BOOKS

This week, Girls’ Life is discussing Stargirl, the wacky yet awesome book by Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli. The book is all about popularity, what it means to be your own person and true love. Sigh.

Wanna hear a guilty secret? In middle school I had to read this book for summer reading and I hated it. I never wanted to read it again—until now. This time when I picked it up there was no way I was putting it down. Whatever had irked me so bad before (probably being forced to read it during summer) has been replaced with a deep love for this book. There is so much more to Stargirl than I originally though. So let’s leave Memory Lane and get to chattering!
 
 
Discussion:
 
1) If you could make up a name for yourself (example being Stargirl, of course) what would it be and why?
 
GL Lauren: Wow, what a hard question. If I had to pick a name, assuming I can change it for various stages in life, it would be TouchaDestiny. I am a college student and my worry is the future and my constant desire is to chase my dreams. I believe I am meant for something special, thus I am hoping there is a touch of destiny inside me.
 
2) What are your thoughts on Leo? Do you think he deserves to see Stargirl again? Or should he suffer for being so unkind to her?
 
GL Lauren: I really liked Leo when all of this started off. He was wonderful to Stargirl and curious about her ways. I guess he underestimated the power of peer pressure and overestimated himself. I am not saying that if I was Leo, I wouldn’t miss the presence of the group or that I would be able to resist the need to be accepted. What I am saying, however, is that when you truly love a person, you don’t turn your back on them. Secretly, I would love him to meet Stargirl again when they are older and for him to see how fabulous she has surely become. As to if there should be future romance, I can’t make up my mind. 
 
3) Which one of Stargirl’s good deeds is your favorite and why?
 
GL Lauren: I really love the album idea. I find it a bit creepy, but I would love to receive a picture album that documents my life. Pictures are just memories on paper, but it still warms your heart to pull out those pictures and be like “Look, this is when we had a food fight at my birthday party!” Digital pictures loaded onto a computer just aren’t the same. Side note: I also love her happiness wagon. I think that is a fabulous idea. I would add idea stones as well though, so when you took a rock out of the wagon it would have an activity or thought on the other side that would make you smile.
 
4) Have you ever done something you weren’t necessarily proud of to fit in?
 
GL Lauren: I have always been a very independent and individual person, which I am very proud of. I can say, however, that I went through a phase of telling little white lies. Looking back they were probably bigger than I really planned them to be. I would brag about the party I had at my house—when there wasn’t one. I would increase the number of guys I had dated from three to six. I had a habit of improving the truth. Eventually, I found friends that love me the way I am and I didn’t feel the need to lie about myself anymore. They love the true me, not the me I pretended to be.
 
5) Name one quirk, one interesting hobby and one personality trait that sets you apart.
 
GL Lauren: One quirk would be that I will not eat strawberries—ever. I am allergic to kiwis, and I feel like strawberries go hand in hand with them. They are evil by association, lol. One interesting hobby is that I read tarot cards. I trained for a couple months with a pocket set and then when I felt ready to move on, I bought an Enchanted Tarot deck and have been learning them since. One personality trait—that’s a hard one. I would probably say that I am a secret romantic. Yes, I am crazy sarcastic and can only take so many chick flicks, but every girl wants that guy who will sweep her off her feet. But keep that on the DL.

 
Keep your eyes open for the August Book Club calendar. Until then, keep reading!
 
—Lauren Linhard

7/27/2008 2:59:00 AM