Character Analysis: Stargirl

In Jerry Spinelli’s novel, Stargirl, Leo Borlock, the protagonist, occasionally has been perceived as a jerk. This idea was evidenced by many examples from the book, such as the conversation between Stargirl and him regarding her popularity. Furthermore, Leo had previously been educating Stargirl on the norms of high school, and he was specifically explaining his opinion on appropriate behavior when assembling in groups. He claimed that every member should resemble the others. When Stargirl acquired why she needs to change herself to accomplish this, Leo cruely replies, “Because nobody likes you...

It's better to be an individual than act like everyone else. This was proven by Jerry Spinelli in the novel Stargirl. Stargirl was an individual who everyone thought was weird. She did whatever she felt like instead of acting like everyone else. She didn't care what other people think about her.

The author’s message about kindness vs. bullying, been kindness to other people, they would respect you back. But, bullying to others does not work out with others because you don’t respect others and they would not respect you back. The thematic idea of kindness vs. bullying is shown in the novel Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli when Leo, Stargirl, and others show us the importance of been kindness and bullying through Stargirl’s act of kindness and Leo and others been rude behind Stargirl’s back. Stargirl’s act of kindness impacted Leo and the whole school proves the theme with kindness vs. bullying because she wanted to be an outsider.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is a strange book. People are unique in their own ways. You may think that they are weird, cool, or crazy. Either way they are still unique. Im unique and you’re unique.

In Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, Stargirl, a new student at Mica High, mixes up the lives of all the students and teachers. Her popularity skyrockets, and she ends up friends with almost everyone in the school. Suddenly, her popularity drops rapidly. Hillari, the most popular girl at school, influenced all the students, except one, to dislike Stargirl. The only friends she has left are Leo and Cinnamon, her pet rat.

Men and women have been portrayed differently varying on the changing periods of time and what is going on in those moments. This general rule also applies to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Winter Dreams”, in this story, the main characters are Dexter, Judy, and Irene. Dexter is used to represent all men and Judy and Irene are representing all women. In the story, when talking about the men, the first and only thing that is talked about is their amount of wealth and their status in the society. All of the decisions made from the men’s significant other revolve around whether or not he is wealthy.

I am like Leo Borlock, a main character from Stargirl , by Jerry Spinelli, in that I share his cowardliness, his possession of integrity, and his lack of need to be the center of attention. For those of you unfamiliar with Stargirl, and Leo Borlock, I will explain why I call Leo cowardly. He backs off almost instantly when he realizes that Stargirl's unpopularity is spreading to him, rather than stand up to the masses. As for me, I avoid the unnecessary challenges, like when I choose to stay at home instead of competing in tennis. Eventually, of course, I end up going, but nonetheless, if it were up to me, it would turn out differently.

Trimingham calls Leo ‘Mercury’. How is this significant? The rising heat plays an immense role in this book, with the Mercury in the thermometer being an indicator of the changes in heat. I believe that one of the main reasons Hartley makes the connection between Leo being ‘Mercury’ and the mercury in the thermometer is to show that he is an indicator of the rising tension at Brandham Hall. The reader can understand and identify the tension between the different characters at Brandham Hall whilst Leo is innocent and naive and does not understand what is happening.

In the book Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli revealed the character, Amanda Beale, to be really charitable. For example, on page 13 it said, “She tore a book from the suitcase, and hurled it at Maniac.” Amanda Beale gave one of her books to a complete stranger. She didn’t know what he would do with the book. Maniac could have kept the book or even ripped it up.

Sarah Dessen writes a novel that so many people can connect to including myself as I connected with the main character Sydney as being invisible and feeling what true friendship is. Both Sydney and I connected by feeling invisible for a number of reasons. One main example is that Sydney feels invisible in her own family. Her brother Peyton is the star of the family. He is handsome, a daredevil, and popular.