Stargirl: Chapter 22 Summary & Analysis

Stargirl invites Leo to her house for dinner. Leo can’t help imagining Stargirl’s parents as hippies, but both the Caraways, and Stargirl’s bedroom décor, are very ordinary-looking. Stargirl explains that she has a secret office where she goes to do her work. She does, however, have a “happy wagon” in her bedroom—a toy wagon filled with pebbles. She adds a pebble when she feels happy and removes one when she’s unhappy. There are 20 pebbles in all, and right now, the wagon contains 17—an all-time high. Leo is surprised to hear that, once, the pebbles were down to just three.

At dinner, everyone has meatloaf, except for Stargirl, who’s a vegetarian. The Caraways nonchalantly call their daughter “Stargirl” or “Star.” After dinner, Leo watches Stargirl take pictures of the five-year-old little boy across the street, Peter Sinkowitz. She’s documenting his life with candid photos, which she’ll collect in a scrapbook and give to his parents for later, when he’s old enough to enjoy it.

As Stargirl explains the Peter Sinkowitz project, Leo gives her a funny look and asks, “Are you running for saint?” Stargirl looks hurt. Leo tries to explain that Stargirl has spent her entire Saturday paying attention to other people and doing kindnesses for them. Stargirl doesn’t see what the big deal is. Suddenly, she starts teasing him flirtatiously, telling him that he just wants her all to himself. Pretty soon they’re kissing right in front of her house; and, Leo says, “that was no saint kissing me.”