From: Clark Underbakke <clarku>
Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 11:39:52 -0600

I, too, was shocked that Gathering Blue and Stargirl were overlooked by the Newbery Committee. I shared a galley copy of Gathering Blue with several friends last spring and we all thought it would surely be recognized.

I purchased Stargirl knowing that Jerry Spinelli would provide a pleasing tale. I read it cover to cover during a flight over the holidays. Currently, I am reading it to my class of 7 and 8 year olds. Set in a highschool, I was concerned it would be too mature for them. Thankfully, the relationship Leo and Stargirl share runs much deeper than typical adolescent lust.

The class loves the book...I was so hoping my timing would be perfect and it would garner recognition by the Newbery Committee. Rats! The connections the children are making between Leo and Stargirl and Palmer and Dorothy in Wringer are amazing...one young student even asked if we thought Jerry wrote about D & P first so "he would get it right when he wrote about Leo and Stargirl." WOW! I was amazed! Out of the proverbial mouths of babes...enough rambling.

Clark Underbakke Green Valley Elementary Birmingham, AL 35226
Received on Sun 21 Jan 2001 11:39:52 AM CST