Love, Stargirl (2007)

I read about a quarter of it and gave up. I'm not interested in reading about someone's adventures with a 5-year-old girl. ( )

A great follow-up to Stargirl. In this book, Stargirl is writing "the world's longest letter" to Leo from the first book. Not quite as good as the first one but a good and fast read.

Stargirl still struggles with belonging as she finds new friends and writes all about it to Leo whom she left behind. Her humor helps as we struggle with her and the questions about life and love. ( )

It's very sweet. I love Stargirl's optimism, and how well she gets along with everyone. I love that she's nervous and confused sometimes, too.

I do wonder how real homeschoolers feel about the representation of Stargirl's education, though. The only time she mentions school is when her mom (her teacher) gives her a day to play hooky, or sends her out to write a poem as her assignment for the day.

Besides that, the story is just so sweet and cheery, it's just a warm fuzzy glowing hug of a book. ( )

Every bit as good as the first. Some of the more eccentric town characters take some suspension of disbelief, but on the whole, Stargirl's story is by turns heartwarming and heartbreaking as she documents--in "the world's longest letter"--the year that follows her breakup with Leo and her move from the Arizona desert. This is the year she hits bottom; her happiness wagon--with 20 pebbles in it a year earlier, First Kiss Day--shrinks to just one stone. Stargirl clings to herself, unwilling to turn into plain Susan for a second time in a year, and it's that strength of spirit that might eventually save her--and some others, as well.

I can't put my finger on what it is that makes this book so wonderful--it's sweet and touching and poetic but never crosses into saccharine or treacly. I guess it just is what it is--much like Stargirl herself. ( )