Eleven (Hardcover)

by Patricia Reilly Giff (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, November 19, 2007:
"This intimate story realistically examines friendship, family secrets and the struggles of a learning-disability child trying to make sense fo the world."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2007:
"An engrossing examination of a profound theme in the deft hands of a discerning author."

Interview, The New York Times: In the Region, February 3, 2008:
"Handling difficult subjects with sensitivity is Mrs. Giff’s specialty. If she has tried to drive home a single point in all her stories, it is that ordinary people are special — and that children, most of all, need to feel that way."


From the Hardcover edition. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Review
Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, November 19, 2007:
"This intimate story realistically examines friendship, family secrets and the struggles of a learning-disability child trying to make sense fo the world."

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, December 1, 2007:
"An engrossing examination of a profound theme in the deft hands of a discerning author."

Interview, The New York Times: In the Region, February 3, 2008:
"Handling difficult subjects with sensitivity is Mrs. Giff’s specialty. If she has tried to drive home a single point in all her stories, it is that ordinary people are special — and that children, most of all, need to feel that way."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books (January 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385730691
• ISBN-13: 978-0385730693
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #248,130 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Middle grade readers will love this suspenseful story, February 22, 2008

By	Deborah "Constant Reader" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

Sam doesn't know why he fears the number eleven, but as his 11th birthday approaches, he feels a need to explore his past. When he discovers a locked box and a newspaper clipping in the attic, he learns he might once have been a missing child. Now he's worried about his relationship with beloved grandfather, Mack, and friends Onji and Anima.

Since Sam has difficulty reading, he befriends a new girl at school who reads constantly. Soon Sam and Caroline are working on a class project together and searching for clues to Sam's past.

Characters make this story very special. Mack teaches Sam the pleasures of repairing and working with wood. Sam uses his gifts to build a clever wooden castle for the school project. The lessons he applies to his woodworking help him develop the patience to face his reading problems and discover the truth about his past.

Onji and Anima, friends and neighbors, act as extended family for Mack and Sam. Anima reads to Sam every evening, and Onji is constantly offering food and support.

But it is Sam's friendship with Caroline that really centers this book. Sam isn't sure he wants to be friends with a girl, but he needs Caroline's ability to read. Caroline's artistic but nomadic parents make Sam appreciate his own solid family life.

This story moves along quickly, driven by Sam's constant search for information about his mysterious past. All the clues finally fall into place and the dreams and memories that have bothered Sam are explained in a satisfying ending.

Reluctant boy readers will especially enjoy this story - Sam is an active, imaginative, and believable eleven-year-old. During the course of the story, he works with wood, goes boating, and ultimately decides to build his own boat. He works out problems for himself, seeking help from friends, family, and teachers when he needs it. But girls will find the story equally enjoyable, as Caroline provides an alternate viewpoint to the action.

This would make a good read-aloud book for a classroom. The action-filled chapters will hook readers, and there's room for discussion of issues related to reading and learning difficulties, friendship, family secrets, and the joys of developing one's own talents and gifts.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite enjoyable, February 18, 2008

By	BookLover (UT) - See all my reviews

I read this in an afternoon and was quite pleased. Suspense without being too scary. It was great to see a character with such a wonderful support system as the main character has in his grandfather, neighbors, teachers, cat, and his newest friend. Suitable for boys and girls alike. Might also be good for reluctant readers, as the main character is an 11 year old boy who really struggles with reading and comments that letters look like spiders to him.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A new twist on the "coming-of-age" story, September 22, 2008

By	Christopher Lingel (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Eleven" begins with quite the premise: During his erstwhile search for his birthday presents, Sam stumbles across some old newspaper clippings kept by his grandfather, with whom he lives. Because Sam struggles with reading, he is only able to recognize his picture as a toddler, and the word "MISSING". "Missing?" Sam wonders, "I was missing?" From here, Sam begins to wonder: Where are his parents? Is the man he lives with really his grandfather? And since he himself cannot read the article, he'll need to find someone he can trust to read it for him.

This is a premise for a story that could easily have gone into many uninteresting and tired directions, but author Patricial Reilly Giff avoids many of them and weaves a story together that is both authentic and fulfilling.

When Sam finally gains the answers to the questions he asks, we accept them, and so does he.

I enjoyed, too, the subplot between Sam and his teachers, who are struggling to help him to read. As a middle school teacher, I found that Sam's reactions and struggles with his inability to sound much the as today's students who bear similar struggles. His final conversation with his reading teacher was quite moving.

As a coming-of-age story, "Eleven" isn't as strong as others, simply because Sam's challenges aren't that common. But his quest for self-identity, as well as that for simple friendship, should ring true with younger readers. Even if they can't put themselves directly into his shoes, they could probably see him as a friend or classmate.

A worthy addition to any library.