Love, Stargirl

Love, Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli
Random House - 2007

Purchase at Amazon.com 
Reading Level: 8+  Number of Pages: 274 Genre: Fiction
 
Summary:The sequel to Stargirl, this book follows Stargirl herself as she writes "the world's longest letter" to Leo. The book reads as a series of journal entries, all directed to Leo, who has no idea where she went at the end of the first book. Stargirl and a six-year old named Dootsie spend time together, and her influence affects the people in her new town in a positive way. The book culminates with Stargirl's project of making a solar calendar, and inviting members of the town to experience the winter solstice with her. In attendance is a woman who has not left her house in years, but came to support Stargirl.

    

"Tell me that even though our bodies were in separate states, our star selves shared an enchanted place."

My Impressions: Having read Stargirl, I feel it is essential to follow up with a sequel. The first book climaxes with Leo's near-acceptance of Stargirl's uniqueness, but never quite gets off the ground. I read this book because I expected a sequel to answer the typical questions a book with a love story seems to demand: "Do Stargirl and Leo ever get together again?" "This isn't the end, right?"

I have to admit although I was expecting an answer to the first question, the book leaves that open to future events, but it is clear that this isn't the end of the story, even if the book ends here. I really enjoyed this book.

 

Parent's Guide: No problems.

Recommendations: Once you finish Stargirl, you'll come back and read this one.