Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Published in 2007. 274 pages.


Love, Stargirl, the sequel to Stargirl, was released last summer. I was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to read it, but when the chance first came, I hesitated. I think that because I love Stargirl so much - it's an all-time favorite of mine, one of the few books I've read more than once - I was afraid I'd be disappointed with this sequel. So I put it off.

Just before Christmas, my mom took my kids and me to the bookstore to pick out a few gifts - she has given books as Christmas presents for as long as I can remember - and I saw Love, Stargirl on the shelf. Mom bought it for me. I was excited to have it - but still put off reading it for a while.

The birthday of author Jerry Spinelli is February 1. I'd included Spinelli on my possibles list for the Celebrate the Author Challenge, so I decided that to "celebrate" Spinelli I would read Love, Stargirl during February. And I did.

The entire novel is basically a letter from Stargirl to Leo, whom she left back in Arizona at the end of Stargirl.

Dear Leo,
I love beginnings. If I were in charge of calendars, every day would be January 1.
And what better way to celebrate this New Year's Day than to begin writing a letter to my once (and future?) boyfriend.

Not quite as powerful as the original, Love, Stargirl nevertheless reminds us of the importance of being oneself and of the difference one person can make in the world. As the book jacket states, "Over the course of a year, Stargirl comes to find hope in new places: mockingbirds, donut angels, moon flowers, and the Winter Solstice - that turning-point day when dark tips to light." I find hope in those things too!

You can find out how to start a "Stargirl Society" here! I wanna join!

2008.16