Stargirl: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Stargirl’s previous social faux pas are relatively harmless, but things change during basketball season. At each home game, Stargirl gives the visiting section its own cheer. She also cheers whenever anyone makes a basket, whether it’s the Electrons or their opponents. The other cheerleaders try to stop her at first—“like trying to calm down a puppy”—but soon Stargirl’s cheers spill over into everyday life. She erupts into spontaneous cheers for, say, an unknown 9th grader who throws away litter. This inevitably draws a clapping, smiling crowd, and though it’s mortifying, the recipient of the cheers can’t help going home with a smile on his face. Everyone enjoys Stargirl’s random celebrations. But then, suddenly, the basketball team starts winning.

By February, the Electrons are undefeated. This is unprecedented. It also has a transforming effect on the student body, who are accustomed to losing. Suddenly, they’re fanatically obsessed with winning. As their love for their team grows, they begin to hate and resent their opponents, wanting not just to simply win, but to humiliate other teams.

But Stargirl continues to cheer for the opposing teams. She even remains oblivious when her classmates boo this behavior. Such insults seem to slide right off of her. She notices and cares about other people’s pain, but is curiously unaffected by mean-spiritedness aimed her way.

At an away game, the Electrons are slaughtering their opponent, Red Rock. During the game, Stargirl wanders outside and chats with the bus driver. When asked why she stopped cheering, she explains that she felt bad for the other team. Then the other cheerleaders play a trick on her, leaving her stranded in Red Rock as the Mica High bus drives away. The next day, they tell Stargirl it was a misunderstanding, and she believes them. But the following day is Stargirl’s interview on The Hot Seat.