Stargirl

Stargirl inspires students to express their individuality. Kids start clubs, write letters to the school paper, dye their hair, and wear different shoes. Leo thinks it is wonderful to watch her kindness spread throughout the school. He recognizes there is a new positive community spirit at MAHS. Leo also feels a new sense of freedom, but he does not know how to express it. When he tells Archie that the changes at school are a “miracle” (41), Archie warns him that miracles do not last very long.

Leo finally lets Kevin ask Stargirl to be on Hot Seat. Having assumed Stargirl would refuse the attraction of being on television, Leo is surprised when she accepts. Meanwhile, three incidents change students’ attitudes toward Stargirl. An anonymous note posted on the school bulletin board declares that Stargirl says her own words to the Pledge of Allegiance. Stargirl attends the funeral of a student’s grandfather but is angrily kicked out of the post-funeral luncheon by the girl’s mom, who knows that Stargirl did not even know the deceased. Stargirl also inserts herself into the homecoming of a sick nine-year old and causes family trouble when the boy receives a new bike that no one in the family purchased. Still, Stargirl remains popular.

During basketball season, Stargirl continues to stand out on the cheerleading squad. She cheers when either team makes a basket. She also inspires others to cheer people for small, everyday actions like picking up litter. When the basketball team suddenly starts to win games, the students at Mica unite in their hatred of other teams and begin to boo them. Stargirl, however, continues to cheer for everyone and is oblivious when she herself is booed by Mica students. Stargirl walks out of a game because she feels sorry for an opposing team that is losing badly. The other cheerleaders tell Stargirl she should cheer for Mica only. They play a mean trick on her, causing her to be left behind when the bus takes the squad and the basketball team back to Mica. Stargirl believes them when they tell her it was a misunderstanding. 

Kevin and Leo film Stargirl’s episode of Hot Seat the next day. The show is filmed after school and airs the same night on the local prime time cable channel. The guest sits in a red chair painted with flames. Kevin is host and moderator, and a jury of twelve students ask the “victim” (55) embarrassing questions. The jury is instructed not to ask overly cruel questions. Leo works in the studio control room in a production capacity, overseen by his faculty advisor, Mr. Robineau. Leo has a bad feeling about this episode. Stargirl is no longer popular, and one of the jurors is Hillari Kimble. The filming begins on a good note. Stargirl pretends the chair is really on fire, making Kevin and Mr. Robineau laugh, while Cinnamon gets loose and startles the jury.

Kevin asks Stargirl about her unusual name. Stargirl explains that her original name was Susan. She changes her name whenever she outgrows it. She chose Stargirl after watching the start in the desert night sky. The jury asks Stargirl mean-spirited questions and makes rude comments. One boy suggests she is a traitor for saying the Pledge of Allegiance incorrectly. Another girl is furious that Stargirl cheers for other teams. Stargirl is surprised that the girl does not want the other team to be happy also. Stargirl says she left homeschooling to make friends. Hillari takes over, angrily ordering her to “Get outta my school!” (66) The rest of the jury turns on Stargirl, asking her why she cannot be normal and what is wrong with her. Through it all, Leo continues filming. Mr. Robineau ends the show, but the jurors continue to shout at her.

Mr. Robineau destroys the tape, and Stargirl’s episode of Hot Seat never airs. Nevertheless, everyone in school knows about it and wonders what will happen next. On Valentine’s Day, Stargirl gives everyone in her homeroom a candy heart. During that night’s basketball game, Stargirl does not cheer when the other team scores. When the opposing team’s star player breaks his ankle, Stargirl is at his side but returns to cheer and Mica wins the game. The next playoff game, however, Mica loses. The Mica students are bitterly disappointed. The cheerleaders, including Stargirl, keep cheering. Someone throws a tomato in Stargirl’s face. The Mica students applaud and laugh at the sight. The next day, Leo finds a Valentine tucked into his notebook. It reads “I love you” and is signed with the picture of a star and a stick-figure girl.