themes (stargirl novel project)

SELF-ESTEEM

CONFORMITY

CONFIDENCE

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YOU'RE NOT

Joel Jordan

by

Strong

Secure

Grouped

Worthy

"The lunchroom was dead quiet. She started strumming her uke and singing. It was "Happy Birthday." page 9

simple sentence: Stargirl has plenty of courage to sing "happy birthday" in front of all those people.

complex sentence: Since stargirl had so much courage, she was able to sing happy birthday in front of all those people.

"I didn't just walk, I strutted" page 140

simple sentence: Leo was proud to be stargirls boyfriend.

complex sentence: Since stargirl changed to be like everyone else, Leo was proud to be her boyfriend.

"There were individual variants here and there of course but with pretty narrow limits we all wore the same clothes, ate the same food and listened to the same music" page 10

simple sentence: Just about everyone at Mica High School were similar.

complex sentence: Although most students were similar, some were different

"no longer did stargirl eat lunch or walk the hallways or do anything else at school alone"

page 58

simple sentence: Stargirl became very popular

complex sentence: since stargirl was very unique, she soon became very popular.

Admirable

“We could have won games on her cheering alone” Page 142

Simple sentence-Leo admired Stargirl’s energy.

Complex sentence-Leo admired her energy and he wished the basketball season hadn’t ended.

Low

Unaffected

“Susan seemed in a trance. She sat beside me, staring vacantly at the sign through the windshield. Her hand was no longer holding mine. I groped for words but could not find them. When her parents came, she allowed herself to be led away. As she got out of the car, the silver plate slid from her lap and rang like a dying bell against the asphalt.” Page 161

Simple sentence-Stargirl was disappointed when she arrived.

Complex sentence-When she arrived back at the school, Stargirl noticed the empty parking lot.

Lacking

Resistant

Desperate

"people aren't talking to me," I said. I stared at her, I wanted it to sink in."people I've known ever since I moved here. They don't talk to me they don't see me" page 133

simple sentence: Leo felt as if he was getting shunned

complex sentence: Since many people were avoiding Leo, he felt as if he was getting shunned.

"Several times in those early weeks of september she showed up in something outrgous." page 10

simple sentence: Stargirl didn't care what others thought

complex sentence: since stargirl didn't care what others thought, she wore crazy clothes.

Powerful

"Talk to me and i'll scratch your back." page 143

simple sentence: Stargirl was desperate for friends.

complex sentence: Since many people avoided stargirl she became depressed.

"Hillary kimble walked up to stargirl and said "You ruin everything" and slapped her." page 175

simple sentence: Hillary refused to be stargirls friend

complex sentence: Hillary refused to be stargirls friend, because she was probably jealous of her.

"Hillari was first to enter. She marched in leading her girlfriends like an invading general" page 27

simple sentence: Hillari was a nutural leader of the school.

complex sentence: Since Hillari was so strong-willed, everyone respected her.

Contagious

"we honored her by imitation" page 38

simple sentence: The students were influenced by stargirl.

complex sentence: Even though it was for a short time, the students admired stargirl.

Unaccepted

Insecure

“The still don’t like me. We were standing outside the TV studio after school. Her lip quivered. What am I doing wrong? Tears made her eyes even larger.” Page 142

Simple sentence-Stargirl couldn’t get people to like her.

Complex sentence-Even though Stargirl tried to fit in, no one liked her.

Lacking

“I had never realized how much I needed the attention of others to confirm my own presence.” Page 126

Simple sentence-Leo felt insecure about himself.

Complex sentence-Even though Leo liked Stargirl, he didn’t want the others to ignore him.

“How close to empty did the wagon ever get?” “Once, down to three.” Page 121

Simple sentence-Stargirl’s wagon is full most of the time.

Complex sentence-When her wagon is almost empty, it means she’s upset.

The

Joel Jordan

THEMES

of

STARGIRL

Spiteful

Fearless

“In the hallways, she said hello to perfect strangers. The seniors couldn’t believe it. They had never seen a tenth grader so bold. Page 10

simple sentence-Stargirl didn’t have a problem talking to strangers.

complex sentence-She was fearless because she loved meeting new people.

“Hillari Kimble was standing at the upper landing, grinning. She was holding Cinnamon the rat, dangling by its tail over the railing, nothing but space between it and the first floor.” “Suddenly Hillari dropped it. Someone screamed, but the rat fell only to the floor at Hillari’s feet. She sent Stargirl a final sneer and left.” Page 37

Simple sentence-Hillari disliked Stargirl from the start.

Complex sentence-Even though Stargirl was nice to Hillari, Hillari still disliked her.

by Jerry spinelli

Connected

One-Sided

“Hillari Kimble walked up to Stargirl and said, “You ruin everything.” And she slapped her.” “Stargirl kissed her gently on the cheek.” Page 175

Simple sentence-Hillari didn’t want to be Stargirl’s friend.

Complex sentence-Stargirl tried to be friends with Hillari, even though Hillari was mean to her.

“As I went about my day, I felt her going about hers. I sensed her movement, her presence in distant parts of the building. I homed in on the beacon of her smile. As we approached each other, the noise and the students around us melted away and we were utterly alone, passing, smiling, holding each other’s eyes, floors and walls gone, two people in a universe of space and stars. Page 95

Simple sentence-Leo felt connected to Stargirl.

Complex sentence-When Leo began spending time with Stargirl, other students ignored him.

Confusion

Fascinating

EMOTIONS

AND

FEELINGS

“I was feeling nine ways at once, and they all ended up at the touch of her hand on my ear” Page 29

Simple sentence-Stargirl sang to Leo in the lunchroom.

Complex sentence-Even though it wasn’t Leo’s birthday, Stargirl sang to him.

“Suddenly, intensely, I wanted to know everything about her. I wanted to see her baby pictures. I wanted to watch her eat breakfast, wrapping a gift, sleeping.” Page 78

Simple sentence-Leo wanted to be with Stargirl all the time.

Complex sentence-Leo was interested in Stargirl and he wanted to know everthing about her.

FRIENDSHIP

Solid

“Kevin Quinlan and I usually agreed on everything. We had been best friends since arriving in Arizona the same week four years before. We both thought the prickly pear cactus looked like Ping-Pong paddles with whiskers, and that saguaros looked like dinosaur mittens. We both loved strawberry-banana smoothies. We both wanted to go into television.” Page 13-14

Simple sentence-Leo and Kevin have a solid friendship.

Complex sentence-Even though others ignored Leo, Kevin still talked to him.

Special

“Those were the best times, when we were alone, together, out of school. We took long walks around town and into the desert, to her enchanted place. We sat on park benches and people-watched. I introduced her to banana-smoothies.” Page 126

Simple sentence-Leo and Stargirl had a special friendship.

Complex sentence-Leo and Stargirl spent time together because they enjoyed being together.

Loyal

“WAY TO GO SUSAN. WE’RE PROUD OF YOU.” “All that was left to see of Dori Dilson were two sets of fingers holding the sides of the sign. We were close enough now to see that the sign was trembling, and I knew that behind it Dori was crying. Page 146

Simple sentence-Dori didn’t let Stargirl down.

Complex sentence-Although no other students showed up, Dori waited on the parking lot for Stargirl.

Helplessness

“Her mascara was muddy. I had seen her sad many times before, but always for someone else. This was different. This was for herself, and I was powerless to help. I could not find it in me to cheer up the cheerleader.” Page 143

Simple sentence-Stargirl didn’t understand why everyone still hated her.

Complex sentence-Since she was so sad, Leo felt helpless.