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Summary of Stargirl

This novel starts out with a memory from Leo's childhood - he has a 'collection' or porcupine neckties and receives one anonymously for his birthday.  The story then jumps to the tenth grade, when Stargirl appears at Mica high school. Star girl is very peculiar - different from her peers in the way she dresses, acts, and interacts with people. Stargirl does not pay any notice to how people respond to her, or what they may be thinking of her.  Stargirl intrigues the students at Mica High by her oddities (singing happy birthday to students during lunch, leaving gifts on her homeroom classmates desks, and putting on half time shows).  The students begin to warm up to Stargirl - she becomes a cheerleader for Mica High school, and her energy is accepted and contagious. Kevin, Leo's friend, wants to put Stargirl on a show called "Hot Seat", but Leo does not want to. 

Eventually, Stargirl does a few things (that are true to her character) that the students do not accept.  Stargirl goes to a funeral she was not invited to, and also shows alot of compassion for an injured basketball player on an opposing team. The school starts to turn against Stargirl.

Stargirl is starting to show an interest in Leo, especially around Valentine's day when she leaves him a special gift.  It is at this point that Stargirl goes onto "Hot Seat".  The student population had started to turn against Stargirl, and this show was just an opportunity for them to tear her down. The show ends in a rage, and is never aired. After this show, Stargirl does not change very much about the way she acts - she stays very true to herself.

It becomes clear that the student population no longer accepts Stargirl. Leo, however, takes more of an interest in her. Their first 'date' is a night in the desert, where Stargirl tries to teach Leo to quiet his mind and learn more about what is going on in the world around him. He is very intrigued by her attention to detail, and learns about her heart - she really just wants to work towards making everyone happy, because in her mind everyone deserves to be happy.

Leo and Stargirl are a couple at Mica High School - and as a result Leo starts to be shunned.  Leo asks Archie what to do about his situation, and he tells him that if being treated like Stargirl bothers him, he just needs to distance himself from her. Leo hoped that Stargirl would become more 'normal' so that he could have the best of both worlds - her and acceptance by his peers.  Stargirl puts up a large sign saying that she loves Leo, and Leo is torn between being thrilled and being horrified that it is in front of everyone.

Leo cannot withstand the pressure of going against the status quo, and he begins to slowly turn his shoulder on Stargirl.  When Stargirl approaches him about his change in behavior, he bitterly asks her why she doesn't care what anyone thinks.  Stargirl listens to Leo, and Leo tries to explain group norms to her - and she begins to completely conform to the behaviors he describes for her, she becomes Susan (her birth name) instead of Stargirl.

Unfortunately, Stargirl's popularity does not increase as Susan. She is dismayed, but has a vision that if she wins the Arizona State oratorical contest she will be popular among her classmates.  Susan went to the competition, made the finals, and won as she said she would. She was expecting a welcome back that would make her popular, but the welcome she received was only three people.

Stargirl was crushed, and on Monday she came to school as Stargirl, not Susan. Stargirl told Leo that she was not interested in being normal, proceeded to tell him that she understands if he does not ask her to the Ocotillo Ball.  Leo continues his internal struggle - he wants to show Stargirl that he is not like everyone that ignores her.

Stargirl goes to the Ocotillo Ball by herself. She begins the ball as an outcast, and contagiously gains the intrigue of her peers by the end of the night. They follow her in a 'Bunny Hop'.  When Stargirl leaves the dance, it is the last anyone at Mica High School sees of her.