In Jerry Spinelli's Star Girl, boy meets strange girl. Boy falls in love, but wants strange girl to become normal. This book explores important questions: How can you live an authentic life? Why do we change for other people? What is normal? Is it hip to be square? This is a great read for middle school students, who might not have packed away their Playmobil sets yet, but who are starting to think about sex, make-up and other adult concerns.

I'm selecting this book as the anchor text for a middle school unit on non-conformity. I'm exploring other titles, but am happy to hear others' recommendations. I'll post more information on my unit as the work unfolds.

Recommended age: grades 5 and up (no scenes of sex, drugs or rock-n-roll — just a bit of folk-based ukulele)