Stargirl: Chapter 32 Summary & Analysis

That dance happened 15 years ago—15 Valentine’s Days, Leo reflects. He vividly remembers the “sad summer” after Stargirl left. He remembers peering inside her empty house, a For Sale sign out front. He went to see Archie, who tells him that the Caraways moved to Minnesota. Leo said that it all seemed like a dream—was Stargirl even real? Archie assures him that Stargirl was “as real as we get.”

Archie admits that he doesn’t understand Stargirl, either, but that every once in a while, a “star person” comes along who’s “a little more primitive than the rest of us,” more in touch with the primordial “star stuff” that makes up human beings.

Archie tells Leo that Stargirl really liked him. She loved him so much that she even became a “normal” girl for a while, just for him. He tells Leo he doesn’t know how lucky he was. But Archie doesn’t rub it in any further.

The summer before Leo leaves for college, Archie invites him over. He opens his toolshed and reveals Stargirl’s “office”—it’s filled with ribbon, wrapping paper, newspaper clippings, phone books, and other supplies. A Mica map and birthday calendar cover the walls. Peter Sinkowitz’s album is there, waiting until Peter is a little older. Leo opens a filing cabinet filled with hanging folders. He opens the “Borlock” file and finds the article about his necktie collection, as well as photos and lists of his personal likes and dislikes. There are files for everybody at Mica High. Leo is stunned, saying Stargirl was like a spy. “A lovely treason, hm?” jokes Archie.