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Chapter 23
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Stargirl, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Individuality and Conformity
Human Nature
Seeing, Visibility, and Invisibility
Friendship, Love, and Social Pressure
Summary
Analysis
One day, Leo keeps hearing kids at school whispering about the “roadrunner.” Soon he sees a bedsheet covering the roadrunner bulletin board; on the sheet are the bright red words, “STARGIRL LOVES LEO.” Leo is torn between the desire to revel in the sign and to tear it down in embarrassment. He suddenly understands why students like Hillari Kimble hated being the center of Stargirl’s attention: he feels “spotlighted on a bare stage.”
Leo feels ever more conflicted as he’s ruthlessly thrust into the limelight because of his relationship with Stargirl. Ironically, his empathy leads him to sympathize with Stargirl’s enemies in this case; being the center of attention can be crushing, even if it’s because of someone’s love.
Themes
At lunch, Leo sits with Kevin and tries to ignore Stargirl’s gaze. She even blows him a kiss. After school, she finally catches up with him and wants to know what he thought of the sign. He just shrugs. Then, when she teasingly puts Cinnamon on Leo’s shoulder, he sweeps the rat to the ground. Stargirl looks shocked as Leo walks away.
Leo feels caught between competing affections, and he resents it. He loves Stargirl, but her doting attentions make him a target for bullying. Sooner or later, one side or the other will have to give.
Themes
The next day, Kevin is the only student who still talks to Leo. Leo tries not to care, but he desires nothing more than even a nod of acknowledgment from an unpopular classmate. At lunch, when he complains to Kevin, he comes to the realization that he’s committed the crime of linking himself to Stargirl, and there’s nothing he can do about it.
Leo feels the full weight of the injustice of being ostracized. Just trying to be true to himself is getting him pushed to the margins. The challenge before him is to figure out what it really means to him to be true to himself.
Themes
