A review by shonaningyo
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
3.0
I opted not to read this book during my 6th grade Lit Circle group. I don't know why, but I just don't fancy Jerry Spinelli. Maybe it's because I've never been into books written for a middle schooler or the 12-14 demographic. I read the First Reads version of Huckleberry Finn when I was six years old, for crying out loud (Mum said I CORRECTLY sounded out the word "counterfeit" --insert fist pump of childhood awesomeness here--), why would I at around 12 years old be reading a book "meant" for my age group?
I digress. I wanted to start somewhere on my list of "books everyone else has read and I should have read by now but haven't because F*ck All Knows". This was short, simple, sweet, just the way I like it when I'm in an impatient hurry like this.
This book tells the tale of a high school boy whose life was run-of-the-mill teenagerhood. Then this crazy "Stargirl" enrolls in the public school system as a Sophomore after all these years of homeschooling.
She is an odd girl. Odd in every sense of the word. Odd because everything that is routine, socially acceptable and expected is broken when she enters the room. She sings "Happy Birthday" to kids in the cafeteria on a ukelele; she wears odd clothes (prairie skirts that reach her ankles, sometimes costumes for no other reason than for funsies); she carries a kind of bedskirt with her to each class so she can pretty up her desk for the period.
At first, the kids are bemused, then they accept her as something like a breath of fresh air.
All goes well until one basketball game.
...
Here is what you supposed "freaks and weirdoes" need to know, and it is this (take this from one "outcast" to another, because I've had to learn this the hard way. Listen up!):
When a person does not conform to the standard norm, there WILL be backlash. It may not be as astounding and resolute and cruel as Stargirl's consequential ostracism by the whole student body save for the male narrator, or maybe it may as well be just that (save for a male narrator logging everything you do. Seriously, that's creepy in real life).
If you are TRULY an oddball, TRULY one who does not conform simply because, well, that's just how you are, then prepare for backlash from peers, parents, and other adults.
And backlash isn't necessarily a BAD thing in truth. I'm sorry to say, but we all can't be "who we truly are" if we want to live harmoniously with others in society. But tone it down a little.
I've had to learn that; it's taken me years to learn that. Asperger's / autistic tendencies and social awkwardness like you wouldn't believe. It's not the kind where "oh well I just don't know how to start a conversation" it's like "Why did she cry when I told her her drawing of that eagle looked terrible? I was telling the truth." Me? I've developed a filter, but things still slip out. I parrot things I hear, I repeat words like catchphrases, I stim (stimulate myself by flapping my fingers or hands or jiggling my leg at the speed of sound), I speak my mind and at times it sounds bitchy, but at times it's just me speaking the truth which people don't realize or are blatantly ignoring in favor of their own biased opinion. I'm very blunt and to the point. Just me, just how I am.
But I've received backlash. I've been avoided when I was a little kid, never having a playmate. I don't think I was as weird as I am now, I don't REMEMBER doing any of the things I do now; I just wasn't well liked. I remember kids being afraid of me and my tantrums and blow outs when I was in middle school, and I remember trying very hard to become more approachable. Right now I'm learning how to let people into my life and invite myself out to "outings" with classmates, though I've realized that in doing so, I'm trading my "self" for community and a sense of belonging.
There is nothing wrong with this. I'm sure this need to be with people is just a phase, haha. I'll get over it eventually.
Aaaah.... yes, the book... At first I didn't like Stargirl. Don't you guys DARE give me that overly-liberal bullshit "Just be yourself. Just be yourself. She's being herself." Yeah, would you REALLY like to be "yourself" in public? Your dirty habit of picking your nose, your swearing problem, your secret hatred of the French, Russians, and Mormons? (Only two of those apply to me. Guess correctly and you'll get a funny GIF! :3 )
Yes, Stargirl found a friend in ONE girl by being herself. Just one. People will say "one true friend is all you need". Maybe, but maybe it would feel nice for everyone not hate your guts for being who you are. You need to conform just a LITTLE BIT. It saves time, energy, tears, and heartache for you in the long run. And hey, you can be whoever you want to be with people you know won't judge you.
Having quirks gives people ammo. Don't expect people to know respect; look at the Internet for God's sake. Look at any forum or YouTube video comment section or certain websites like Cracked.com or chat rooms. Bunch of New Yorkers with Tourette's, that's what we all are. Jesus Christ.
So don't expect EVERYONE to be on board with your cute little idiosyncracies and hypocrisms. It's not gonna fly with some people. Sure they may be "narrow minded" like that bitch Queen Bee in the book, but all you have to do is surround yourself with people who will have your back. Don't go all out on the first day of school, please. Give it time for you to reveal a little bit more of yourself every day or every week and the potential friends will come out of the woodwork, you just wait and see.
Why must people constantly think All or Nothing? Stupid Americans, with our gentle, babying reasoning for raising kids.
BE YOURSELF, BUT BE YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT GROUPS OF PEOPLE ... (My classmate just told me, "But swearing and bad behavior shouldn't be a part of who you truly are..." F*ck you, M. J. ... Always raining on my rants -___- )
I digress. I wanted to start somewhere on my list of "books everyone else has read and I should have read by now but haven't because F*ck All Knows". This was short, simple, sweet, just the way I like it when I'm in an impatient hurry like this.
This book tells the tale of a high school boy whose life was run-of-the-mill teenagerhood. Then this crazy "Stargirl" enrolls in the public school system as a Sophomore after all these years of homeschooling.
She is an odd girl. Odd in every sense of the word. Odd because everything that is routine, socially acceptable and expected is broken when she enters the room. She sings "Happy Birthday" to kids in the cafeteria on a ukelele; she wears odd clothes (prairie skirts that reach her ankles, sometimes costumes for no other reason than for funsies); she carries a kind of bedskirt with her to each class so she can pretty up her desk for the period.
At first, the kids are bemused, then they accept her as something like a breath of fresh air.
All goes well until one basketball game.
...
Here is what you supposed "freaks and weirdoes" need to know, and it is this (take this from one "outcast" to another, because I've had to learn this the hard way. Listen up!):
When a person does not conform to the standard norm, there WILL be backlash. It may not be as astounding and resolute and cruel as Stargirl's consequential ostracism by the whole student body save for the male narrator, or maybe it may as well be just that (save for a male narrator logging everything you do. Seriously, that's creepy in real life).
If you are TRULY an oddball, TRULY one who does not conform simply because, well, that's just how you are, then prepare for backlash from peers, parents, and other adults.
And backlash isn't necessarily a BAD thing in truth. I'm sorry to say, but we all can't be "who we truly are" if we want to live harmoniously with others in society. But tone it down a little.
I've had to learn that; it's taken me years to learn that. Asperger's / autistic tendencies and social awkwardness like you wouldn't believe. It's not the kind where "oh well I just don't know how to start a conversation" it's like "Why did she cry when I told her her drawing of that eagle looked terrible? I was telling the truth." Me? I've developed a filter, but things still slip out. I parrot things I hear, I repeat words like catchphrases, I stim (stimulate myself by flapping my fingers or hands or jiggling my leg at the speed of sound), I speak my mind and at times it sounds bitchy, but at times it's just me speaking the truth which people don't realize or are blatantly ignoring in favor of their own biased opinion. I'm very blunt and to the point. Just me, just how I am.
But I've received backlash. I've been avoided when I was a little kid, never having a playmate. I don't think I was as weird as I am now, I don't REMEMBER doing any of the things I do now; I just wasn't well liked. I remember kids being afraid of me and my tantrums and blow outs when I was in middle school, and I remember trying very hard to become more approachable. Right now I'm learning how to let people into my life and invite myself out to "outings" with classmates, though I've realized that in doing so, I'm trading my "self" for community and a sense of belonging.
There is nothing wrong with this. I'm sure this need to be with people is just a phase, haha. I'll get over it eventually.
Aaaah.... yes, the book... At first I didn't like Stargirl. Don't you guys DARE give me that overly-liberal bullshit "Just be yourself. Just be yourself. She's being herself." Yeah, would you REALLY like to be "yourself" in public? Your dirty habit of picking your nose, your swearing problem, your secret hatred of the French, Russians, and Mormons? (Only two of those apply to me. Guess correctly and you'll get a funny GIF! :3 )
Yes, Stargirl found a friend in ONE girl by being herself. Just one. People will say "one true friend is all you need". Maybe, but maybe it would feel nice for everyone not hate your guts for being who you are. You need to conform just a LITTLE BIT. It saves time, energy, tears, and heartache for you in the long run. And hey, you can be whoever you want to be with people you know won't judge you.
Having quirks gives people ammo. Don't expect people to know respect; look at the Internet for God's sake. Look at any forum or YouTube video comment section or certain websites like Cracked.com or chat rooms. Bunch of New Yorkers with Tourette's, that's what we all are. Jesus Christ.
So don't expect EVERYONE to be on board with your cute little idiosyncracies and hypocrisms. It's not gonna fly with some people. Sure they may be "narrow minded" like that bitch Queen Bee in the book, but all you have to do is surround yourself with people who will have your back. Don't go all out on the first day of school, please. Give it time for you to reveal a little bit more of yourself every day or every week and the potential friends will come out of the woodwork, you just wait and see.
Why must people constantly think All or Nothing? Stupid Americans, with our gentle, babying reasoning for raising kids.
BE YOURSELF, BUT BE YOURSELF WITH THE RIGHT GROUPS OF PEOPLE ... (My classmate just told me, "But swearing and bad behavior shouldn't be a part of who you truly are..." F*ck you, M. J. ... Always raining on my rants -___- )