What is the significance of the porcupine theme in Jerry Spinelli's novel Stargirl? Why specifically a porcupine rather than some other type of tie?...

In his
young adult novel of conformity and tolerance, , author sand narrator, Leo Borlock, is
infatuated with porcupines. More accurately, he is infatuated with porcupine neckties. As Leo
explains in the novels opening passages, When I was little, my uncle Pete had a necktie with a
porcupine painted on it. I thought that necktie was just about the neatest thing in the world.
As Leo grows, and his family moves from Pennsylvania to Arizona, the young boys love of
porcupine neckties remains a part of his life. In fact, so in love with porcupine neckties has
Leo become that he starts a collection of them €“ a hobby or passion that assumes greater
significance as the present-day narrator reflects on his relationship with Stargirl Caraway, a
highly unconventional addition to his conservative Arizona high schools student body who
attracts considerably attention among her fellow students for her more liberal choices in
clothing and interests.

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