Jerry Spinelli's Forum

Electronic communication with students?

Vickywhelan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:26:03 GMT

Hello Mr. Spinelli,

I am a student teacher who will have the opportunity (in early December) to teach an author study and literature unit with 7-8 of your books. I understand your time is very limited, but I'd like to know if you've ever participated in a video-conference, SKYPE conversation, or any other electronic communications (live) with a group of students?

If a "Question and Answer" session was something you would consider, I thought perhaps a live chat (via the Internet) might be a way to accomplish this. We would be incorporating the technology they're most familiar with and potentially making it possible to actually communicate with you in some capacity. Would your schedule allow something like this?

Lastly, I'm a big fan. I'm a 45-year-old who is thrilled to be entering the teaching profession and exposing children to the fantastic world of literature. I'll look forward to your thoughts.

Thank you in advance for your consideration!

Victoria Whelan
Milwaukee, WI

Forum: Ask Jerry

Stargirl Caraway' Shadow Curriculum

TruKnight — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:21 GMT

What is Stargirl's Shadow Curriculum exactly??? Like what subjects are there and what do each entail??? It sounds so interesting. I love the idea. I actually did meditation ((washing my mind)) and many other things Stargirl does even before i read the books, so it was kind of like meeting a part of myself when i read the Stargirl books...i loved every word and letter of them.

Forum: Ask Jerry

40 years removed

Ted — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:07:35 GMT

Hi guys!
Although I have been out of 7th grade for more than 40 years, "Space Station Seventh Grade" struck close to home. I remember all that crapola that a 12 year-old boy has to go through. I remember it fondly.
I teach 8th grade Literacy (reading and writing) and model everything I want my kids to do. So when I finished the novel I picked up and the novel my grandson wanted me to read I started looking around.
Being a fan of scifi and Spinelli's work, I grabbed up SSSG thinking it was an adolescent scifi story.
I am so glad I read it. It is, in my opinion, one of the best books a boy could read. It may not ever rank next to "Homer" or "Lord Jim", but it speaks to the heart and soul. Taking showers in gym, younger sibs getting into your stuff, a crush on a girl who doesn't care and finding a girl who does? Beautiful.
And then, joy of joys, a sequel. More beauty.
Four of my reluctant readers are now giving it a go. And they seem to be as engrossed as I was.
Thank you.

One question; any thoughts about Jason and Marceline as they enter High School and college? Or beyond?

ted

Forum: Ask Jerry

hey

reed2dakota — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:01:10 GMT

Hi Jerry,

I liked your book Stargirl. I liked Leo and Archie because they are friends even though Leo was a young boy and Archie was old. I was wondering what made you want to start writing books. How do you get ideas for your books? I like your books, so thanks for writing them so I can read them.

Dakota Reed from Pennsylvania

Forum: Members Discuss Stargirl

Stargirl

bircky — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:56:21 GMT

Dear Jerry

I liked the book Stargirl. It is not much of a guy book though, but its not bad. Im not much of a reader, so it has to be a good book for me to read it. I used to hate reading, but this year Im kind of enjoying it. It is like reading the TV. If I find a good book I will sit there for hours a day reading or whenever I can. I liked reading your book Stargirl. I hope you have a great day, bye.

Sincerely yours,

Dustin Birckbichler

Forum: Members Discuss Stargirl

Stargirl

55Tyler — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:55:03 GMT

Dear Jerry,

I thought the book Stargirl was a good book. I thought that it was funny when Stargirls rat cleaned out his ear. I would have liked to have seen Leo and Stargirl stay together. I am a little upset that Stargirl moved away from Mica and never told anyone where she was going. Did you have an idea where Stargirl was going to move to or did you just say shes moving as you were writing the book? If you did have an idea where she was moving, where is that?

Forum: Members Discuss Stargirl

stargirl

Dcskategod29 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:20:59 GMT

Dear jerry,
Stargirl was one of your best books i have ever read. It was very exciting; it has a lot of things i didn't expect to happen. Like when stargirl came in as susan, i was so surprised. It was like just dropped everything cinnamon, the ukulele, and everything. My favorite thing about the book was she meditated in the desert with Leo, and cinnamon. The book was very good jerry, i can't wait to read stargirl2.

Allan from PA

Forum: Members Discuss Stargirl

stargirl

la8501 — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:00:41 GMT

Hello, Jerry. I felt that your book was most invigorating and that I could really relate to being a new kid in school. I felt that Stargirl was inspirational, and that no one should be like anyone else. We all have are own unique personalities. The characters in Stargirl were very unique and they all were different. I like that you incorporated many characters with different qualities and they all had there own personalities. It was like a book I never read before. I cant wait to read another one of your books.

Forum: Members Discuss Stargirl

Maniac Magee Book 2????

Beckemeyer — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:58:29 GMT

Our 5th grade class just finished reading "Maniac Magee" and we LOVED it!
However, we wish Mr. Spinelli would consider writing a sequel, or book 2, telling us more about Maniac as he grows and as his legend continues to the next generation. We have a lot of interesting ideas to suggest to Mr. Spinelli, and know other readers would have suggestions, too.
For example, we would love to know more about what Maniac does when he finally attends school during middle school and high school. How does Two Mills change as the East and West sides begin to interact more? Is Mr. Spinelli's vision the same as the end of the movie...would Amanda and Jeffrey get married and have children? If so, would their children carry on the legends of their parents' athletic ability and acceptance of people who are different? What will happen to the other characters named in the book (Hands Down, Mars Bar/Snickers, Russell and Piper, etc.?)
We would like to hear other readers' ideas and truly hope that Mr. Spinelli will seriously consider our request.

Forum: Members Discuss Maniac

Quick Questions for School

tPAINfiftyCentFlavaFlave — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:18:43 GMT

Are a lot of your book based on events that happened in real life? What other insperations?

Forum: Ask Jerry

Dori's Story

akammerman — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:03:29 GMT

Just read this book with my English class; the second time I've used it with my students. I liked it even better this time around.

When I got to the part where Stargirl returns to the school, and Dori is waiting. . . I realized that I loved Dori, and I would love to read her story. I think she has a lot to tell--that would be a great third installment from the world of Stargirl.

Thanks for the great book, Jerry.

Forum: Members Discuss Love, Stargirl

crash

gothicrose1995 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:12:04 GMT

im doing a paper on your book crash. if i may ask, what was your inspiration for Penn Webb

Forum: Ask Jerry

YAAGroup

jerryspi — Thur, 08 Oct 2009 21:42:17 GMT

Hi!

If you like to write and hope to become an author. Or if you like art and would like to find out where to get your art published. Check out YAAGroup http://www.yaagroup.org. You might want to join others like you and start developing the skills you need to start you down the road to success. They have a bunch of information and stuff for you to do and places where you can submit your writing and artwork. Good place to meet other young authors and published authors, too.

Good Luck,

Jerry

Forum: Jerry's writing tips

Stargirl series.

stargirllover101 — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:23:48 GMT

Does anybody know if there is going to be a 3rd book to the Stargirl series? I am dying to know.

Forum: Ask Jerry

Strgrl

strgirllovr — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 03:41:17 GMT

What inspired strgrl?
I am an all time fan plz write a strgrl 3

Forum: Ask Jerry