Anna-Tina+Cartright

Week 3 Character

Adult: Tina Cartright Student: Anna Mcmorris Book Title: Stargirl Pages Read : 186 Dear Tina, Leo is the main character. Leo is a junior at Mica High in Arizona. Leo’s best friend is Kevin. Kevin and Leo have this show called Hot Seat. Hot Seat is when people are picked to go on the show and a group of people called the jury asks them questions about the person. When Star girl came Leo and Kevin immediately wanted her on Hot Seat because she was so different. When Leo started paying more attention to Stargirl he didn’t want her to go on Hot Seat because he didn’t want her to get hurt. I think that Leo was right to think this because she was so different. Leo finally let Stargirl on the show but when she answered the questions it was a disaster she answered them honestly, but the people on the jury were mad at her for being so different. I think that the jury should not have been so cruel because it seemed that Stargirl was really innocent and did not mean to hurt anybody’s feelings. Leo likes to do what everybody else does, he does not like to be different. Stargirl is the exact opposite. She is very outgoing and does not care what other people think. When Leo is going out with Stargirl he notices that he is being shunned because he is with Stargirl. Stargirl does not seem to notice but Leo tries to make Stargirl normal and tells her what to wear and how to act and what to eat. Even when Stargirl does everything he says to do she is still not noticed and it makes her sad but it makes Leo very very happy. When Stargirl wins the Oratorical even then she is not aknowleged. So the next day she goes back to being Stargirl. Leo gets mad but now he knows he just has to accept her for what she is.

** I must confess I was so caught up in the book that I read it all but if you haven’t I won’t spoil it for you. I took the AR test after I read it and got a 100%. I agree with you, I also think that Jerry Spinelli is a little confusing because at first I thought he was writing about Stargirl and it took me a while trying to figure it out. I liked how the author showed that Stargirl was just a fad she would go out of style soon. I never realized that until it was actually mentioned. I was a little mad when Leo tried to change Stargirl, I mean she is who she is no one can change that. Leo should have tried to just accept her for who she is no matter how weird or different she is. **

Sincerely, Anna

Dear Anna

Characters in the book are Stargirl, Leo and Kevin. In my oppinion, Stargirl is the main character. The author talks about have free will Stargirl is and how she cares about people. The way Stargirl cheered at the basketball game told me that she was up beat and carefree. No matter how the team was doing Stargirl still cheered (maybe for the other team). Leo knew that putting Stargirl on the show Hot Seat that they wanted to make fun of her. He didn't want her to go on it because of that reason. That is exactly what happened, is they did. Stargirl would read the boondocks of the paper: death notices, hospital news, birthdays, and wedding announcements to know who she would deliever cards and balloons to. I was supprised to find out that Stargirl was the one that left the tie on Leo's doorstep. The days following the game was terrible for Stargirl. People would not sit with her or even talk with her. Leo was afraid to be seen with her at school because of the way the kids were treating her and he also treated her like that too. Kevin told him at this point to leave her alone because the other kids did not like her. He loved to spend time with her outside of school but not in school. Leo was having a hard time at school with people shunning him because he liked Stargirl. He was a different person on the weekend than at school. Stargirl proved herself again that she did not care how people viewed her. She went on with her daily routine and was just happy as always.

I might find out later in the book what you were talking about with Stargirl only being a fad. I think the book is very good at describing how people can treat other people that they feel are different. I will write later in the week after I finish the book.

I am sorry this is late, but we had internet problems after the storms and I had to wait until work today to get it done. I hope you had a great time at Chicago. I went as an adult and enjoyed it. You kids did a very good job of acting like adults. Parents should be very pround of you kids.

Talk to you later in the week.

Friends, Tina 

Week 4 Adult: Tina Cartright Student: Anna McMorris Book: Stargirl Pages Read 186

Dear Tina,

In the last part of the book Stargirl goes to the ball and went in a beautiful bright yellow ball gown. She had makeup on and her hair all done up all nice and pretty. When she got to the ball, everybody stared, but she just danced by herself to the music. Finally, one guy came and asked her to dance, and after that, boys started coming up to her and asking her to dance. She didn’t dance with just one guy. She danced with everyone! She went up to the band and asked them to play the bunny hop. They formed a long line and moved from tennis court to tennis court, then they went out into the dessert and still danced for a very long time and when they finally came back, she left and they never saw her again.

I enjoyed this book because it showed that it only takes one person to change your entire life. Leo still looks for her. He sees her everyday, but not in the way you think not personally he sees her in the little things that she did. The question that I would like answered is: Why did she leave? I thought that they would stay together and get married so he could tell their kids how funny and bizarre she was. In the ending of the book if I could change it I would make it say that Stargirl and Leo should have gotten married so they could keep changing people’s lives together.

Partner chat Yesterday was amazing!! We went to Chicago and it totally rocked. First we road the bus. (Which was actually kind of fun.) Then we went to Navy Pier. Navy Pier was awesome. I liked how there was a lot of stores in it. My favorite part of the whole trip was the tour of Chicago on the tour boat. I love the water! I also love looking at the different skyscrapers and trying to guess what year they were made. The tour guide was hilarious. He dressed like Indiana Jones. He could do lots of imitations of people, and he was actually good at that. My favorite building was the Trump Hotel. I liked the design. It was pretty modern. When we went to Navy Pier, I rode the Ferris wheel. I rode it with four other people and we couldn’t stop screaming. It was hilarious. When we went to the Blue Men Group that was pretty awesome. The blue men reminded me of children because of how they didn’t talk and their curiosity of all of the things they did. My absolute favorite was when they got the toilet paper and started rolling it towards us. One of the blue men stood in front of my seat and started dancing! They turned on the strobe lights then and he looked like a robot. I thought it was awesome how when they turned the strobe lights off we kept passing the toilet paper, but when they turned it on, it was like every body stopped moving. The entire trip was great and I can’t wait until we go to St. Louis for Six Flags! Also I think it was funny how sometimes you call marshmallow momo. Sometimes we call my dog Sophie “The Baby” She acts like one too. I can’t wait to hear what you think of the book. I hope you liked it.

Sincerely, Anna

Dear Anna

I finally finished the book. It was good. I was wrong on my week 3 response about the main character. I was for sure it was Stargirl, but I did realized that the book was from Leo's point of view. It is terrible how cruel kids can be to another. I did not like how Leo tried to change Stargirl and make her be something she wasn't. After Stargirl changes and Susan wins the speaking competition, she just know that everyone would be waiting on her when she return. They was not and she was very dissappointed. Then the week following her win, she came to school like she was before and realized that being someone you are not will not change the way people feel about you. I was mad at Leo for not still be her boyfriend because she went back to looking and act like before. He wanted so badly for her to be something she was not. Leo was tired of being an out cast because of Stargirl that he could not show her his affection. Dori was so mad at Stargirl for trying to be someone that she wasn't but Dori was her only true friend. When Stargirl arrives at the ball in her beautiful yellow dress, she was beatiful. After the first boy ask her to dance, then it broke the ice for the rest of the dance. She was slapped by Hillari and in return Stargirl kisses her on the check and walks out with no return. Stargirl left her impression at the school. The band now features ukuleles and kids are more likely to be themselves then before. There is a club called "The Sunflowers" performs one nice act per day for someone else. It is nice to see that people can change the world and make it a better place.

I did like the book. I just wish people would realize that being cruel to someone can really hurt their feelings. I am so glad that I got the chance to do this and hope to get to do it again. I hope you have a wonderful time at Six Flags and this summer. Have fun in high school.

Sincerely Tina