Stargirl
Final Exam
Respond to three (3) of the following prompts with well-developed, fully supported,
detail-laden essays. (No, your essays do not have to be standard, five-paragraph
academic essays, but you must have a clearly stated thesis, tons of explanatory
details, and a conclusion, so that five-paragraph format might be the way
to go after all.)
If Leo had known then what he knows now (15 years after his experience with Stargirl), what, if anything, would he do differently? Explain what he has learned and how he has changed. What lessons would age teach him? Can such lessons be taught to teenagers? Why or why not?
Point of view plays an important role in this novel. We never actually see inside Stargirl’s thoughts. Everything we know about her is filtered through Leo, the narrator. Why would the author (Jerry Spinelli) do this? What point is he making by allowing us to see Stargirl only as others see her?
This book was recommended to me by a former student named Tetrahydozaline. She said it was one of her favorite books that month. (She reads a LOT.) Write her a letter and tell her what you thought of the book and if you think it is worthy of studying in class. Be specific in your praise and criticisms. Who knows? She might even respond. (If you choose this one, it should be in letter format on a separate sheet of paper.)
“Ideas confine a man to certain social groups and social
groups confine a man to certain ideas.” -- Josephine Klein (Working with
Groups)
Respond to this quote based on your understanding of the novel Stargirl.