Today, we’re going to talk about Stargirl. The book, the movie, and how her story changed my life.
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Stargirl and Me
It’s no secret to those who have known me a long time that I loved the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli. It was a book first published in 2000, that I read for the first time as an elementary school kid, back in 2007 or 2008. I fell in love with the characters and the high school world around them, both magical and yet unassuming. I reread it in 2011, and found it even more enchanting than the first time, likely because having had more life experience and being closer in age to the characters, it felt more relatable in all ways.
I found a little of myself in nearly all of the characters and as silly as it sounds, this work of fiction caused a big change in me. It emboldened me to be a bit weirder, as long as I was being myself. I felt like I was finally free to explore the world around me in awe, as I had barely even done as a child. I looked up to Stargirl and related to her beautiful (if sometimes naive) view of the world. And the other characters seemed rich, human, and real to me. This book motivated me to look at the world in a much more broad way, not having to know and be right about everything. And the nuance of it also allowed me to realize that not knowing exactly who I was didn’t mean that I wasn’t as good as others or that I had to desperately figure things out now. Sometimes part of being yourself is accepting that you don’t know exactly who that is right now, and being willing to explore.
Ten years later, and the story of Stargirl hasn’t left my mind. I still remember the tattered copy I kept in my backback that my teacher really should’ve asked me to return sooner, my middle school rush of wearing long skirts because I finally realized no one was stopping me (and they are so very comfortable). I didn’t have a lot of access to the internet for most of that time, but when I did, I looked for Stargirl content, finding very little on this entrancing story. I found that there was a sequel called Love, Stargirl that I could only get if I convinced my mom to get me to a library outside of our county for their audiobook copy on CD. It took weeks, but I got that story, and I devoured it. Of course, I had to reread the first book before that, because that’s how marathons go. That was the summer of Stargirl. You can imagine my excitement when I found out recently that someone made a movie of it.
Stargirl, the story
If you’re not familiar with the story of Stargirl, (I’m surprised you’re still reading at this point but) I’ll give you a brief overview. The narrator in the story and arguably main character is a high school boy name Leo Borlock. He lives in the town of Mica, Arizona and goes to Mica High. On the first day of school he meets back up with his best friend Kevin and it seems like everyone is buzzing about this girl. He doesn’t know who or why, but when he sees her, he understands. Enter Stargirl, our strangely dressed heroine. She clearly doesn’t fit in, but the more that Leo observes her, the more he feels endeared toward her. And this story outlines his getting to know her and like her, as well as her journey through the school that seems like a very odd fit for her.
It’s part love story, part slice of life, and part manifesto on being yourself and embracing your humanity, as messy and beautiful as that can become. The story, overall, is a celebration of life whether you’re reading the book or watching the movie, and for that, I am incredibly glad.
What the movie did right
If I’m being honest, I was pretty satisfied with the movie adaptation of Stargirl overall. We still get fictional Mica High, a mediocre crowd of underachievers who start to get hyped by a precocious Stargirl. Leo and his best friend Kevin still run a student-led gossip/news segment that is just as cool now as the idea was back in 2000. And we still have mysterious fatherly figure Archie who is super wise and seems to exist in a different plane than the rest of the characters, which I loved. (He may not try as hard to be super cryptic as in the book, but I liked the more approachable angle the movie took toward him.)
I also like that the movie didn’t try to completely change the ending of the book. (I won’t spoil it for those who don’t already know the story.) I know that there is a temptation there to try to alter things for more closure, but that’s one of the things that I liked about the book. It finishes, but doesn’t have too much of an ending. I feel it is pretty reflective of how real life is, and as this is a story for young people, I think that’s important lesson.
Broad strokes, I believe this movie hits the mark. It’s a quaint little story about this ordinary kid who meets another ordinary kid. They fall in love (basically) and teach each other and those around them a little bit more about what it means to be human. That being said, like any movie, they were bound to change some things. And you best believe that as some sort of superfan of the original Stargirl, I picked up on them. So let’s get into that part of things.
Changes in the movie
I’m not going to expect any movie adaptation of a book to keep everything exactly the same. Because it just can’t, by nature. Film is a different medium and not everything can be portrayed exactly the same. Not only that, but the movie is a completely different work of art. The people working on it are allowed creative liberties, and that should be applauded. I had heard a rumor years ago (from googling on the internet) that this movie was going to be made. And after wondering for years if that rumor was correct (it came from an unreliable source, but I was holding onto a shred of hope), it comes out. I couldn’t help myself. After it was over, I literally made a chart in my diary, two pages long, about the similarities (and mostly) differences in the movies and book, and put in a key to denote how I felt about each of them. (I’m not kidding, I actually did this. Here’s a picture, but scroll past if you don’t want spoilers for how the story ends)
So there were definite changes from the book to the movie, and to be honest, most of them I really didn’t mind, on their own. For instance, I feel that one of the things that the movie did right was updating the storyline to make it more believable for modern day. As a book that was published back in 2000, a lot has changed in terms of how schools run, how we think of families, and (mostly) how prevalent technology is in our lives. This, I felt the movie did very well. They address that Stargirl doesn’t have a cell phone (which I feel is consistent with her character), and how odd that is. This is something that doesn’t get mentioned in the book because in 2000 that really wouldn’t be an issue. They also work the pace of life with technology into her ultimate speech at the competition, which I think works for both the message that they were going for as well as being an organic character moment, although I’m certainly biased towards the original unfurling of events from the book.
There were also a few minor changes that affected the plot very little, like her pet rat being a hooded rat, instead of how the book describes him as brown. They also go into a lot less detail about her good deeds and how she goes about her free time, which I feel should definitely get a pass since as I already mentioned, it’s a movie and you have to simplify some things. But there were also a few things I felt sort of conflicted about.
Changes I wasn’t 100% on
Where did the dads go?
So the first thing that was different of note in the movie is the seemingly complete erasure of dads. This, again, was something that didn’t actually change the plot that much–neither Leo or Stargirl’s dads are big characters in the story or do much of note, but I still had to wonder, why exclude them? And in Leo’s case, they went so far as to kill him off, which stumped me because why give a character a whole new trauma to handle? (I thought they’d killed off Stargirl’s dad too, but upon rewatching, he’s just “gone” instead.) I suppose they felt that it added more weight to the whole porcupine necktie plot point, since they tied it to his dead father. It also gave his character an added sense of complexity that maybe they felt like they needed?
But maybe they felt that the lack of father figures gives the character of Archie more weight. If that was their aim in all of this while simultaneously cutting out unnecessary characters, then they were very successful and I think it worked, as a whole. (After all, in the book Leo has only one conversation with his dad, and Stargirl’s dad has no dialogue at all.) Although it didn’t stop me from doing a double take when they tell us that Leo’s dad is dead.
How much narration?
The next thing I’d like to point out branches off of my point about character complexity, but I do feel that the way the movie was put together kind of flattens out a lot of the nuance of the initial story. You see, while I don’t feel like any of the changes they added (or took out) were all that significant, there are some major challenges to making a movie out of this book. Much of the plot has to do with (and is moved along by) Leo’s internal monologue and emotional struggles. And while the movie features his narration to tell the story, the amount of narration necessary to convey the subtle sense of awe and dis-ease that his character is mired in would get overwhelming, and probably annoying.
So the filmmakers were tasked with figuring out what to keep and what to cut. I feel like they did their best to keep the story intact, broad strokes, and were successful, but the missing nuance leaves us not feeling the emotional impact of the story quite as much. They did, however, give Leo the hobby of singing, which I liked. I felt it added depth and gave Stargirl and Leo something to bond over, making their dynamic more like that of peers. (In the book there is an odd sense that you get of her being the impressive, strange one. A teacher, an enigma, a beautiful puzzle. And Leo, the struggling, admiring student who only wishes he had her courage–until he doesn’t, and the scripts kinda flip. I like that the movie evens this out. It gives an impressionable audience a much more healthy view of romance than it otherwise would.)
Everyone just accepts her?
It’s weird for me to be feeling a little jilted that a character I love so much is treated with general respect, but Stargirl’s not fitting in is actually a big part of the book. It’s central to the plot in multiple ways. The book outlines her as some weirdo who shows up at this high school after being home-schooled for her whole life, unaware of most social norms. People tease her, talk about her behind her back, they even go so far as to say that she’s some sort of weird plant that administration put in to generate some community buzz.
As they get to know Stargirl, they really start to like her for her kindness and thoughtfulness, and they even start to take joy in some of the things that they made fun of her for earlier on. That’s right, she becomes popular. And when that popularity doesn’t last (and believe me, that’s hardly a spoiler because it’s forshadowed all throughout the book), it means something–to the respective characters, to the plot. It’s this crazy roller coaster. And that…is something you really don’t get from this movie.
In fact, I watched it with someone who had never read the book and I remember them saying, “Stargirl? Well, that’s kind of a weird name, isn’t it?” It’s almost like the kids in the school don’t even notice how weird she is. (Which, to be fair, makes sense, because they really tone down her eccentricities, but still.) They do mention that Stargirl is an odd name on Hot Seat, but that’s way towards the end of the movie, and if you ask me, entirely too late to try to pretend that she was bullied for being different from the start. (Not that they do. But with something so big in the plot, I couldn’t help but find myself waiting for it.)
There is no villain
The central conflicts of the story are coming from completely different places in the book and in the movie. The book says that Stargirl is this beautiful, pure soul who is often misunderstood because she is quite strange. And most of the issues come down to very catty dramas where people are unkind because her eccentricities go too far for them to understand and accept. Sure, she makes some missteps here and there, but they’re usually not big mistakes in terms of the actual impact of them. It’s mostly just people who are quite angry at her for being a weirdo. And there is certainly someone leading the charge against her.
Enter in the popular girl, Hillari Kimble. Hillari definitely cares about the status quo because she’s popular and it really serves her. She actively spreads rumors about Stargirl, and without giving too much away, really dedicates her time to being Stargirl’s archnemesis. This gives you somebody to root against and balk at, and also gives you a semisolid reason for why the student body ultimately turns against her at various points in the book. Even if certain things aren’t directly Hillari’s fault, her presence in the book sets the tone of an intolerant student body as the status quo. People who are insecure and threatened by diversity, and who cling to certain certainties (as it was put to me once by a very eloquent person).
Now Hillari shows up as a character in the movie, but she’s definitely not a bully or a villain–more of an antagonist by circumstance than anything else. And her presence doesn’t loom as large in the story because she really isn’t representative of anyone outside of herself. Which is fine, I think it was a good and believable attempt at humanizing her and making Stargirl seem like less of a martyr archetype and more just like a different but still flawed human being.
This significantly lowers the stakes of the conflict to the point where it’s more about interpersonal drama than the larger messages about what it means to know who you are, and not bullying people because they’re different and where’s the line between nonconformity and rudeness? I, for one, value both relatable, humanized characters, as well as nuanced and important messaging. And I’m not sure what could have been done with this storyline to strike more of a balance.
My solitary qualm
You won’t see me talking badly about this book often, because of what a positive impact it had on me growing up, but there is one issue with this book that I really think deserves talking about before anyone decides to seek it out. The question is, what is the line between your business and other people’s? The subject of boundaries–both emotional and informational–is incredibly important, and I believe, not talked about often enough. That being said, it is becoming more common to address in society, and I think that’s awesome.
This book hasn’t aged well in that regard, or maybe since I was so young reading it for the first time I just wasn’t able to pick up on it, but there are multiple instances where both of the big characters (Leo and Stargirl) cross over into the territory of “not your business”, and I think that’s worth discussing and criticizing. This is less of an issue in the movie, but still happens when they depict Leo following Stargirl home.
I find it interesting that out of all of the nuanced messages in the book, this one isn’t really addressed sufficiently. It seems to be a very “intentions over actions” perspective. If you follow someone home because you have a crush on them but don’t try to peep on them inside because “that’s creepy”, then you’re in the clear, according to this book. (And they ultimately know that’s you’re following them, so it’s fine!) Also, if you take pictures of a kid that’s not your own because you want to put together a scrapbook for him (and you don’t plan on keeping the stuff for yourself), then that’s fine, and in fact, he’ll probably appreciate it someday. To be honest, those ideas are damaging, and now that I’m old enough, I’m able to see it.
If you’re going to read this book with impressionable young readers, talk to them about this. You don’t have to overstep boundaries to share deep connections with people and the world around you. When it comes to doing nice things for other people, identifying yourself and asking beforehand isn’t always just about getting credit, but getting permission. Because people’s privacy is important. Not everything is your business, even if your intentions are to be kind to someone. And no, parents don’t want a photo album put together over a couple years by a stranger that just happens to live nearby and see your kid sometimes. It’s not just about teaching them not to violate other people’s boundaries either, but it’s to teach them that they shouldn’t tolerate creepy behavior just because people have (or claim to have) good intentions.
Go read Stargirl!
But if after that piece of criticism you’re still able to see the benefits of this book from my explanation of it, then go get yourself copy. Immerse yourself in the world of Mica High, the strange perspectives of Stargirl, and the lessons that Leo learns about mindfulness, individuality and random acts of kindness.
Random things I missed in the movie, in case you were wondering
- Senor Seguaro, RIP.
- Stargirl decorating her desk at school
- A 1920’s flapper dress (Also, wouldn’t it be great to see Grace VanderWaal in a 1920’s bob?)
- The Happy Wagon (What a cute idea, for real.)
Ultimately, I think that the movie Stargirl (2020) is a sweet little show and well worth a watch. It’s a sweet movie for a lazy summer afternoon viewing, particularly if you’re looking for an indie teen romance sort of vibe. I do have to wonder if there is any sort of plan to make a movie of the sequel, “Love, Stargirl”.
Love, Stargirl (the surprising existence of a sequel)
As I mentioned, years after reading Stargirl for the first time, I found out that a sequel exists, called Love, Stargirl. I was very excited, as you can imagine. And willing to go to great lengths to be able to read the next part of this story.
I’ll admit, once I finally got my hands on the set of CDs, I was feeling a little weird about it. I had never checked out a book “on tape” before. (Yes, that’s what I called it back then, even though it had to have been after 2007 since that’s when the book was published.) But the giddiness blocked out most of the discomfort.
While at the moment, I’ll admit, it’s been a long time since I’ve read it, I will tell you this much. I enjoyed it. Broad strokes, this book is written from Stargirl’s point of view, as a sort of diary/ letter to Leo. (A letter we can only assume she doesn’t send based on the epilogue of the first book.) And as much as it took me a second to get used to since the structure is so different from the first book, I think it works.
Love, Stargirl (What I thought)
In Stargirl, there is a lot of bafflement and near worship of Stargirl coming from an infatuated Leo. This is to be expected since teen boys explaining their love interests can easily get this way. And when mixed with a character as quirky as Stargirl, this sort of detached awe is ripe for the picking. But she is a human being, and I think that this second book does a good job of humanizing the character and showing you that she is, in fact, normal. At least, normal to her. And I think that’s important.
Love, Stargirl really fleshes out both her eccentricities and the normalcy behind them. She talks about her daily meditation habit normally, like you would any activity you do daily. She does make friends, although she spends a lot of time with the sorts of characters you may not expect of a teen girl, like a 6 yr old girl and an older, agoraphobic woman. But she interacts with these people more or less as peers–as fellow citizens of planet earth with their own interests, desires and needs. I like that. It makes all of the “weird” things a lot more real and understandable as we sort of do a deeper dive into her mind and her experience.
So if you liked the book Stargirl but you wanted to get more insight into her mind, check out Love, Stargirl. The plotline keeps it interesting and she is both humanized and kept quite true to form, even though the book was presumably written years later.
What’s left in the end
Ultimately, I think the story of Stargirl is rich with lessons and conversation points about life and humanity, and I would recommend it to someone who is looking for a compelling read. The first book has very complex and intense character writing with vivid descriptions that captivated me as a child, young teen, and even now as an adult. The second book is a lot of fun and really shows just how normal “strange people” can be. I do hope you read it, and enjoy it. But whether you do or not, I hope that you still learn to embody the important lessons that it taught me.
Lessons about individuality, kindness, and mindfulness. Lessons about becoming yourself and discovering it, over and over again. And now, after rereading as an adult, lessons about what more complex and imperfect media can do for us.
At the end of the book, Leo tells us about Stargirl’s legacy. About how her actions of kindness still echo about the town, even years later. And you don’t have to read this book to add to the beautiful, thoughtful, kind part of this world. You get a new chance to add to it every day and every moment of your life. And if you’re the kind of person who likes to read this blog, I know that you already do. So thank you, and as always, thank you for reading. Keep living life as it comes!
