
Stargirl
by Jerry Spinelli · Grades 6–9 · Realistic Fiction
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is on US reading lists at grades 6–9. It appears on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists, across 3 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.
Before you buy: Ages 11–14 · Grades 6–9. The button opens the paperback edition (ISBN 9780375890024). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.
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Widely assigned — 3 curriculum lists · 3 states
Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).
This page shows where Stargirl is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.
Reading level at a glance
- Grade range
- Grades 6–9
- Age range
- Ages 11–14
- First published
- 2001
- Genre
- Realistic Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780375890024
Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-07-02; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.
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About this book
Book facts and sources (3)
- On award reading lists
- Charlotte Award (source: nysreading.org)
- Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award (source: azla.org)
- Young Hoosier Book Award (source: cdn.ymaws.com)
- Catalog record
- First published 2001 (source: how we source book data)
Similar grade-level books
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The Catcher in the RyeJ.D. Salinger · 790L
See all books like Stargirl→ — matched on theme + reading level.
Why widely assigned
This realistic fiction title is typically read at grades 6–9. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on individuality and conformity; cited on 3 lists: 3 book-award lists.
Themes
individuality · conformity · first love
Where this book is recommended
Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award
- recommended·6th grade · Arizonasource: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)
- recommended·7th grade · Arizonasource: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)
- recommended·8th grade · Arizonasource: Arizona Library Association — Grand Canyon Reader Award (student-choice; Intermediate + Tween divisions; annual since 1977)
Charlotte Award
- recommended·6th grade · New Yorksource: New York State Reading Association — Charlotte Award winner (official 'History of NYSRA Charlotte Winners' 1990-2025 PDF, nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards, fetched 2026-07-02)
- recommended·7th grade · New Yorksource: New York State Reading Association — Charlotte Award winner (official 'History of NYSRA Charlotte Winners' 1990-2025 PDF, nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards, fetched 2026-07-02)
- recommended·8th grade · New Yorksource: New York State Reading Association — Charlotte Award winner (official 'History of NYSRA Charlotte Winners' 1990-2025 PDF, nysreading.org/Charlotte-Awards, fetched 2026-07-02)
Young Hoosier Book Award
- recommended·6th grade · Indianasource: Indiana Library Federation — Young Hoosier Book Award Past Winners (Intermediate grades 4-6 + Middle Grade grades 6-8; annual since 1975)
- recommended·7th grade · Indianasource: Indiana Library Federation — Young Hoosier Book Award Past Winners (Intermediate grades 4-6 + Middle Grade grades 6-8; annual since 1975)
- recommended·8th grade · Indianasource: Indiana Library Federation — Young Hoosier Book Award Past Winners (Intermediate grades 4-6 + Middle Grade grades 6-8; annual since 1975)
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Common questions
- What grade level is Stargirl?
- Stargirl is listed for grades 6–9. It appears on 3 state book-award lists across 3 states, from grade 6 to grade 8. Exact placement varies by school and district.
- What curricula assign Stargirl?
- Stargirl appears on reading lists for Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Charlotte Award, Young Hoosier Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Stargirl banned in schools?
- Stargirl has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (FL, TX) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does Stargirl explore?
- Central themes in Stargirl include individuality, conformity, first love.
Why this book is on this list
How we classifyHide
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 6–9 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 3 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- On state book-award lists in 3 states (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- Documented as challenged or removed in 2 states per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- Tagged for: book-club.