Module 6: 11 Birthdays

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass

published in 2009 by Scholastic Inc. (New York, NY).

Summary

Amanda and Leo were born on the same day and have shared their birthdays ever since.  That is, until Amanda overheard Leo say some hurtful things at their 10th birthday party.  Now they aren't even friends.  On their 11th birthday, they have separate parties.  Leo's is huge while Amanda's is not as fun--even her best friend ends up leaving her party to go to Leo's!  By the end of the day, Amanda just can't wait for it to be over.  The next morning, she wakes up relieved to know her worst birthday ever is behind her until she realizes that it's her birthday all over again.  The day keeps repeating itself over and over.  Now Amanda must figure out how to get unstuck, and resolve some other issues along the way.

Impressions

I thought this book was great.  I cared for Amanda and the lessons she has to learn are lessons we all have to learn.  The story is interesting and fun so of course it is a fun read.  Amanda is easy to relate to for young readers as many struggle with similar problems like:  fears, feeling betrayed by friends, and not feeling close to an older sibling.  I highly recommend this book to any young reader in need of understanding why people can act mean sometimes, and to anyone looking for a fun read.

Reviews

"Like a Groundhog Day for middle grade readers, Mass's (Every Soul a Star) winning story features a girl seemingly trapped in her 11th birthday...Girls will relate to Amanda's insecurities, and the confidence and insights she gains will resonate with them.  Mass's expertise with pacing keeps the story moving at a lively clip, and her understanding of this age group is as finely hones as ever." (2008). Publisher's Weekly. Reed Business Information.  Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

"From the double-entendre title to the solid character portrayals to the clarity and wit of the writing, this novel offers a fresh twist on the familiar themes of middle-grade family and school dynamics.  The mysterious power that rewinds time eventually seems less important than the power that Amanda finds within herself...A rewarding choice for readers and a natural for book talks an discussion groups." --Carolyn Phelan. (2008). Booklist. Retrieved from Bowker's Books in Print Professional database.

Uses

In a library setting, 11 Birthdays could be used for a an activity that an after school program could use.  For example, for one month this book would be the theme and can be held two times or so depending on the popularity of it.  Everyone could come dressed up as if they are going to a birthday party, and there could be a very short book discussion.   I say very short because this activity is aimed at younger readers around 3rd to 6th grade.  After the discussion there could be birthday activities like musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey.  The treat, of course, would have to be birthday cake.

In the home, this book could just be used for fun, or to help teach a child who may struggle with people being mean to them or who feel that their friends or siblings don't care about them.  But you can't just rely on the book to do the teaching, you, as a parent need to help them realize the lessons to be learned.