Seventh Grade Summer Reading Assignment: StarGirl

Introduction:

On the fourth page of your seventh grade summer reading novel, Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl, the narrator spots a new student at his high school. The narrator’s description: Your first reaction to this girl:

Your 3-part Summer Assignment:

As you read Stargirl, you’ll get to know this young lady much better, and you’ll have new and more complicated reactions to her. You’ll also get to know the narrator (Leo) and the community at Mica Area High School. 1) After making it to page 99, you should record some of these observations and thoughts:

What you’ve learned about Stargirl (the character): What you’ve learned about Mica High School:

And then I saw her. At lunch. She wore an off-white dress so long it covered her shoes. It had ruffles around the neck and cuffs and looked like it could have been her great-grandmother’s wedding gown. Her hair was the color of sand. It fell to her shoulders. Something was strapped across her back, but it wasn’t a book bag. At first I thought it was a miniature guitar. I found out later it was a ukulele.

She did not carry a lunch tray. She did carry a large canvas bag with a life-size sunflower painted on it. The lunchroom was dead silent as she walked by.

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2) After finishing the novel, you should summarize your overall reaction to the young woman known as Stargirl. For instance:

- What do you find likeable/unlikable about Stargirl (the character)?

- What do you find confusing about Stargirl?

- What do her ideas and behavior make you think about or feel?

- Would you want to be friends with Stargirl? Why or why not?

3) Finally, I’d like you to imagine something:

What if Stargirl showed up—as a new student—at your school? (This could mean Brookwood or wherever you attended last year.)

Show off your imagination and what kind of writer you are by composing a short story that follows three simple guidelines:

A) You are the narrator. (Narrator = the voice that “tells” the story.) B) The setting is your school last year. C) Stargirl is one of the main characters.

What happens when Stargirl comes to your school? What kind of problem or conflict might result? How would that conflict get more intense and eventually come to an end?

A few other details:

• Make your short story at least 2 pages (double-spaced), but no longer than 5. • Type your short story. • Bring this handout and one copy of your story to your first day of English class.

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