The novels central plot will be about the protagonist. The book begins with a brief introduction to the main character, leo, at an early age. For example, leo is willing to date stargirl even if she is the most unpopular girl at school. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity. Books are powerful tools, and so are the female characters, like these characters that made us feminists, in them. The book follows a female student entering school, after eleven years of homeschooling. Protagonist examples and definition of protagonist. Stargirl, was the new york times bestseller and an ala top ten best book for young adults. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award. Sherlock holmes straddles the line between hero and antihero. Throughout the school year, hillari finds numerous ways to make things worse for stargirl. The protagonist of a story is the main character who traditionally undergoes some sort of change. In this novel, the major problem is the way stargirl is treated as an outsider by the students and peers at her new high school.
She sings happy birthday to classmates in the lunchroom, props a small. Jerry spinelli, the author of stargirl published 2000, has written many other books, including maniac magee, which won the 1991. The most important person stargirl left behind is her exboyfriend, leo, whom she wrote this entire novel to. The conflict of a plot is the major problem experienced by the protagonist. Gail carson levines ella enchanted is a retelling of cinderella whose protagonist, ella, is much improved from the original.
This brings out the main plot and theme of the story. Between the structure of the plot, the setting, and the characters, from the first page of the story, stargirl sets the perfect example of living the high school life as an nonconforming person, as she reaches out to our main protagonist, leo borlock, after. For example, they had telephones, but used them only in. Stargirl was written by jerry spinelli, and first published in 2000. Minor characters and major characters novel writing help.
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. Stargirl brings her lunch to school instead of buying lunch from the school cafeteria. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Part fairy godmother, part outcast, part dreamcometrue, the star of spinellis latest novel possesses many of the mythical qualities as the protagonist of. He helped homeschool stargirl, and he passed away by the end of the book. In a nutshell, it allows us to empathize with the protagonist and secondary characters, and thus feel that what is happening to these people in the story is vicariously happening to us. I might be more likely to choose of if it was, say, hamlet is the protagonist of the play of the same name. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly. He found himself thinking about stargirl much of the time. Eleventhgrader leo borlock cannot quite believe the new student who calls herself stargirl. Shmoop guide to stargirl protagonist, antagonist, foil, guide, mentor, and character roles. I thought that necktie was just about the neatest thing in the world. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000 stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirls character and the novels overall message of nonconformity.
Bookbrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfictionbooks that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the. Hillari hillari is the antagonist, she most strongly apposes stargirl represents conformity in the school, and the bad attitude of the general student population toward stargirl cinnamon stargirls pet rat. Leo borlock protagonist of the story, a junior who is friends with kevin and dates stargirl until he. Stargirl tells the story of susan stargirl caraway, a homeschooled free spirit who has just joined the local high school in mica, arizona. She was bubbly, outgoing, kind, heart warming and many more. It was a new york times bestseller, a parents choice gold award winner, an ala top ten best books for young adults award winner, and a publishers weekly best book of the year. From the day she arrives at quiet mica high in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of stargirl, stargirl. Part fairy godmother, part outcast, part dreamcometrue, the star of spinellis latest novel possesses many of the mythical qualities as the protagonist of his maniac magee. He and his friend, kevin, set up and ran a popular program at the school called hot seat. When i was little, my uncle pete had a necktie with a porcupine painted on it. Strong female characters written by female authors, books with a noncaucasian person as theone of the lead characters. Stargirl perfectly embodies the concept of turning the other cheek to people who are bullies. Mar 26, 2015 titles of books with strong female protagonistsin honor of womens history month. Leo leo is a protagonist and is one of the books main.
Few parents will have objections to the content, but there is one scene in particular where stargirl s peers verbally attack her on a television show. Stargirl really listened when leo said that no one liked her and that she is a nobody. Mica, arizona, a small town in usa mica high, the high school where leo and stargirl went to archies house, the home for a retired professor that has lots of weird stuff the time is present and then fast. Even fifteen years after the end of the books main action, leo, our protagonist. Characterization other important characters exposition setting. However, in the later books frodo parts ways from the rest of the fellowship, and for several books there are at least two distinct plotlines. Leo realizes that hes in love with her, but has a difficult. Somewhere in the midst of stargirls arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her. May 01, 2004 stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her.
Mar 04, 2016 books are powerful tools, and so are the female characters, like these characters that made us feminists, in them. Personally i think id choose in for a game, but that might be because overall i dont rate games so highly. For example in the book milkweed by jerry spinelli, the setting takes place in warsaw during the holocaust. Stargirl carries a ukulele, which she plays in the cafeteria. In this celebration of nonconformity, newbery medalist jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of. See more ideas about books, female protagonist and good books. Parents need to know that stargirl is a sort of supernatural character who is difficult to encapsulate, despite her classmates repeated attempts to pigeonhole her. For example, near the end of the novel, hillari kimble is furious at stargirl. She captures leo borlocks heart with just one smile. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in. Jerry spinelli is the author of more than a dozen books for young readers, including maniac magee, winner of the newbery medal. A bittersweet paean to eccentricity and nonconformity, it is also a scathing commentary on teenagers, which makes its popularity with them all the more. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one. Set in mica area high school in mica, arizona, the novel follows the story of the sophomore susan stargirl caraway, narrated from the perspective of junior leo borlock.
Lets look at some examples of hillari messing with. Needless to say, each of your major characters should receive virtually as much care and attention during the planning process as your protagonist. These engaging lessons and quizzes are designed to boost your knowledge of the books characters, quotes, chapters and themes. Shes an example of true unconditional, or absolute, friendship. As senor saguaro tells him, the question he must answer is whose affection is more important to him, stargirls or the others. The main character is leo borlock who narrates the story, even though he focuses. Hope was here is a book about selfdiscovery that doesnt need oddball characters or a magical. For example, they had telephones, but used them only in emergencies. In stargirl, the antagonist is mean girl hillari kimble, who works tirelessly to ruin stargirl s popularity at school.
The subplots which should be closely related to the main plot, weaving their way in and out of it will be about the major characters. Aug 01, 2000 newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. Formerly homeschooled, stargirl comes to their arizona high school with a pet rat and a ukulele, wild clothes and amazing habits. A boys leg gets infected, he gets gangrene and the leg is removed. Stargirl chapters stargirl by jerry spinelli summary and analysis. She is new at mica high and she is not like any of the other kids. One of the good examples of protagonist who is controversial would be becky sharp from william makepeace thackerays vanity fair, who is occasionally be very manipulative in order to achieve her own interests. The man who walked between the towers by mordecai gerstein, grades k6. Stargirl is a brilliant and highly eccentric high school girl. Nov 11, 2014 i was reshelving picture books in the library the other day, and happened to notice that of the twelve in my arms, only two featured a female lead and one of those books was about getting a haircut and the other was about being a princess. The world the protagonist is then sailed down to, where she will meet battle the antagonists. Different personalities in stargirl by jerry spinelli essay.
What are some character traits of stargirl caraway. It is, in some ways, a ya version of the little prince, or a female version of spinellis own awardwinning maniac magee. She was the protagonist of the book because of her personality too. She is too different for them to accept, and since leo has accepted her, he is outcast too. The hellish world the protagonist is dragged into by the contagonist. A detailed description of love, stargirl characters and their importance. She brings a ukulele into school and sings happy birthday to random strangers, she dresses differently and she does little random acts of kindness. No one sits by stargirl in the cafeteria on her first day of school. Newberywinning spinelli spins a magical and heartbreaking tale from the stuff of high school. The long and short of it for your purposes is probably it doesnt matter. She captures leo borlock s heart with just one smile. Leo borlock leo borlock, the narrator of the story, was a student at mica high school.
This is unacceptable granted, that was a small sample size, but it is an example of what i see everyday. It was unthinkable that stargirl could surviveor at least survive unchangedamong us. Or without the repetition, id say prospero is the protagonist of. But the protagonist, stargirl, remains kind and true to herself in spite of. Stargirl questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on stargirl.
Print copies of the stargirl literature circle questions printable for students. Jerry spinellis story stargirl takes us to mica area high school for the school. While the reader does become acquainted with her during the reading of the book, she maintains her mysterious quality. Stargirl caraway is the unique protagonist of the novel. Then stargirl arrives at mica high and everything changesfor leo and for the entire school. Who is the main character in jerry spinellis stargirl. This is a gently mystical, thoughtprovoking, and enchanting rumination on conformity. This study guide consists of approximately 31 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of love, stargirl. It took stargirls example for leo to figure himself out, and mulhoney does the same thing for hope. We may love our narrator and protagonist, but sometimes he makes it pretty hard. Stargirl is a young adult novel written by american author jerry spinelli and first published in 2000. Aug 20, 2019 set in new england during the civil war, this is the famous story of four sisters growing up in poverty. Somewhere in the midst of stargirl s arrival and rise and fall, normal leo borlock has tumbled into love with her.
The entire schools not sure what to think of her and the kind things she does. Stargirl movie tiein edition by jerry spinelli, paperback. Who is the antagonist of the story loser by jerry spinelli. A modernday classic and new york times bestseller from newbery medalist jerry spinelli. She immediately draws attention with her eccentric ways. Stargirl is a middle grade novel by jerry spinelli, published in 2000. From their creative childhood to their adventures in adulthood, meg, jo, beth, and amy are the catalysts for a timeless tale that have inspired countless women over many decades. Handwriting spanish facts examples formulas difference between. In 1974, as the world trade center was being completed, a young french aerialist, philippe petit, threw a tightrope between the towers and spent almost an hour walking, dancing, and performing tricks a quarter of a mile in the sky. Leo told her that she should care about what the world thinks of her and if she doesnt, people will make fun of her. She is a seventeenyearold homeschooled teen who has. She sparks a schoolspirit revolution with just one cheer.
Leo learns that up until this point, she has been home schooled, but even that doesnt seem to excuse her strange behavior. Different personalities in stargirl by jerry spinelli. What is stargirls old name in jerry spinellis book stargirl. He is in an epic internal struggle over what is important to him.
Stargirl and leo are forced to be on the fringes of society because of stargirl s inability to conform to mica highs social expectations. A sequel love, stargirl was released on august 14, 2007. The villain, or the antagonist, of a story is who creates the conflict, and the lead character, or protagonist, must work to overcome or defeat the villain. In stargirl, the antagonist is mean girl hillari kimble, who works tirelessly to ruin stargirls popularity at school. Stargirl and leo are forced to be on the fringes of society because of stargirls inability to conform to mica highs social expectations. But it was also clear that hillari kimble was at least half right.
Because it is a major problem for leo, it becomes a major problem for stargirl. She is a seventeenyearold homeschooled teen who has just moved to phoenixville, pennsylvania after leaving behind all her friends and comfort in mesa, arizona. She was a 10th grade girl with blonde hair and freckles. If stargirls character gives us an example of the benefits of being observant. During the second and third parts, the protagonist will be struggling to get her life back. Set in new england during the civil war, this is the famous story of four sisters growing up in poverty. Vanity fair by william makepeace thackeray a protagonist can sometimes be very controversial because of some evil traits. Types of characters in fiction what does characterization do for a story. Stargirl came back to school and she was totally different. In a celebration of nonconformity, jerry spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularityand the thrill and inspiration of first love. She carries him everywhere with her, and leo is fond of him. Stargirl was well received by critics, who praised stargirl s character and the novels overall message of nonconformity.
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