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Chapter 30
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
Stargirl’s prediction is correct: Leo doesn’t ask her to the Ocotillo Ball in late May. He doesn’t even go. But Stargirl does. The ball takes place on the Mica Country Club’s tennis courts. That night, Leo rides by on his bike, taking in the sea of powder blue (Wayne Parr’s color of choice, broadly imitated by the student body). He rides back and forth for hours but never goes in. He just hears about it after the fact.
At first, it looks like the Ocotillo Ball will be a showcase of conformity. It turns out to be a climactic moment for Stargirl and her place in the community. But Leo can’t fit in either of those worlds, so he stays outside, physically and symbolically.
Themes
Stargirl arrives at the ball in a flower-strewn bicycle sidecar that looks like a parade float. Dori Dilson, wearing a tuxedo and tall hat, pedals the bicycle. There’s a hush as Stargirl, wearing a buttercup-yellow gown with a billowing skirt, emerges from the sidecar. She kisses Cinnamon the rat goodbye and waves Dori off.
Even though she doesn’t have a date and has no expectation of kindness from anyone at the ball, Stargirl happily exhibits her individuality, undaunted by the conformity she has every reason to expect.
Themes
As Stargirl enters the ball, she doesn’t shrink from everyone’s stares, but smiles openly into people’s eyes, “as if they have shared grand and special things.” Some look uncomfortable, while others are touched. Stargirl seems so complete in herself that her lack of an escort is almost unnoticed.
Stargirl, as always, makes others feel as if they have a common bond on the basis of their shared humanity—something beyond individuality or conformity. Though some people are made uncomfortable by this, others welcome it.
Themes
Stargirl dances all the dances solo, her head thrown back with unrestrained enjoyment. Most people, in fact, notice that they feel more alone than Stargirl appears. Eventually, a boy named Raymond Studemacher dances with Stargirl. He’s an ordinary boy who doesn’t belong to any clubs or distinguish himself in any apparent way—he lacks “the heft to carry his own name.” Yet he walks up to her and asks her to dance. After that dance is over, several other boys start to approach Stargirl.
Raymond’s bold dance with Stargirl is another example of Stargirl’s knack for drawing the best out of those who might be seen by most as “fillers”—much like the newspaper articles that other people skim past—unworthy of notice for most, but deemed worthy of celebrating by Stargirl.
Themes
Get the entire Stargirl LitChart as a printable PDF.
Suddenly Stargirl walks up to Guy Greco, the bandleader, and says something to him. The band starts playing the bunny hop. Soon Stargirl is leading a long line of dancers across the floor. Almost everybody, except for Hillari Kimble and Wayne Parr, joins in.
The bunny hop is a simple line dance that grew popular, especially among teenagers, in the 1950s. Hillari and Wayne’s resistance signals that Stargirl’s dance will become an unconventional showdown for Mica High.
Themes
Stargirl keeps improvising with funny steps and motions, and her movements are copied down the line of dancers. When the band stops, the group begs them to start over. Before long, the line of about 200 kids wanders off the tennis courts and around the adjacent golf course, and eventually disappears into the night. Those still on the tennis courts wait for the dancers’ return, staring off toward the desert—everyone except Hillari Kimble, who demands “regular music” so she and Wayne can dance. Guy Greco doesn’t comply, however, and the bunny hop plays on.
Stargirl’s infectious joy pulls others into her wake, much like it did earlier in the school year before she was shunned. She’s once again the “parade leader” of Mica High, reconnecting people with a more fundamental aspect of themselves. Fittingly, the dance wanders into the desert, which has been the site for self-discovery at several points in the story.
Themes
No one is sure how long the dancers are gone, but soon they hear whoops coming from the desert, and Stargirl appears, hopping in her yellow dress. The group is still dancing precisely on the beat. Those still on the tennis courts start dancing, too, and the two lines meet in a happy collision. But Hillari Kimble walks up to Stargirl, says “you ruin everything,” and slaps her.
Interestingly, there’s a sort of conformity at work in the dance—they stay on the beat together—even as they rebel against high school “normal.” But it’s a freeing sort of community, rather than a stifling compliance with the norm. Hillari recognizes Stargirl’s triumph as a threat to her reign at Mica High and can’t abide it.
Themes
At this, the crowd grows quiet. Stargirl and Hillari stare at each other. Hillari cringes as if she’s expecting Stargirl to slap her in return. Instead, Stargirl gently kisses Hillari’s cheek. Then she gets into Dori Dilson’s waiting sidecar and rides off. It’s the last time anyone from Mica High ever sees her.
