Movie Musings: Stargirl

I was an early adopter of Disney+, eagerly awaiting the YA adaptations promised. Stargirl is one of the first, based on the 2002 novel, and it was exactly what I needed when I watched it. See why Stargirl is worthy of your Disney+ queue!

Stargirl (Stargirl, #1)

by Jerry Spinelli
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
on March 3, 2020
Pages: 210
Goodreads

Leo Borlock follows the unspoken rule at Mica Area High School: don't stand out--under any circumstances! Then Stargirl arrives at Mica High and everything changes--for Leo and for the entire school. After 15 years of home schooling, Stargirl bursts into tenth grade in an explosion of color and a clatter of ukulele music, enchanting the Mica student body.
But the delicate scales of popularity suddenly shift, and Stargirl is shunned for everything that makes her different. Somewhere in the midst of Stargirl's arrival and rise and fall, normal Leo Borlock has tumbled into love with her.
In a celebration of nonconformity, Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity--and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

Movie Musings: Stargirl

Leo and Stargirl are two different-yet-similar characters, both balancing finding their place in the world while being themselves. It’s easy to put Stargirl in the manic-pixie-dream-girl category, but the movie plays with the trope with over the top song and dance numbers (from the cheerleaders and band, of course – these were my fav parts of the movie) and outfits that honestly had me wondering how I could buy the wardrobe straight from the production. Both of the characters grow independently of each other, as they both share and have their own experiences. This is as much Stargirl’s journey as it is Leo’s.

If you’re a fan of 80s movies and looking for a modern update, Stargirl is for you. If you’re looking for a heartwarming story grounded in reality, add Stargirl to your Disney+ queue!