Stargirl is a fascinating novel that explores themes of individuality, nonconformity and the challenges of fitting in. The story is about Leo Borlock, an ordinary high school student in Mica, Arizona, whose world is completely changed when Stargirl Caraway, a quirky and free-spirited new girl, arrives at school. She is not like anyone Leo—or the rest of the school—has ever met. She wears strange clothing, plays the ukulele and sings to people on their birthdays. Initially, her personality made her very popular.
Anthem by Ayn Rand explores individualism, freedom, and the role of the collective in society. The main character Equality 7-2521 is faced with the harsh decision between giving in to the great "We", thereby giving his life to the idea that everyone has a place in society, but you do not get a personal identity or abandoning everything he had ever been taught in the sake of learning about what it means to be a unique person.
Anthem is written by a person who escaped Communist Russia, exploring the negativities of communist society by placing the reader in a dystopian world. In this world, the central idea is that there is no individuality, and the word "I" doesn't even exist. All jobs are assigned to people when they reach a certain age and there is no change allowed. There is one person named Equality 7-2521 who is unlike everyone else in that he is too curious, which earns him the job of a street sweeper.
Although it has been a few years since I last read R.J. Palacio’s Wonder, the book’s message is one that has stuck with me since then. The book brings awareness to important topics relating to inclusivity. This book contains such an important message for any setting, whether it be inside a classroom or at a place of work; it teaches the importance of empathy and acceptance, something that society can often struggle with. I liked how the book followed the story of Auggie, as well as all the characters surrounding him.
