relate to her on nearly every level (though I don't like pets, so a pet rat is right out). I LOVED watching her give herself permission to explore love in different ways. I LOVED watching her involve herself in meditation and experience nature in her special way. And I especially loved the way she took meaning in small things, had such a good heart, and wrestled with her feelings without ever seeming to be dishonest with herself.

On January 1, the year after Stargirl moves away from Arizona, she starts a letter to her old boyfriend Leo. The letter becomes her diary of her new life in Pennsylvania, which she keeps over the course of a year. She is back to being home schooled, meditating in deserted places, and reaching out to others with kindness and love.

This is a major step down from its prequel, Stargirl (which enchanted me). One reason is that the book mixes Stargirl's account of her daily life (which is interesting) with extensive, unending pinings for Leo. Epistolary novels can be interesting (Dear Exile is one that I enjoyed), but usually that's because the other person writes back. In this case, Leo is made a significant character because Stargirl constantly talks to him and about him, but he's silent and that slows the book down.

Part of the magic of the first book was that Stargirl herself was magical. She was kinder and more loving and more inclusive than anyone any of us know. As Spinelli said in an interview, she was intended to "raise dust in the corners of credibility" [1]. She is a magical, inspiring person to aspire towards but never to quite understand (kind of like Dumbledore). Spinelli makes her more of a real person now that she is the narrator of this book, and that takes away some of the magic.

In her pining for Leo she also seems to have lost some of her random reaching out to strangers, at least at the beginning of the book. She is still kind to those around her, and she occasionally has those moments with strangers (like leaving donuts for an old man in a cemetery), but her life is less filled with random kindness (like leaving change on the ground to make lucky finders happy).

Finally, Spinelli re-writes history a little bit at the end. (In some books, doing that will lead crazed fans to inflict bodily harm on an author.) He inserts some events that clearly would have been part of Leo's narrative at the end of the first book, had they occurred.

All that said, Stargirl is still a kind, wonderful person, and the book eventually picks up steam. It ends with a climactic, feel-good event (think of the Ocotillo Ball at the end of the last book) and plenty of optimism. The ending bumped my rating up from two to three stars. And Spinelli leaves the door open for a future book to answer our questions about that porcupine tie Leo received at the end of the first book.

(Maybe I was just bitter that this book doesn't have an audiobook narrated by John Ritter. Couldn't they have gotten Chrissy or Janet to narrate this one?)

[1] Jerry Spinelli, in an interview published at the back of the 2000 Knopf paperback edition of Stargirl.

Jerry Spinelli's "Stargirl" may be my favorite book of all time. It's not only a well told tale about individuality and innocent love, it's also a completely transforming read to the people who became engrossed with the character of Stargirl Caraway and her outlook on life. I enjoyed the book so much that I purchased "Love, Stargirl" (the sequel) before I even finished the first book. But then it sat on my shelf, unread for months. I was actually nervous about reading it. Maybe I was scared that the mystery and intrigue of Stargirl would be ruined, as this book is told through her point of view. Maybe I was unsure that Spinelli could recreate the magic that the first novel sparkled with. Whatever the reason was, I forgot it by the time I was a quarter-way into this book, as I was mesmerized by the new ways that Stargirl and the cast of characters that surround her could captivate me.

The character does lose a bit of the mysterious air she had about her in the first book, but that's not a bad thing. The first book was told through Leo's point of view, and since he was a regular, "normal kid," the reader also kind of pictures themselves in Leo's shoes when they meet the out-of-this-world Stargirl. I know I did. And this book is sort of like a letter to Leo, as well as the normal readers who loved but never really fully understood her... but now we get a chance to. We see her interact with a large cast of quirky and heartbreaking characters, all who have their own wonderful stories to tell.

It's a light read in some ways and heavy in others. It'll constantly move you, bring you to tears every so pages, and might just change the way you look at things. This book, and Stargirl, is simply a celebration of living in the now.

10/10 Classic.

The original book in the series "Stargirl" was an elegant little self contained novella that had a fascinating main character. This time Spinelli tries to write from a teenage girls POV - and essentially fails. And fails not so much from the perspective, but from an entirely uninspired storyline. If you loved "Stargirl" you'll probably be disappointed in this..

Stargirl has moved away from Arizona. She's moved away from Archie, Mica Area High School, and of course, Leo. Now living in Pennsylvania, Stargirl's happy wagon is almost empty, and it seems to just keep getting worse. Luckily, she has Cinnamon (her pet rat), her five-year-old neighbor Dootsie, Alvina the pip, Perry Delloplane, Betty Lou, and the upcoming winter solstice to cheer her up. In the "world's longest letter," Stargirl writes to Leo about all these people, and the adventures she shares with them.

This book was just as fabulous as the first, but in a different way. Stargirl is not the same as she was in the first book. She doesn't people-watch, or make biographies for the kids across the street. Instead, she builds a calendar out of spatulas on "Enchanted Hill," and befriends a wide variety of people. She's still Stargirl, but she's not as different or mysterious as she used to be.

Love, Stargirl is similar to many of Jerry Spinelli's other books, because the ending was the most powerful part of the book. It has a message that you tend to think about after you have finished reading it.

I think that kids in middle school and high school would especially enjoy this book, because they can relate to it the most. Stargirl's personality and the boy issues she faces with Leo may also make this book more appealing to a female audience. Stargirl is a powerful character, and after reading her never-ending letter to Leo, it makes you hope that he will reply to her letter.

I liked the character Stargirl much better before I knew her from her point of view. This book spoiled her for me because of her normalcy. She's just another teenage girl with the same wishes and desires as any other. Sure, she is generally altruistic and very interesting. But this long diary/letter format removed some of her specialness. Once I got past the first half, the book because more interesting, but I almost quit before I got there.
I had really looked forward to reading this. Now I wish I hadn't.

These are the reviews I wrote for GoodReads:

This is what I wrote for the audio version I uploaded from the library overdrive system:
I spent my day curled up listening to Mandy Seigfried's delightful voice reading with me. I love how she reads. Life didn't exist outside the world of Stargirl. I'm sad to leave that world behind. I am hoping there will be a Stargirl 3 and Mandy will narrate!

I read the first book, Stargirl, quite a while ago. As delightful as it was, this one was even better. I borrowed this one from the library. Whereas the first book was from the viewpoint of the boy who fell for Stargirl, but couldn't get over his own mundane-ness. this one was from Stargirl's point of view in the life after Arizona. I'm sure it would have been a good read without the narration of Mandy Seigfried, I wouldn't have been able to get up and move about and still hear the story when my eyes got tired.

If you feel like something easy and light, an escape from life, Stargirl and Love, Stargirl will do it. It is a Hershey's Kiss to the soul!

The companion to one of my most beloved young adult novels, Stargirl, which details the mythic life of a young nonconformist. As if walking through the looking glass, we see Stargirl's life (now, far away and dealing with life after rejection) through her own eyes. We see the pain and self-doubt in the difficulties of being different, of seeing the world differently, of having a big heart while the world is sour and angry. We see her dealing with a broken heart and perhaps new love, dealing with new friends and a new world. The novel isn't quite successful in showing the pains and pleasures of nonconformity, and certainly not as successful as its predecessor. Stargirl, sadly, suffers in the loss of her mythic quality obtained by Leo's perspective. Spinelli, though, is still a master storyteller, with a cast of characters familiar to us all (a sort of ultra-human reality), and themes that play like a subtle, gentle melody unlike most in the young adult genre that play more like hammers on pianos. Sadly, not his strongest outing. But certainly one that brought plenty of tears to my eyes. Grade: B+

One of the things that made the original Stargirl book work was the elusiveness of the main character. Spinelli told her story through the eyes of Leo, her kind-of boyfriend, and since Leo was a bit of a lunkeaded idiot, he could never quite get Stargirl into focus or understand her. She always remained a bit mysterious until the very end when she just vanished.

Unfortunately this sequel brings her into sharper focus, and she comes off as a self-absorbed, over indulged, superficial, almost bi-polar teenager. Her self-pity and never ending mooning over Leo the lump is tedious and untrue to the character. If Stargirl is so special, what's the attraction? When she decides she wants to live "in a world without clocks", her parents get rid of all their clocks and smash their wristwatches. Great parenting there. Her every emotion is either the highest high or the lowest low with no sane middle ground. After awhile it's just too much. The diary, (or letter), format just emphasizes this. She is not her own best advocate. I picture Stargirl in a few years: overweight, (too many doughnuts), and disillusioned, probably drinking too much, shaking out clothes at Wal-Mart, or cleaning people's teeth.

The secondary characters are similarly annoying, especially Dootsie the little neighbor kid, who needs a good spanking. All are disturbed and unhappy in one way or another, and use their unhappiness as excuses to act up in various ways. Spinelli gets non-conformity and creativity confused with rudeness and self-indulgence in this book in a way he managed to avoid in the original. Perhaps in that book, Stargirl being cast in opposition to the unimaginative high school kids made the reader root for her. In Love, Stargirl, she's just the leader of a bunch of misfits. There's no contrast.

I suppose Stargirl was such a success that Spinelli &/or Knopf just couldn't resist doing a sequel. Unfortunately, like most sequels, this one diminishes the orignal.

When I first heard that Jerry Spinelli was writing a sequel to the book STARGIRL, I was extremely excited and completed horrified at the same time. STARGIRL is one of my favorite books of all time. Full of beauty and innocence, it perfectly captures the true love that a boy can have for a girl and how that love is affected by popularity and trying to conform to society's standards. The book is also one of the best books I have ever read about being a nonconformist and staying true to an idealistic life. STARGIRL introduced one of the most interesting and intriguing characters I have met in young adult fiction: Stargirl. She is a girl full of imperfections, yet because of the way she lives her life she IS the perfect girl, especially for Leo Borlock.

The idea of a sequel to STARGIRL excited me very much. After all, when you meet a person you like (in real life, too), you want to continue traveling with them and having adventures with them. You keep rereading their stories again and again. Even though you know the outcome before you begin to re-read, the story is still fresh and invigorating because you're back home with old friends. The idea of reading more of Stargirl's life and adventures was quite exciting.

Yet, the idea also frightened me a great deal. STARGIRL is almost a perfect book. It does have a somewhat open ending, yet not so much to make a person not know what the ultimate outcome will be. Also, STARGIRL is also told from the point of view of Leo Borlock. Part of my fascination with the novel is because I am able to relate so closely to Leo's character. I had learned that LOVE, STARGIRL was supposed to be told from Stargirl's point of view and I feared that a story like that would destroy the affinity I had felt for her in STARGIRL. So, with excited trepidation I began reading LOVE, STARGIRL.

LOVE, STARGIRL begins about six months after the main story in STARGIRL ended and is written in the form of a year-long series of journal entries that Stargirl has written to Leo Burlock. She intends to send him a letter, but being who she is it can't just be a normal letter and ends up being the world's longest letter. As the letters progress through time we learn that Stargirl and her family are now living in Pennsylvania. She has gone back to being home schooled and her father has become a milk man. Stargirl misses Leo very much and their break-up combined with her family's move has almost emptied her happy wagon. In short, Stargirl doesn't seem very much like Stargirl at all. She decides she has been living in too much seclusion and begins meeting and befriending some of the people in her neighborhood. There's the precocious red-haired five-year-old girl named Dootsie; the widower Charlie who spends his days sitting next to his wife's grave; Alvina, a preteen girl who works at a local bakery and seems ready to fight anyone who even gives her a sideway glance; a woman who hasn't been outside of her house for several years named Betty Lou; and Perry Delloplane, a blue-eyed hottie who pilfers whatever he needs, has a harem of girls that adore him, and seems intent on winning Stargirl's heart. Stargirl has a series of adventures, but everything builds until a grand celebration she has planned for Winter Solstice and the decision she must make between Perry and Leo.

Overall, LOVE, STARGIRL isn't a very bad book. Spinelli is a young adult author who writes a notch above the rest. His books tend to be better written than many in the genre and this one is no exception. At the same time, I found LOVE, STARGIRL to be a bit of a letdown. The book took some of the magic away from the character of Stargirl and portrays her as being an average, though highly eccentric, teenage girl. To me, it diminishes the story told in STARGIRL. Also, even though there is the novelty of the story being told through a series of letters, the book just isn't as strongly written as the original. I love STARGIRL, but I only came away liking LOVE, STARGIRL.

Fans of Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl (Readers Circle) will jump and shout when they hear about the sequel, LOVE, STARGIRL.

This was not a book that I expected to have a sequel, but in true Jerry Spinelli tradition, Stargirl's story lives on.

Moving from Arizona to Pennsylvania has Stargirl missing the desert, the cactus, and especially Leo. Although she is not absolutely certain about their continued relationship, Stargirl uses her year-long letter to keep Leo up-to-date on the events of her new life. She doesn't ever anticipate sending the letter. In fact, she mentions that Leo will most likely only get to read it if she actually sees him again.

Filled with fantastic memories and new adventures, Spinelli will have readers falling in love with Stargirl all over again. Memories of the past will remind readers of her wonderful spirit, while her new neighborhoods offer great variety. There's cute and always curious Dootsie, who introduces herself as a "human bean." Dootsie takes Stargirl to meet Betty Lou, who fears anything beyond her trailer door. Then there's Charlie, who haunts the local cemetery and his late wife's grave. Alvina, the hot-head, and Perry, the thief, add further color to the cast of characters.

Stargirl's fascination with the changing seasons and the Winter Solstice take her to Enchanted Hill to plot her own personal calendar. It feels right and it offers a way to remember the past.

Stargirl's tale is tender and honest in its straightforward simplicity. Thank you to the author for bringing back this famous character.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Have you ever experienced a broken heart?
In this sequel to Stargirl, Stargirl is beginning to heal after an ugly break up with her old boyfriend Leo. Now, she is back to being home schooled by her family. In her new home, Stargirl doesn't cease to be the one who stands out. Yet she still meets some equally strange and outgoing people like Betty Lou the agoraphobic, Charlie who is constantly camping out by his deceased wife's grave, and Dootsie her new best friend who happens to be five years old.
This year Stargirl is still heartbroken, and she begins to notice a change in herself. She doesn't feel like Stargirl anymore. Somehow along the way of being sad, she forgot the meaning of her name which is to spread light. While trying to find herself and calm her broken heart, things get more complicated when she notices a rather strange boy wandering around. He steals, was sent to boot camp and already has an official club of girls who adore him. Stargirl finds herself developing feelings for him anyway. New questions she dreads to answer come across like; has she finally stopped loving Leo? Does she have true feelings for this mysterious boy?
The book is told from Stargirl's point of view written in letters addressing Leo. Throughout the story she debates whether or not to send him the letters because they express her true feelings. The pacing was a little slow. I felt the author's craft was rather mysterious in the way that Stargirl always seems to see something deeper than what is on the outside and has a strong spiritual connection with nature. I don't think this book was written in a Christian perspective because it never mentions God although Stargirl considers many spiritual thoughts. This is one of those books that it isn't absolutely necessary to read the prequel. In the first book, Stargirl appears almost alien. But now that the story is told from her point of view, she definitely seems more human. I recommend this book to pretty much anybody, but especially girls twelve years old and up because they could better understand the unique feelings of Stargirl.

I enjoyed learning more about StarGirl. I liked seeing how her life went after she left Arizona. I liked the format of the book being letters as well. It made it interesting and unique like Stargirl herself. I still felt the ending was bittersweet and it would have been nice to get a more "happy" ending, but at the same time, it was nice to have things up in the air a bit too. It lets the reader decide what happens next. I'll definitely want to read more by this author in the future.

Characters are believable, except for that one elegant nail. I don't think very many people do that. The setting is believable and easy to put yourself into. The story kept me on the edge of my seat with all the new characters having a hidden past. The plot had many twists and turns. The writing was very descriptive and incredibly easy to imagine. The writing had correct grammar, punctuation, etc. throughout the entire book. The ending was very heartwarming and it ended just the way I wanted it to. MD

Love, Stargirl is the sequel to Stargirl, and it's told from Stargirl's point of view. Stargirl is now living in Pennsylvania, but she still misses Leo (the antagonist of Stargirl).

Stargirl was such an interesting and unique character in the first book, but this sequel didn't really capture the same emotion and magic as the first one did. Stargirl went from being the most mysterious character to being predictable in her unpredictability. The girl in this book doesn't seem to be the same one who was in the first, which is really upsetting, because I was hoping to gain some insight. Instead, at the end, I'm still kept wondering.

Even so, the book was entertaining and fun, and the way it was written was perfect. I only wish that it could have been a bit more... magical.

I found Stargirl and Love, Stargirl as part of my middle shool daughter's book report. I absolutely love them both. Of course, a good part is due to I related to the characters in age (born approx same years) and experiences. And I'm not even a girl. :) I am looking at people differently now.

The lens of the narrator is very very different between the two books, which may explain some of the reactions of the other reviewers. The very stylized and longing reflection of Leo shows the magical side of Stargirl. The second book shows how normal Stargirl really is but you can still see her through an the external lens if you want to.

I can only add to the other reviews that what I enjoy most of the books is the open ended conclusion that allows you to write your own ending.

With movie version of Stargirl in the works, I'm very glad Jerry revisited Stargirl and developed her some more. Maybe they'll adjust it for the second book a little. I really hope that this goes better than the Nickelodeon version of Maniac Magee.

This was a perfect sequel to Stargirl. An enigma can only last so long, here she is a real character, which she was in the last book but since it was told from Leo's point of view she was a bit clouded, a boy describing his first love... I think this book was wonderful in showing how one person can effect another. Leo was oblivious up until the last few pages of the first book at just how much emotional power he had over Stargirl. He knew the power she had over him, and how she touched those around her. But he wasn't able to understand how everything that happened changed her.

In this book we not only get her perspective on those events but on the new people in her life. Her narrative is thoughtful and wonderful. She again shows how she is the best in us all, taking misfits under her wing and guiding them in her Stargirl way, all while trying to heal her broken heart.

Its a wonderful story about being strong and moving on from heartbreak. Spinelli once again proves what a master wordsmith and story teller he is.

Love, Stargirl was such a great sequel to Stargirl. If you enjoy non-fantasy books with much depth, love, and great words, you should definitely read both Stargirl books.
Stargirl was told from Leo's side of the story. Love, Stargirl is told by Stargirl. Both perspectives really make me love both books even more.
Love, Stargirl is the story of Stargirl after she moves from her boyfriend Leo, and her old high school. She tells her story including her neighbor, Dootsie, her "rotten" friend, Alvina, her agoraphobic neighbor, Betty Lou, and her friend that she met who steals and wears the same clothes every day, Perry. Stargirl is writing the "longest letter ever" to Leo, telling him all about her new life and experiences.
I've read Stargirl about 3 times, and Love, Stargirl only once so far, but I absolutely plan on reading both several more.

5 Stars, they are both my favorite books of all time.

"Stargirl" was a wonderful book, and when "Love, Stargirl" came out, I was estatic. Luckliy the sequel was my Christmas Eve gift, and I happily finished the book in two days. I loved it, but Stargirl seems to have lost her touch.

The young adult always reminded me of myself, a helpless romantic, quirky, and sweet. Unlike most reviewers, I liked her yearning for Leo, for it showed Stargirl past what Leo saw in the first book, but her constant changing of the mind (from no body, to Perry, to Leo, back again) did, as many have added, make her seem like just a normal girl, not the adventurous and intellegent Stargirl.

I also didn't like the whole Perry situation. He's a theif! He has a "harem"! He can be a jerk! The first book makes you love Leo too much, even though he has flaws, to think there could be a new guy in Stargirl's life. Her signs of healing are both good and bad. Good because it shows she IS Stargirl and is free and open-minded, but bad because you don't want her to forget about Leo, since she changed his life so much. With the constant change of mind that Stargirl endures, it seems the girl is no longer the one we all met in the first book.

FOR PARENTS: (Scale from 1 to 10 - 10 being highest/worse)
bad language - 0 there was no cussing or offensive language
sexual content - 4
1. one example of sexual content is that Perry has a harem of girls that like him and date him called "The Honeybees".
2. another example of sexual content is that Perry's mom is pregnent, and when Stargirl sees Perry with the baby, she thinks Perry is the dad and one of The Honeybees is the mom.
3. It says that Perry kisses one of The Honeybees for a long time, and he kisses Stargirl by the sunrise.
4. The Honeybees, when questioned about Perry going to boot camp, say that he went to "booty camp" and the six year old friend of Perry and Stargirl, Dootsie, shows the table with The Honeybees, Stargirl, and Perry, her underwear, shaking her behind. It says she says "I got a booty" and there are whistles and catcalls.
Violence - 2
1. one example of violence is that Alvina has her fingernail clipped off and her finger is sliced with a very bloody cut.
2. another example of violence is that Alvina beats up a blonde boy
Adult content - 1
1. one example of adult content is that The Honeybees each have a tattoo of a honeybee on them, and Dootsie gets a temporary one.

Overall, this book was great, but not the one I wanted.

This book makes me mad at Jerry Spinelli. The book makes Stargirl become mopey about Leo in an un-Stargirlish way. At the start of the book, Stargirl is introduced to a little girl named Dootsie. Everything about Dootsie is annoying. Later in the story comes a somewhat mean girl named Alvina(I'm not sure how you spell it). In this story, Stargirl tries to correct Alvina's violent ways but not Dootsie's bratty ones. The "saving grace "(It's what makes this book two stars)comes from a character named Perry. The mystery surrounding him will always keep you guessing.

The book is very puzzling. First it seems that the Stargirl from the first book did not really exist and is totally the object of Leo's projections on her. Kind of shocking because I fell in love with the Stargirl from the first book. This Stargirl falls apart over a boy who could not appreciate her and it kind of takes away from her mystery. I know she is girl with feelings after all, but Leo is not worth pining over.

Second are little random weird things that go nowhere and are inexplicable.
Theft is condoned in this book. The merchants know Perry is stealing from them but look away because they feel sorry for him. Why don't the merchants just donate goods to his family if they have such affection?. The character is never taken to task for his actions, this issue should have been resolved.

More troubling are the sexual aspects. The book is marketed to 10 year olds. Why does Perry have a harem? Why is that even funny? Why is Dootsie, (A great character) A first grader made to join this harem? And show off her bootie?
Again I could understand if these issues were brought up and then dealt with in a responsible manner, but there not. They are brought up and thats it.
These issues add nothing to the story and just left me cold.

I think Spinneli had a great role model in Stargirl in his first book. The way he handled her strength and nonconformity to peer pressure was brilliant, but he seems to have lost the way here. I hope we see another book with Stargirl as an adult if possible and I hope it is not as flawed as this misstep.

In this sequel to Stargirl, Stargirl has moved away from Mica, Arizona. Archie, Leo, her boyfriend, and her enchanted places have stayed behind too. Stargirl now lives in Pennsylvania. The story takes place the over the course of a year, in the form of Stargirl's letters to Leo. She tells about the new people she meets, such as Dootsie, Stargirl's new little friend, and Perry, the poor thief, whom she begins to like. Stargirl also describes her experiences and plans, like her big Winter Solstice idea, and why she missed Halloween. Stargirl misses Leo a lot, but she finds comfort in other things, like new enchanted places, the thought of the Winter Solstice, and another one of her new friends, Betty Lou, the agoraphobic, who replaces Archie, in a way. By the end of the year, Stargirl is feeling much happier and comfortable with her new life.
I thought this was a very well written book, just like the previous one, Stargirl. I got caught up with Stargirl's problems like they were mine. That's how deep this book is. The author makes the book flow and characters jump out of the pages with the detailed descriptions and thought-through plot. It's a must-read for any middle school to high school age person. Most of them will be able to relate to the book because of the realistic problems and issues that it deals with, such as keeping in touch with someone that you left behind.

I liked this one better than Stargirl. As an adult reading the book, I missed the parental involvement in the first one. This had it. Lot's more substance to Stargirl's personality in this. Again, a good choice to read with your 'tween daughter with good discussions to follow. I didn't understand Stargirl's attraction to Perry. Unlike Leo, that one made no sense to me. I wonder if Spinelli will write another book. I am very curious to see if Stargirl and Leo find each other as adults.

I found Stargirl in a bookstore and, for some reason, was intrigued enough to read a page or two. I had never read any of Jerry Spinelli's books before...but before I knew it, I was completely caught up in the story and read it from cover to cover before leaving the store.

It soon became a favorite of mine and a friend gave me a copy, which I have re-read several times. To me, it's a wonderfully inspiring story of individualism that young girls today need now more than ever, when presented with role models like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Just recently I discovered there was a sequel to this beloved book, and as several other reviewers have noted, it's quite different from Stargirl.
Not only has the narrator shifted from Leo to Stargirl, Stargirl shifts as well. We see her as less of a charming enigma and more of a vulnerable teenager who can't seem to get over her lost love. So she begins writing him a very long letter in daily journal form, and as she does, we see her find herself again as she develops healing relationships with an interesting cast of characters: an agoraphobe, a six year old girl, a man whose devotion to his late wife is all-consuming, and a potential replacement for Leo who has a harem and, possibly, a criminal record.

However, the original novel shows Stargirl's humanity and vulnerability or it would not have been believable. I disagree with the other reviewers who miss the enigma, because Stargirl's great triumph is that she is who she is in spite of--and because of--her humanity and vulnerability.

But I agree with the other reviews that say the ending is perfect. Indeed it is.

Both books inspire me. Both books made me very happy. I want to buy copies for every young woman I know and even every young woman I don't.

I loved the first Stargirl book. This one is even better. It is simply beautiful.

Spinelli is a very talented writer. He describes scenes and emotions almost poetically, painting vivid pictures for the mind's imagination.

There are many quotes I'm going to back and highlight in this book because they touched me so deeply.

I'm 20. I'm not sure if the suggested age group (12 yr olds) will fully comprehend the many levels of this book. However, you never know, perhaps if you have a child who is very introspective, they would be able to appreciate the deeper sides of this book.

Love, Stargirl is told from Stargirl's point of view. We see how loving and compassionate she is, how she values the little things in life, how she puts others above her own needs, and how she is learning about the confusing world we all live in.

This has become my favorite book. I highly recommend it. When I read it I was going through a very difficult time in my life, and this book definitely helped me in my healing process.

Jerry Spinelli the author of Eggs, Stargirl, and many other great realistic fiction stories writes a silly heartwarming novel, Love Stargirl . Stargirl is homeschooled by her parents, she is very optimistic and she has a pet rat. Stargirl writes a letter to a very "special" friend telling him about everything that has happened since she moved. This is a great book for anyone who loves a story that lifts you up. This book is recommended for ages 9 - 14.

This book was awesome right from the beginning. The charecters were awesome. The plot was awesome! Just everything in this book was awesome! The only problem I had was that Stargirl kept on loving Leo when everything woul be perfect with Perry. Other then that this was a great book.

Well, I am sad to report that "Love, Stargirl" is a great disappointment. What makes it especially distressing is that it diminishes Stargirl the character. I may be overreacting here, but that which is so special about "Stargirl"--the profound nature of the book, the depth of the message, the extraordinary girl that Stargirl is, disappears in this sequel. Stargirl is ordinary and even at times less than ordinary. She becomes your typical teenage girl--even though she claims to Perry (her new and brief "love" interest) that she is "not your typical girl." She does feel extremely typical to me.

When I began to read this book, I was annoyed and agitated. Where was the insightful story I had come to expect from Spinelli? Where was the girl who was so enchanting and mesmerizing? Gone.

In this sequel Spinelli is Stargirl and he does a terrible job with the female persona. She borders on trite at times. Stargirl is insecure, concerned about how others react to her, second-guessing herself, gushing about Leo and attracted to a new boy (who is the "bad boy" that supposedly so many girls -in real life--are attracted to). He also gives us access to the "Stargirl" story that unexpectedly minimizes the first book. For example, we learn more about what Archie said to Stargirl when Leo broke up with her and it makes Archie less wise in my eyes. I found myself revering him less. I forced myself to finish the book and it did get better toward the end; however, not enough to save it. Much of it is tedious and had I not wanted it to redeem itself somehow, somewhere, I would have stopped reading.

Sadly for it me it feels like Spinelli sold out here. He had such a phenomenal success with "Stargirl" that he pushed himself to create this sequel. There is nothing inspiring about it.

Having said all that, it would still work as your average young adult novel that is about "love." Students may not be as disappointed as I was, but those who were so moved by the first book, may be.

Love Stargirl was an awesome book! The story is actually one really long letter by Stargirl to send to Leo. The letter mainly consists of what Stargirl has done or is doing. I liked Love Stargirl because it was funny and exciting. I thought the best part of the book is when Stargirl and Perry, (a blue-eyed thief who steals Stargirls heart) were on Calender Hill and Perry kisses her. In conclusion I think Stargirl was a very good book.

I just finish reading this book and simply loved it!
I'm always thinking that second parts are never as good as the firs... well, was I WRONG! "Love, Stargirl" was better than "Stargirl"
Now I'm hoping for Jerry Spinelli to let us know more about Dootsie and Alvina (I love those two and their relation with Stargirl) of course having Susan, Cinnamon (and family), Betty Lou, Charlie, Perry, Leo... well the whole gang in there!

A wonderful sequel to Stargirl, and every bit as inspiring. This is Stargirl's story from her own perspective: her joy, her fears, her natural and spontaneous spreading of love one moment, one delicious spoonful at a time. Thank you, Jerry.

I teach 6th grade and I read the original Stargirl to my class at the beginning of the year. I loved it, they loved it, and when they saw there was a sequel some of them begged for it so I gave in and bought it. We are reading it now and it is not as good as the first book. There are definitely funny parts and ways you can see character change, but the entire book is a letter that Stargirl is writing to Leo and not sending to him. It's very long and dragging a little.

I loved Stargirl. I truly disliked the sequel. Obsessive about a guy for a year is just too, too much for someone as wonderful and free-spirited as Stargirl. I continued reading, hoping she would move on, but the stalker attitude remained to the end. When she let Dootsie give away everything on April 1st--that was the time to let go of Leo.

this book was inspiring by tiah j. readers should embrace stargirls originality and bigheartedness by izzy g addressing loss growing pains and staaying true 2 oneself this stellar follow up book is both profound and funny. by karen g parents and young readers alike will find much 2 enjoy in this imaginative sequel by keriann d.