Love, Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli’s beloved free-spirited character from his eponymously titled 2000 young adult novel, Stargirl, returns in this companion work Love, Stargirl (2007). Writing the “World’s Longest Letter” to her ex-boyfriend, Leo, 16-year-old Stargirl chronicles her new life in Pennsylvania. Lonely and emotionally wounded by Leo’s rejection, Stargirl struggles to regain her confidence. Over the course of a year, Stargirl forms lasting friendships, falls for charismatic bad boy, Perry, and learns important lessons about self-worth and living in the moment. The novel sensitively explores themes of identity, true love, and the necessity of authentically connecting with others. Love, Stargirl won accolades from VOYA and School Library Journal, and earned a starred review from Kirkus. Disney+ has adapted the novel for film release on its streaming platform in March 2020. This guide refers to the 2012 Ember edition.

Plot Summary

In Stargirl, Susan Caraway, aka Stargirl, lived in Mica, Arizona. There, Stargirl’s joyful eccentricity, altruism, and nonconformity at first enchanted the students at her high school, then turned them, and her beloved boyfriend Leo Borlock, against her. Now, Stargirl and her parents live in Pennsylvania. Stargirl’s mother still works as a costumer, and her father, once an engineering supervisor, is a milkman. On New Year’s Day, Stargirl begins her letter to Leo. Unlike Stargirl, which was narrated from Leo’s perspective, Love, Stargirl gives voice to Stargirl’s first-person point of view.

Many aspects of Stargirl’s character are the same as they were in Mica. She meditates and has an active curiosity about people and the world around her. She loves her pet rat, Cinnamon. She is positive and independent, but Leo’s abandonment has affected her sense of self. Stargirl feels conflicting emotions. She dwells on memories of times she shared with Leo, and still loves and misses him and feels like she has lost a part of herself. Stargirl is convinced she and Leo are destined to be together, and that he will love her in the future. At the same time, she is hurt and angry.

Stargirl is homeschooled and spends a lot of time on her own. She writes poems about her field trips to places around town and begins to connect with others in her neighborhood. Stargirl meets the irrepressible five-year old Dootsie Pringle, who becomes Stargirl’s best friend and honorary little sister. Dootsie introduces Stargirl to her neighbor, genial Betty Lou Fern, a woman who suffers from agoraphobia. Stargirl and Dootsie become a “lifeline” to lonely Betty Lou, cheering her up when she has bad days. Stargirl visits Margie’s donut shop and encounters Alvina, an angry 11-year-old tomboy who hates boys and gets into fights.

Stargirl also observes Charlie, an elderly man who sits alone in the cemetery all day, every day, by his wife’s grave. Stargirl and Dootsie finally meet Charlie face to face on his 74th birthday. Stargirl helps bring the lonely man out of his isolation by listening to his stories about his wife, Grace. Finally, Stargirl observes a strange, silent, solitary man named Arnold who walks around town, asking “Are you looking for me?” but does not wait for an answer.

When Dootsie gives away all the items she and Stargirl have with them on April Fool’s Day, Stargirl realizes that in her self-absorption and sadness over Leo, she abandoned part of herself. She returns to her giving ways, but she is still emotionally vulnerable. She bonds closely with Betty Lou, empathizing with Betty Lou’s isolation. Once an avid gardener, now Betty Lou can only watch nature from inside her home due to her agoraphobia. Stargirl lures a mockingbird to Betty Lou’s yard and shares the emotional moment when a rare flower blooms.

After seeing the awe in Dootsie’s eyes when the two watch the Summer Solstice sunrise, Stargirl creates a solar calendar on her meditation hill. She plans a Winter Solstice celebration for the community to share the powerful natural experience. Stargirl also mentors Alvina, partially at Alvina’s mother’s request. Stargirl recognizes that Alvina has a soft interior under her angry shell and is struggling in her transition to adolescence.

Stargirl is attracted to Perry Delloplane, a dark-haired, blue-eyed boy she observes stealing things around town. Stargirl seeks him out and chastises him for stealing, littering, and spitting lemon seeds at her. Perry is rumored to have spent a year in juvenile boot camp. The two are very different but feel chemistry together. Perry suggests Stargirl join his harem of three girls, his “Honeybees,” who share his affection. Stargirl refuses, but secretly wants Perry to kiss her. Stargirl mentally avoids questions about Leo. When Perry stands Stargirl up after a promise, Stargirl is hurt and outraged. Betty Lou advises Stargirl to quit living in the past and worrying about the future: She needs to live for today.

Stargirl attempts to save people in a burning home and ends up in the hospital. Her new friends all show their love and support, including Alvina, who was angry with her. Cinnamon, lost in the activity during the fire, is found and returned by Arnold to a joyful Stargirl. Perry works on Calendar Hill while Stargirl heals. When Stargirl next visits the hill, she and Perry kiss at sunrise. The kiss answers Stargirl’s unasked question: She still loves Leo. Stargirl learns that Perry comes from a broken family. He was never in boot camp, but working to support his pregnant mother, Neva.

Archie, the old paleontologist and Stargirl’s friend from Arizona, visits for the Winter Solstice. Archie brings gossip about Leo, and a note from Leo that simply reads “YES,” answering the question Stargirl has been mentally projecting towards Leo of whether they will meet again. All Stargirl’s friends—including Betty Lou and Charlie—and most of the town attend the Solstice sunrise. Everyone is emotionally affected.

Stargirl feels that the Solstice was a personal rebirth. Confidence restored, Stargirl plans to live each day to the fullest and is certain that she and Leo will be together again in the future.