by Kristine Cuer

Created on: March 24, 2009

At one point in our lives, we actually get to choose three things: to be a loser, to be an average guy/girl, or to be the popular. But all these things only means one thing, we get to choose our own identity. And more often than not, our identity makes way for us to find a group where we could possibly fit in. Like the famous saying goes: "Birds of the same feather flock together."

The story of Stargirl is about that. The search of individuality over confirming to the norms of society. Stargirl enters the Mica High School full of enthusiasm, very much unique and most of all doesn't have any idea what conformity is all about. It's narrated by Leo, a not so popular guy but the director of the school's TV show, Hotseat. The story started with the school in some sort of a state of haywire because there's a new student with a not so common name (Stargirl) and a not so common fashion statement (she wore an off-white gown that looks like a wedding gown) and a not so common ways (she's always bringing her ukulele with her and sings happy birthday to the celebrants).

It's not surprising then that there'd only be two reactions with regards to Stargirl's personality. Some are amused more like bewildered, but mostly students can't help but to raise an eyebrow. Leo on the other hand was caught by Stargirl's charm till it came to point that they were typecast as an outcast. Leo was torn between his love for Stargirl and his human need to fit in. With this, he wanted Stargirl to change and strive to be as ordinary as any one could be. But do you think that's necessary? I mean, most of us struggle to be special right? And Stargirl is just different.

I came accross the Journal version of Stargirl before I've seen and read the book itself. I actually liked the Journal because there were a lot of quotations from the book and mostly it presents about life, love and sadness. So I decided to buy the book and was surprise to learn that it's actually more about a young adult's strive for individualism more than a love story.

This book reflects the non-ending debate of whether we should set our own uniqueness or should we confirm with the norms of society. And we've get to realize that somehow, there's a Stargirl in each of us. And lastly, we'll get to realize the oxymoron of life. Those who are special strives to be ordinary and those who are ordinary strives to be normal. Sometimes in life, there's no compromise.

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