Jerry Spinelli's Outsiders and its Relevance in Children's Literature

Hausarbeit , 2006 , 21 Seiten , Note: 1.3

Amerikanistik - Literatur

The main aim of children’s literature is to be readable for young people, to be amusing, exciting, to have a good story and to make readers enjoy it. Some books do not only fulfill this aim but also have a message. Young children should learn something important by reading those books. Those books are relevant for children’s literature because the children enjoy learning when the story is good and interesting. But what makes a book a relevant book? Is it only the message, only the story, the characters or all of those? This essay will show if Jerry Spinelli’s books Stargirl, Loser and Wringer do have a relevance in children’s literature and why by characterizing the protagonists and by finding out what Spinelli’s messages are. Those three books have been chosen because the protagonists are outsiders and therefore the books are of
comparable topics.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Jerry Spinelli
• Jerry Spinelli - Stargirl
  • Summary
  • Characterization of Stargirl
  • Stargirl Caraway - Reasons for being an Outsider
  • References - Other Voices
    • Newspaper Reviews
    • Children's Reviews
  • Relevance in Children's Literature
• Jerry Spinelli - Loser
  • Summary
  • Characterization of Donald
  • Donald Zinkoff - Reasons for being an Outsider
  • References - Other Voices
    • Newspaper Reviews
    • Children's Reviews
  • Relevance in Children's Literature
• Jerry Spinelli - Wringer
  • Summary
  • Characterization of Palmer
  • Palmer LaRue - Reasons for being an Outsider
  • References - Other Voices
  • Relevance in Children's Literature
• Summary

Objectives and Key Themes

This essay examines the relevance of Jerry Spinelli's books *Stargirl*, *Loser*, and *Wringer* in children's literature by characterizing the protagonists and exploring Spinelli's messages. The essay focuses on the protagonists' outsider status and how their experiences contribute to the books' relevance for young readers.

• The importance of individuality and self-acceptance in a society that often pressures conformity.
• The impact of peer pressure and social expectations on children and adolescents.
• The challenges and rewards of being different and embracing one's unique qualities.
• The significance of kindness, compassion, and empathy in human relationships.
• The role of literature in shaping values, promoting understanding, and fostering empathy.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the essay's aim, which is to analyze the relevance of Jerry Spinelli's books in children's literature. It emphasizes the importance of books that offer both entertainment and valuable messages for young readers.
• Jerry Spinelli: This chapter provides a brief biography of Jerry Spinelli, highlighting his writing career, awards, and most famous works, including *Maniac Magee*, *Stargirl*, *Loser*, and *Wringer*.
• Jerry Spinelli - Stargirl: This chapter summarizes the story of *Stargirl*, a young girl who is different from her classmates and becomes both admired and ostracized for her unconventional behavior. The chapter analyzes the character of Stargirl and her reasons for being an outsider. It also explores the reactions of other characters and the themes of conformity and individuality that emerge in the story.
• Jerry Spinelli - Loser: This chapter summarizes the story of *Loser*, which focuses on Donald, a young boy who struggles to fit in and is labeled a "loser" by his classmates. The chapter analyzes Donald's character and explores the reasons for his outsider status. It also examines the themes of self-esteem, acceptance, and finding strength in adversity.
• Jerry Spinelli - Wringer: This chapter summarizes the story of *Wringer*, a novel that explores the challenges of ethical decision-making and the consequences of animal cruelty. The chapter analyzes the character of Palmer, who is torn between conforming to peer pressure and following his conscience. It examines the themes of empathy, compassion, and the importance of standing up for what is right.

Keywords

This essay focuses on the themes of individuality, conformity, peer pressure, social expectations, acceptance, self-esteem, compassion, empathy, and ethical decision-making in children's literature. It also examines the works of Jerry Spinelli, exploring the characters and messages found in his novels *Stargirl*, *Loser*, and *Wringer*.

• Hochschule: Universität Duisburg-Essen
• Note: 1.3
• Autor: Jessica Narloch (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2006
• Seiten: 21
• Katalognummer: V186368
• ISBN (eBook): 9783869437491
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656994145
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: jerry, spinelli, outsiders, relevance, children, literature