70 pages • 2 hours read
Jerry SpinelliStargirl
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2000A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Quiz
Reading Check, Multiple Choice & Short Answer Quizzes
Reading Check questions are designed for in-class review on key plot points or for quick verbal or written assessments. Multiple Choice and Short Answer Quizzes create ideal summative assessments, and collectively function to convey a sense of the work’s tone and themes.
Prologue-Chapter 7
Reading Check
1. What does Leo receive as a going-away present from his uncle?
2. Why does Hillari Kimble think that Stargirl is a “scam”?
3. What does Leo realize about Stargirl when he stares at the moon?
4. Who is Wayne Parr? Why is he important to Mica Area High School (MAHS) students?
5. What does the captain of the cheerleading squad ask Stargirl? What is Stargirl’s answer?
6. Does Stargirl sing “Happy Birthday” to Hillari? Explain.
Multiple Choice
1. How does Leo describe his high school classmates?
A) They are brimming with individuality.
B) With some small deviations, most of them are similar.
C) They do not care what other people think.
D) They are boring and bland, with no interesting qualities.
2. In the beginning of Chapter 3, how do Kevin and Leo feel about asking Stargirl to be a guest on their show, Hot Seat?
A) They both agree that she would be hilarious on the show.
B) They both agree that it would be inappropriate to ask her.
C) Leo thinks it would boost their ratings, while Kevin is reluctant.
D) Kevin wants her on the show, but Leo changes his mind.
3. “She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl” (Chapter 3). Which of the following literary terms is used in the previous quote?
A) simile
B) allusion
C) irony
D) metaphor
4. Which two adjectives best describe how Hillari feels about Stargirl singing “Happy Birthday” to her?
A) aggressive and embittered
B) excited and thrilled
C) nonchalant and cavalier
D) cold and standoffish
Short-Answer Response
Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. Describe Stargirl’s appearance on the first day of school. What is she wearing? How does she act? How do the other students respond?
2. What does Leo see Stargirl doing at the football game? How does the crowd react?
3. Who is Archie Brubaker? Why do the students of MAHS come to his home?
Chapters 8-14
Reading Check
1. What type of competition does Stargirl enter to represent MAHS?
2. What do Leo and Kevin ask Stargirl to do?
3. What events account for a small change in public opinion again towards Stargirl?
4. When Stargirl is cheering at the basketball games, how does she react when the opposing team scores a point?
5.What is the major difference in the basketball team’s record this school year?
6. What is “Chico?”
7. What does Leo say is the “greatest moment in Hot Seat history?” (Chapter 12)
8. How does Stargirl respond when Kevin asks her about her name on Hot Seat?
Multiple Choice
1. When Leo states, “It was wonderful to see, wonderful to be in the middle of: we mud frogs awakening all around” (Chapter 9), what figurative language does he use to express his classmates' new-found individuality?
A) simile
B) personification
C) metaphor
D) allusion
2. Which of the following best describes how Leo feels prior to filming the episode of Hot Seat with Stargirl?
A) He is excited to interview the most popular girl at MAHS.
B) He is afraid that the show might turn ugly because of Stargirl’s dwindling popularity.
C) He is nervous that he will make a mistake because it is his first show.
D) He is determined to ask her difficult questions, since he is frustrated with her.
3. Which two adjectives best describe the types of questions that the MAHS students ask Stargirl during her Hot Seat interview?
A) hurtful and probing
B) friendly and considerate
C) engaging and disarming
D) lackluster and humorous
4. Which of these inferences is most clearly demonstrated when Stargirl leaves small presents on the desks of her homeroom class the day after the Hot Seat episode?
A) She is choosing not to let the events of the episode affect her tradition of leaving small gifts on her classmates’ desks on holidays.
B) She is pleased with how well the episode turned out and wants to personally thank the students in her class.
C) She is embarrassed about Cinnamon’s behavior on the show and wants to apologize to the students who were affected.
D) She is afraid that no one likes her anymore and wants to please her peers.
Short-Answer Response
Answer each of the following questions in a complete sentence or sentences. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.
1. At the beginning of Chapter 8, Leo remarks that “by December first, Stargirl Caraway had become the most popular girl in school.” List 2-3 of the possible reasons for Stargirl’s popularity which Leo ponders.
2. Leo recalls the change in the atmosphere at MAHS during the month of December. What are some of the changes he says happened in the school? How long does this change last?
3. What is the conflict between Stargirl and the rest of the cheerleading squad? Describe how this difference of opinion becomes clear at the game between MAHS and Red Rock.
4. At the end of Chapter 14, Stargirl performs two unpopular acts during MAHS basketball games. Describe what she does and discuss the response of the crowd.
Chapters 15-21
Reading Check
1. What does Leo receive from Stargirl?
2. What does Leo hear a group of girls say about Stargirl after the incidents at the basketball games?
3. What does Stargirl tell Leo that she knew he did secretly months prior?
4. What does Leo realize as he walks with Stargirl around the school?
5. What does Stargirl practice in front of Leo when they go into the desert?
6. Leo realizes that Stargirl gave him a gift several years ago. What is this gift?
7. What are “fillers?”
Multiple Choice
1. How can Archie’s role to the MAHS students who visit his house best be described?
A) an impartial counselor who listens to their problems
B) an educator who shares with them his love of paleontology
C) a friend who shares his opinions when asked
D) all of the above
2. How does Leo feel as he approaches Stargirl’s house for the first time?
A) He feels confident and determined to kiss her.
B) He feels nervous and afraid.
C) He feels dizzy and awestruck.
D) He feels confused about his feelings for her.
3. After realizing that he is in love with Stargirl Leo recalls that “in school [he] was a yellow balloon, smiling and lazy, floating above the classroom” (Chapter 17). What type of figurative language does he use to describe his feelings?
A) simile
B) allusion
C) metaphor
D) irony
4. While they meditate together in the desert, Stargirl explains to Leo that, “The earth is speaking to us, but we can’t hear because of all the racket our senses are making. Sometimes we need to erase them, erase our senses. Then—maybe—the earth will touch us. The universe will speak. The stars will whisper” (Chapter 17). What type of figurative language does Stargirl use to describe the relationship between humans and the earth?
A) She makes comparisons using similes.
B) She does not use any figurative language in this quote.
C) She references a popular Native American story with an allusion.
D) She humanizes entities using personification.
Short-Answer Response
1. Describe what happens the first time that Leo goes to Stargirl’s house. How does he react at the end?
2. Compare and contrast how Leo feels about his relationship with Stargirl before and after his realization regarding how his fellow classmates treat them.
3. Leo questions Stargirl’s choice to leave gifts anonymously for people. Why does he think this is unusual? What is her response?
4. What game do Stargirl and Leo play at the mall?
Chapters 22-28
Reading Check
1. What is Stargirl’s “happy wagon” (Chapter 22)? How does it work?
2. What is the main reason why the MAHS students are shunning Stargirl?
3. What message does Stargirl write on the plywood roadrunner?
Multiple Choice
1. How do Leo and Stargirl respond to being ignored by their classmates?
A) Stargirl is concerned about Leo’s mental health, but Leo is too much in love to notice.
B) Leo and Stargirl are both unaware of their classmates’ treatment.
C) Stargirl does not seem to notice how her classmates act, while Leo cares very much about his classmates liking him.
D) Leo and Stargirl are both desperately trying to get on good terms again with their peers.
2. When Leo “explains the ways of people” (Chapter 25) to Stargirl, how does she initially respond?
A) defensively, since she believes it is her duty to help her community
B) graciously, since she wants to change how she behaves in order to fit in with the MAHS students
C) hurtfully, since she takes all of Leo’s words personally and they hurt her feelings
D) dumbfoundedly, since she did not see anything wrong with helping people
3. Which literary device is exemplified by the name “Evelyn Everybody”?
A) alliteration
B) simile
C) personification
D) metaphor
Short-Answer Response
1. Are Stargirl’s parents how Leo imagined them to be? Why or why not?
2. Who is Susan? How does she compare to Stargirl?
3. What does Susan predict upon her return from the oratorical contest? Why is this important for her?
4. What is unique about Susan’s speech in the finals? Does she win the contest?
Chapter 29-Epilogue
Reading Check
1. Who is waiting to greet Susan at the high school after the oratorical contest? Is this whom she was expecting?
2. What happens to Susan by the Monday after the oratorical contest?
3. Who are the Ukee Dooks?
4. What does Leo see when he visits Stargirl’s house the summer after the Ocotillo Ball?
5. What does Archie show Leo during the summer after the Ocotillo Ball?
6. What is Leo’s job 15 years later?
Multiple Choice
1. What does Leo’s reaction to Stargirl’s return to MAHS imply?
A) He is confused why she left in the first place.
B) He misses Susan instead.
C) He does not notice anything different about her.
D) He is overjoyed to have her singing and playing her ukulele again.
2. Which inference regarding events after Stargirl left is clearly evidenced by Leo’s description of MAHS 15 years later?
A) The school immediately forgot her.
B) She was mocked and ridiculed for years after.
C) Only the teachers mentioned her because of the oratorical contest.
D) She left a lasting and positive impact on MAHS, which encouraged individuality.
Short-Answer Response
1. Describe the night of the Ocotillo Ball. With whom does Stargirl arrive? What happens at the dance? What significant event occurs between Stargirl and Hillari?
2. What does Leo receive on his most recent birthday as an adult? What does this imply?
Quizzes – Answer Key
Prologue-Chapter 7
Reading Check
1. a necktie with porcupines (Prologue)
2. She thinks the high school administration planted her because of the lack of school spirit. (Chapter 2)
3. He realizes that Stargirl is real. (Chapter 2)
4. He is Hillari Kimble’s boyfriend, who, according to Leo, subconsciously leads the classmates in what to do and what not to do. (Chapter 4)
5. She asks Stargirl to become a cheerleader, and Stargirl says yes. (Chapter 5)
6. No; she sings “Happy Birthday” near Hillari but says Leo’s name instead. (Chapter 6)
Multiple Choice
Short-Answer Response
1. Stargirl is a new student at MAHS. She is wearing a long white dress and has a ukulele. She plays her ukulele and sings during the lunch period. The other students, including Leo and his friend Kevin, are shocked at her unconventional behavior. (Chapter 1)
2. Stargirl is on the football field. The crowd watches her march around and dance; she punts the football before running out. The crowd and cheerleaders react positively, cheering for her. (Chapter 5)
3. Archie serves as a kind of tutor or informal teacher for students from the town. He was a university professor and paleontologist, now retired. Stargirl visited Archie once a week for lessons, so he is able to share with Leo and Kevin that she is genuine. (Chapter 7)
Chapters 8-14
Reading Check
1. an oratorical (public speaking) contest (Chapter 8)
2. They finally agree to schedule Stargirl for Hot Seat. (Chapter 10)
3. supposedly saying her own words during “The Pledge of Allegiance,” her presence at a funeral when she didn’t know the deceased, and giving a child a bicycle anonymously (Chapter 10)
4. She cheers for the opposing team’s points. (Chapter 11)
5. They are undefeated. (Chapter 11)
6. “Chico” is the handheld close-up camera that is used on Hot Seat. (Chapter 12)
7. Stargirl’s pantomime of a (literally) hot seat (Chapter 12)
8. She says that she has had multiple names before, including “Pocket Mouse,” “Mudpie,” and “Hullygully.” (Chapter 13)
Multiple Choice
Short Answer
1. Possibilities include: the fact that she was now an integral part of the cheerleading squad; the moment that Hillari threaten to drop her pet rat, Cinnamon, down the stairs; when Dori Dilson sat with her at lunch. (Chapter 8)
2. Leo likens his classmates’ change to the awakening of the “dormant mud frogs we had been for so long” (Chapter 9). Some examples of change include people trying out for school shows, starting new clubs, wearing more unusual styles of clothing, and generally becoming more individualistic. Along with this, the students support each other as they embrace their individuality. This “golden age” lasts for a few weeks in December/January.
3. Stargirl feels bad for the opposing team and thinks when she cheers it only makes the other team lose more, which is not fun for her. The cheerleading squad reminds her that her job is not to have fun, but to cheer for MAHS. Stargirl stays outside for most of the game, and the cheerleading squad finds a way to leave her behind at the Red Rock high school. (Chapter 11)
4. At the game between MAHS and Sun Valley, the opposing team’s star player gets injured, and Stargirl rushes to help him. When MAHS plays Glendale, they are losing by a lot; however, Stargirl continues to cheer as if MAHS has a chance. Someone throws a tomato at her just as the opposing team wins. (Chapter 14)
Chapters 15-21
Reading Check
1. a note that says “I love you” (Chapter 15)
2. He hears them say she was kicked off the cheerleading squad. (Chapter 16)
3. that she knew he followed her in the beginning of the year (Chapter 17)
4. that no one is looking at them/acknowledging their presence when they are together (Chapter 18)
5. her speeches for the oratorical contest (Chapter 20)
6. She gave him the porcupine tie several years ago. (Chapter 20)
7. the parts of the paper not important enough to be a story, used instead to fill up the extra space (Chapter 21)
Multiple Choice
Short Answer
1. After Leo finds her house, he is surprised to see Stargirl come out. He hides behind the car in her driveway, but she sees him and starts to talk to him. Cinnamon, her pet rat, comes over to greet him. They talk for a while, and she goes back inside. Leo wishes that she would never leave. (Chapter 16)
2. Before Leo realizes people are giving Stargirl the silent treatment, he feels that his relationship with Stargirl is a “cozy, tunnel-of-love sweetness”; however, afterwards, he says it feels like a “chilling isolation.” Stargirl does not notice the difference at all and pretends that nothing is wrong. (Chapter 18)
3. Leo says that when most people give a gift, it is normal to leave a note saying who it is from and that it is nice to receive credit. Stargirl questions the importance of leaving a name and receiving credit. (Chapter 20)
4. They follow a person around for 15 minutes and try to learn as much as they can about them . Then they decide on a unique greeting card they would give the person based on their actions. (Chapter 21)
Chapters 22-28
Reading Check
1. It is a small toy wagon that holds pebbles representing how happy she is. The larger the number of pebbles inside, the greater happiness she feels. (Chapter 22)
2. They blame her for the basketball team not becoming state champions. (Chapter 23)
3. “STARGIRL LOVES LEO” (Chapter 24)
Multiple Choice
Short Answer
1. Unlike the way Leo originally thought, her parents were not from a “leftover hippie scene” but instead were relatively normal. (Chapter 22).
2. Susan is Stargirl’s birth name, as well as the new persona she becomes after her conversation with Leo. Susan dresses like the other girls at the high school and no longer stands out. Leo is very pleased with how she looks and hugs her front of everyone. (Chapter 26).
3. Susan envisions that her classmates will be waiting for her in the school parking lot to celebrate her presumed contest win. This is important to her because she believes it will mean that she is popular. (Chapter 26)
4. Most of her speech is silence, instead of prepared words. The crowd loves it and she wins the contest. (Chapter 28).
Chapter 29-Epilogue
Reading Check
1. Two teachers and her friend, Dori are there. Susan is expecting the whole school to be waiting for her and cheering her win. (Chapter 29)
2. She becomes Stargirl again. (Chapter 30)
3. They are Stargirl and Dori, the only members of the Ukulele club at MAHS. (Chapter 30)
4. He discovers that her house is put up for sale. (Chapter 32)
5. Stargirl’s “office” (Chapter 32)
6. He is a set designer on the East Coast. (Chapter 33)
Reading Check
1. B (Chapter 30)
2. D (Epilogue)
Short Answer
1. Leo watches the Ball at the Mica Country Club from a distance. He sees Stargirl arrive in a bicycle sidecar with Dori pedaling; she brings Cinnamon. Parents call Stargirl’s appearance “regal” and “unusual.” She dances alone, then with a boy; she requests the band play “The Bunny Hop,” a group dance from the 1950s. She leads the participants into the dark, and when they return, Hillari slaps Stargirl, who kisses her on the cheek in return. (Chapter 31)
2. He receives a porcupine necktie. This implies that maybe Stargirl is still keeping track of him in his life, and that she never really left. (Epilogue)
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