Love, Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli

48 pages 1-hour read

Jerry Spinelli

Love, Stargirl

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2007

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Sixteen-year-old Stargirl is a homeschooled, free-spirited teenager who recently relocated to Pennsylvania. Having lost her joyful confidence following a painful breakup, she spends much of her time meditating on the "Enchanted Hill" and adjusting to her new surroundings. Despite her internal sorrow, she remains open-hearted and deeply connected to nature, seeking to spread light in her new community.

Key Relationships

Ex-Boyfriend of Leo Borlock

Best Friend of Dootsie Pringle

Friend and Mentor to Alvina Klecko

Friend and Caregiver to Betty Lou Fern

Romantically Intrigued by Perry Delloplane

Friend of Charlie

Former Student of Archie

Daughter of Mr. Caraway

Daughter of Mrs. Caraway

Bonded to Cinnamon

Leo is Stargirl's ex-boyfriend from Mica, Arizona. Though he never physically appears early in the narrative, his presence heavily influences Stargirl's daily thoughts and actions. He previously found Stargirl's eccentricities intimidating. He ultimately chose the approval of his peers over their relationship.

Key Relationships

Ex-Girlfriend of Stargirl Caraway

Friend of Archie

Resented by Dootsie Pringle

Former Schoolmate of Dori Dilson

Dootsie is a stubborn and deeply curious five-year-old girl who proudly declares herself a "human bean." She frequently sets off on independent adventures and loves attention, sometimes pretending to be invisible when she feels ignored. Her spontaneous, giving nature helps draw Stargirl out of her depression.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Stargirl Caraway

Neighbor of Betty Lou Fern

Friend of Alvina Klecko

Friend of Charlie

Resentful of Leo Borlock

Perry is a charismatic, blue-eyed local boy with a cynical attitude and a bad-boy reputation. Nicknamed "Dandy," he is rumored to have spent time in a juvenile boot camp and is known for minor thievery around town. He maintains a harem of devoted girls but catches Stargirl's attention through his rebellious behavior.

Key Relationships

Romantic Interest of Stargirl Caraway

Companion of Stephanie

Companion of Ponytail

Companion of Zombie

Friend of Dootsie Pringle

Acquaintance of Ike

Supporting Characters

Alvina is an angry eleven-year-old tomboy who aggressively pushes away those around her. Known for getting into fights and loudly professing her hatred for boys, she masks a softer interior beneath her tough exterior. She is on the verge of transitioning to adolescence, a change symbolized by a single sparkly pink fingernail.

Key Relationships

Sister of Thomas

Employee of Margie

Delivery Person for Betty Lou Fern

Friend of Dootsie Pringle

Betty Lou is a cheerful but deeply isolated woman suffering from agoraphobia. Having not left her house in nine years, she spends her days indoors wearing a purple bathrobe and red slipper socks. Despite her personal fears, she provides a listening ear and wise counsel to Stargirl.

Key Relationships

Neighbor of Dootsie Pringle

Customer of Alvina Klecko

Former Schoolmate of Margie

Charlie is a 74-year-old widower who spends every day sitting by his deceased wife's gravestone. Large and beefy in a red and gold plaid scarf, he is deaf but removes his hearing aid at the cemetery to feel closer to his late wife. He is deeply entrenched in his memories of the past.

Key Relationships

Widower of Grace

Friend of Dootsie Pringle

Arnold is a bulky, solitary man who walks around town in a tasseled green hat. He constantly asks people if they are looking for him without ever waiting for a response. Local children often poke him and run away, treating him as a local oddity.

Key Relationships

Son of Rita Wishart

Acquaintance of Stargirl Caraway

Margie is the talkative, bleached-blonde owner of the local donut shop. She pushes the limits of pastry cuisine with creations like donut soup, and she serves as a central hub of town gossip and community connection.

Key Relationships

Employer of Alvina Klecko

Employer of Neva

Former Schoolmate of Betty Lou Fern

Archie is an elderly, retired paleontologist and Stargirl's former homeschool teacher in Arizona. He serves as a wise, grandfatherly figure who understands Stargirl's unique nature better than most, providing her with philosophical advice and guidance from afar.

Key Relationships

Friend of Leo Borlock

Stargirl's father is a former engineering supervisor who now works as a milkman in Pennsylvania. He is unconditionally supportive of his daughter, offering gentle guidance and allowing her the freedom to express her unique personality while worrying about her emotional well-being.

Key Relationships

Husband of Mrs. Caraway

Acquaintance of Alvina Klecko

Stargirl's mother works as a costumer. Like her husband, she is deeply loving and provides a safe, supportive environment for Stargirl. She largely adopts a hands-off parenting style that encourages Stargirl's eccentricities.

Key Relationships

Wife of Mr. Caraway

Cinnamon is Stargirl's beloved pet rat. Having moved with her from Arizona, the small animal is a comforting connection to her past and a constant companion during her lonely meditations.

Key Relationships

Grace is Charlie's late wife. Though she passed away prior to the novel's events, she is the sole focus of her husband's daily cemetery vigils. Her memory represents enduring, faithful love.

Key Relationships

Deceased Wife of Charlie

Stephanie is a red-headed high school girl who belongs to Perry's "harem" of affectionate followers. She openly shares Perry's attention with other girls and sports a honeybee tattoo on her ankle.

Key Relationships

Companion of Perry Delloplane

Acquaintance of Stargirl Caraway

Thomas is Alvina's younger brother. He frequently clashes with his sister, successfully provoking her rage, such as when he chops off her solitary sparkly pink fingernail.

Key Relationships

Brother of Alvina Klecko

Neva is a shy, heavily pregnant woman in the community. Seeking to support herself, she takes a job working at Margie's donut shop after Alvina is fired.

Key Relationships

Employee of Margie

Rita is Arnold's mother. She cares for her wandering, solitary son and helps him interact with the broader community when necessary.

Key Relationships

Mother of Arnold

Ike owns the local bike and mower repair shop. He is a business owner whose property features prominently in the neighborhood where Stargirl encounters Perry.

Key Relationships

Acquaintance of Perry Delloplane

Dori is a former classmate of Stargirl's from Arizona. She was the one friend who did not reject Stargirl when the rest of the high school turned against her.

Key Relationships

Former Schoolmate of Leo Borlock

Ponytail is a local girl who is part of Perry's "Honeybees" harem. She wears a honeybee ankle tattoo and shares Perry's affection with the other girls without jealousy.

Key Relationships

Companion of Perry Delloplane

Zombie is another member of Perry's "Honeybees" group. She dresses in a zombie costume for the town's Blobfest and openly kisses Perry, demonstrating the casual nature of his harem.

Key Relationships

Companion of Perry Delloplane