Product Description: Sam is almost 11 when he discovers a locked box in the attic above his grandfather Mack’s room, and a piece of paper that says he was kidnapped. There are lots of other words, but Sam has always had trouble reading. He’s desperate to find out who he is, and if his beloved Mack is really his grandfather. At night he’s haunted by dreams of a big castle and a terrifying escape on a boat. Who can he trust to help him read the documents that could unravel the mystery? Then he and the new girl, Caroline, are paired up to work on a school project, building a castle in Mack’s woodworking shop. Caroline loves to read, and she can help. But she’s moving soon, and the two must hurry to discover the truth about Sam.
A new twist on the "coming-of-age" story "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.
Veteran children's author Patricia Reilly Giff offers readers many issues to ponder Sam doesn't have it so bad. Sure, he has real problems reading and has to spend part of each day in the dreaded, ugly Resource Room. Sure, his parents are long gone. But Sam has friends and, most importantly, a wonderful "family" who loves him.
There's his grandfather Mack, a gifted woodworker who has passed on his skills, and his tools, to his beloved grandson, who also shows signs of seeing hidden possibilities in the most unlikely blocks of wood. There's Onji, who owns the deli next door and always gives Sam the best brown bag lunches. And there's Anima, owner of the Indian restaurant down the way, who cooks Sam's favorite curries and, most importantly, reads to him late into the evening, because Sam can't read by himself. Finally, there's Night Cat, Sam's beloved companion for as long as he can remember. Together, they form the perfect companions, making a comfortable extended family that nurture and protect one another.
So why is Sam dreading turning 11? The number 11 haunts him in dreams --- or are they barely-recalled memories? When Sam discovers a newspaper clipping that features a picture of himself as a very young boy and the headline "MISSING," he feels like there must be some mystery in his past that he soon becomes desperate to solve, even though he needs to read to do so. Perhaps Caroline, his new partner for a school castle-building assignment, will help him. She reads all the time, after all. But Caroline, whose itinerant parents can't seem to settle down and who's been to three schools already this year, has troubles of her own. Will she and Sam find the answer before it's too late? And what if the answer is what Sam fears? What if his only true family --- his grandfather --- isn't really his family at all?
In ELEVEN, veteran children's author Patricia Reilly Giff offers readers many issues to ponder. She explores questions of literacy, of belonging, of home and family, and of friendship. She also urges readers to question their own definitions of giftedness and of family. Both of these concepts are illustrated with great flexibility in the portrayal of Sam and of his unusual but loving and nurturing home life, contrasted with Caroline's more traditional, but less stable and satisfying, family situation.
Giff brilliantly employs these big issues in a plot that is simultaneously urgent --- will Sam discover his true identity? Do we even want him to? --- and leisurely, as she allows Sam plenty of room in which to question his assumptions and plenty of space in which Sam and Caroline's lovely friendship can grow. ELEVEN is one of those wonderful books whose quiet surface simplicity belies its deeply complex moral and philosophical questions. Quite simply, it is one of the best novels for young people that I've read in a long time.
--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl
Courtesy of Teens Read Too It was just one day before Sam Mackenzie's birthday, and he wanted to find his grandfather's present, since he could not wait. He looked everywhere and just couldn't find it. So then he tried looking in the attic. And instead of a present, Sam discovered an article that would question who he was and if he was even in the right place. He didn't know it, but this was the beginning of a very long journey.
Unfortunately, Sam isn't able to read much, so finding someone who could read the article for him was his first obstacle. While his teacher was lecturing on certain spices, Sam took this opportunity to look for someone he could trust to read the article for him.
He lands upon Caroline, the new girl who unexpectedly came into his class about a month ago. He knew she was the perfect candidate since she was always reading during class. Of course, he couldn't just go up to her and ask her to read it for him. So he decides to make friends with her. The first conversation he has with her goes great, except for the part where she said they probably couldn't be friends since she wasn't going to be there for long.
Then his teacher volunteers Caroline to help Sam with a castle he was going to build. With this, Sam finally has the opportunity to spend more time with Caroline, and maybe even try to become her friend.
Hoping that she would be able to help him, Sam still had other things to worry about, like his dreams that contain images of objects that surround him in his daily life. And the number eleven becomes the biggest mystery of all, besides the fact that it is the day in April he was born; it was imprinted everywhere once he dreamt.
Together, two unlikely people will work together to solve a mystery that no one would be able to figure out by themselves. Friendships will evolve, identities will be questioned, and secrets will be revealed.
Enchanting and mysterious, ELEVEN is a thriller that will fascinate not only teenagers and adults but also kids of all ages. A novel about a boy with a problem and an unlikely friend there to help him, ELEVEN will take you on a journey that will be cherished once it has ended. Patricia Reilly Giff, famous for her previous releases, will awe her fans once again.
Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen
Middle grade readers will love this suspenseful story 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.
Quite enjoyable 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.
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