Star Girl

I hadn't read this in so long I didn't remember most of it, and my takeaways are definitely different this go around. What I found most interesting is the tension between the initial allure of a figure like Stargirl and the eventual expectation that she settle down and be normal (see also Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating). Leo is drawn to Stargirl because she stands out, but then he becomes frustrated that she doesn't fit in.
Sometimes we give up who we are to make others comfortable, trying to secure acceptance that we know is conditional and fickle. Spinelli has us ponder whether it's worth it, and what we do to others when we ask that of them.

Spinelli creates a binary wherein Stargirl has to choose between being herself and being accepted by others, with the point being that she shouldn't have to do that, and in fact we should all try to live our lives more like she does. And, sure, but also, there's obviously a difference between cheering for the other team and following or taking pictures of strangers. Everything Stargirl does is lumped together under this umbrella of whimsy, but respecting privacy is different than refuting an us vs. them mentality. I hope so, anyway.

It's not without its flaws, but it was nice to revisit after so long.