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Eleven
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.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2008
120 people are currently reading
1546 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Reilly Giff
212 books465 followersPatricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 563 reviews
April 12, 2008
Hmm. This would have been the perfect book to boolktalk:
Sam has always lived with his loving, Grandpa Mack. Or has he? On the eve of his eleventh birthday, Sam sneaks into the attic in search of presents and stumbles across an old newspaper clipping. Sam has a learning disability which prevents him from reading, so he can only recognize one word: "Missing." But he has no trouble identifying the child in the accompanying picture -- it's of himself at age three. Could Sam's life be a lie? How can he research the truth without being able to read?
See? Doesn't that sound like the perfect taut kid-thriller? But it was disappointing, sadly. Taut and thrilling is not what Giff is best at -- this was one yawn of a slow mystery story, with a kinda-lame denouement (it relies on a secret from Grandpa Mack's past that seemed to come out of nowhere).
What works here is what Giff has always been good at: showing how some kids quietly internalize their struggles. Perhaps the book's problem is the way it's been spun. If you've come looking for a mystery novel, you'll be disappointed. However, if you come for a family drama with a mystery element, you'll probably find something to like here.
Sam has always lived with his loving, Grandpa Mack. Or has he? On the eve of his eleventh birthday, Sam sneaks into the attic in search of presents and stumbles across an old newspaper clipping. Sam has a learning disability which prevents him from reading, so he can only recognize one word: "Missing." But he has no trouble identifying the child in the accompanying picture -- it's of himself at age three. Could Sam's life be a lie? How can he research the truth without being able to read?
See? Doesn't that sound like the perfect taut kid-thriller? But it was disappointing, sadly. Taut and thrilling is not what Giff is best at -- this was one yawn of a slow mystery story, with a kinda-lame denouement (it relies on a secret from Grandpa Mack's past that seemed to come out of nowhere).
What works here is what Giff has always been good at: showing how some kids quietly internalize their struggles. Perhaps the book's problem is the way it's been spun. If you've come looking for a mystery novel, you'll be disappointed. However, if you come for a family drama with a mystery element, you'll probably find something to like here.
February 27, 2010
I am very impressed with this book. What makes this such an appealing story for young adolescents is that they want to know who they are. The question of Sam's identity from the very beginning captivates the reader. The subtle symbolism of eleven, and the exploration of it, is accessible at a variety of levels.
One device that maintains the suspense and creates transition is the dream sequence between the chapters. Very effective.
I found Eleven to be an engaging mystery, one that I had almost figured out by the end. The characterization is well done, and the developing friendship between Sam and Caroline is realistic to that age.
One device that maintains the suspense and creates transition is the dream sequence between the chapters. Very effective.
I found Eleven to be an engaging mystery, one that I had almost figured out by the end. The characterization is well done, and the developing friendship between Sam and Caroline is realistic to that age.
February 8, 2024
I love this author so I’ve read a good amount of her books; and plan to read many more)📚although, this is not one of my favorites that she wrote. I like the plot and the way she writes, lots of imagery, but it just wasn’t my favorite. I loved the character development of Caroline and Sam’s teachers. The book was kind of a mystery, like another of her books,( Gingersnap) which isn’t what I usually read but I liked it.
I liked how it showed his memories and dreams in a very vivid way. I also enjoyed how he describes his gift with wood making techniques and how he simply feels the wood and it speaks to him.
Personally, I think part of the boat accident and all the trauma he went through as a young child caused part of his reading disability, but it doesn’t really say. All in all a good book I would recommend.
I liked how it showed his memories and dreams in a very vivid way. I also enjoyed how he describes his gift with wood making techniques and how he simply feels the wood and it speaks to him.
Personally, I think part of the boat accident and all the trauma he went through as a young child caused part of his reading disability, but it doesn’t really say. All in all a good book I would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 8, 2011
I absolutely adore and love Pictures of Hollis Woods by the same author, and was excited to read Eleven. And though I didn't love it as much, it still had her signature style of making kid characters that are believable.
Here we have Sam, who is about to turn eleven years old, and it's the day before his birthday and he just has to know what his presents are. He climbs up the pipe to the basement, but rather than finding his presents he sees a newspaper clipping with his picture on it. But it says his name is Sam Bell and not MacKenzie, and the headline has the word MISSING. Sam has never been good at reading, so he needs to enlist the help of somebody who can read. That someone is Caroline. Together they will find out the secret of that night, and grow to become good friends.
What confuses most about this book is the cover. The only correlation would be that there is a girl and boy, but the dark place with various wooden beams doesn't show up anywhere, and gives you the impression that this is a darker book. The mystery part of the book was ok (probably what really brought the book down for me), but what was done well was Sam's character. I could feel his passion for woodworking and how reading would never be his strength, but he learns he has the things that matter. I loved Sam's family consisting of Mack, Onji, and Anima, and they all really understand and care for him.
For me it always comes back to family and good friendships, and this book tells that story through the eyes of an eleven year old boy named Sam.
Here we have Sam, who is about to turn eleven years old, and it's the day before his birthday and he just has to know what his presents are. He climbs up the pipe to the basement, but rather than finding his presents he sees a newspaper clipping with his picture on it. But it says his name is Sam Bell and not MacKenzie, and the headline has the word MISSING. Sam has never been good at reading, so he needs to enlist the help of somebody who can read. That someone is Caroline. Together they will find out the secret of that night, and grow to become good friends.
What confuses most about this book is the cover. The only correlation would be that there is a girl and boy, but the dark place with various wooden beams doesn't show up anywhere, and gives you the impression that this is a darker book. The mystery part of the book was ok (probably what really brought the book down for me), but what was done well was Sam's character. I could feel his passion for woodworking and how reading would never be his strength, but he learns he has the things that matter. I loved Sam's family consisting of Mack, Onji, and Anima, and they all really understand and care for him.
For me it always comes back to family and good friendships, and this book tells that story through the eyes of an eleven year old boy named Sam.
May 31, 2021
I wanted to read this b/c main character is 11 year-old boy with dyslexia. Author is 2-time Newberry Honor Award winner. Her editor checked out on this one. The sentence structure and syntax left me very confused so I will not recommend it to any young people especially dyslexic ones. The storyline was promising but there were gaps and I still have questions about the main character's history. I'll stay curious about that because I can't endure rereading the poor syntax to figure it out.
November 24, 2009
I’ve been reading a lot of mystery lately.
I’ve probably read more mystery in the last month than I have in the rest of my life combined.
And I think I like it.
But this is my one caveat: if you’re going to promise me a mystery, then you’d darn well better deliver the goods. If you’re going to present a twist, then it had better leave me open-mouthed, doubled over, and gasping.
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff left me shaking my head, rolling my eyes, and feeling cheated.
The premise of the book is that a young boy who lives with his grandfather begins to have strange dreams and memories of his past. He remembers the number eleven, which he thinks is because he’s turning eleven years old. But (dun-dun-DUN!): It’s not!
Possibly because of the previous trauma in his life, Sam is having a hard time learning how to read. He’s the only kid in his class that can’t read very well. One day, he’s in the attic and finds Mack’s secret stash of Sam mementos (“What is this fascination with my Forbidden Closet of Mystery?” – points if you can name that quote), amongst which is a newspaper clipping with a picture of Sam with a headline stating that he’s missing – and has a different last name!!
Intrigue!!
Since he can’t read the rest of the article, he makes friends with the new girl at school, Caroline, who helps him to read the clipping and research what really happened to him.
I won’t spoil the rest of the mystery, but I will say this: some mystery.
The ending of the book to me was like going to a mystery dinner theater and having the host declare: “And the murdered is someone in this very room!!”
(The audience gasps.)
“By the way, the victim of the murder isn’t actually dead. This is just pretend, people.”
Read the book. You’ll see what I mean.
Ms. Giff got me all riled up for nothing. She promises this huge payoff by working up all this intrigue and tension, and she simply doesn’t deliver.
And this book doesn’t even count as a Cannonball Read because it’s not long enough.
Phooey. I’ll be sticking with Trenton Lee Stewart and Ellen Raskin, thanks.
I’ve probably read more mystery in the last month than I have in the rest of my life combined.
And I think I like it.
But this is my one caveat: if you’re going to promise me a mystery, then you’d darn well better deliver the goods. If you’re going to present a twist, then it had better leave me open-mouthed, doubled over, and gasping.
Eleven by Patricia Reilly Giff left me shaking my head, rolling my eyes, and feeling cheated.
The premise of the book is that a young boy who lives with his grandfather begins to have strange dreams and memories of his past. He remembers the number eleven, which he thinks is because he’s turning eleven years old. But (dun-dun-DUN!): It’s not!
Possibly because of the previous trauma in his life, Sam is having a hard time learning how to read. He’s the only kid in his class that can’t read very well. One day, he’s in the attic and finds Mack’s secret stash of Sam mementos (“What is this fascination with my Forbidden Closet of Mystery?” – points if you can name that quote), amongst which is a newspaper clipping with a picture of Sam with a headline stating that he’s missing – and has a different last name!!
Intrigue!!
Since he can’t read the rest of the article, he makes friends with the new girl at school, Caroline, who helps him to read the clipping and research what really happened to him.
I won’t spoil the rest of the mystery, but I will say this: some mystery.
The ending of the book to me was like going to a mystery dinner theater and having the host declare: “And the murdered is someone in this very room!!”
(The audience gasps.)
“By the way, the victim of the murder isn’t actually dead. This is just pretend, people.”
Read the book. You’ll see what I mean.
Ms. Giff got me all riled up for nothing. She promises this huge payoff by working up all this intrigue and tension, and she simply doesn’t deliver.
And this book doesn’t even count as a Cannonball Read because it’s not long enough.
Phooey. I’ll be sticking with Trenton Lee Stewart and Ellen Raskin, thanks.
June 12, 2008
On the eve of his 11th birthday, Sam sneaks into the attic to try to find his hidden birthday presents -- and finds a lot more than he bargained for. A mysterious collection of papers includes a newspaper clipping featuring a picture of him at age 3, along with the headline, "MISSING."
Sam's comfortable life with his grandfather Mack and their friends suddenly seems suspect. Is Mack really his grandfather? Or did Mack kidnap Sam from his real family? The papers in the attic aren't much help, because Sam can't read.
With the help of a new friend at school, Sam begins to piece together information from the papers. Old memories begin to resurface as well, and Sam begins to realize that the place from which he was taken was not a good place, but he's still not sure where Mack fits into his life. He begins to make references to the places named in the newspaper clipping, to see if his grandfather and their friends will react.
Eventually the truth is revealed, helping Sam to understand his disturbing memories of slamming doors and angry voices, as well as the meaning of the "missing boy" news clipping.
This book moves fast -- maybe too fast? The "missing boy" news clipping is introduced before we're even given a sense of Sam's home life, which is solid. Characters are lightly sketched (I also felt the children acted quite a bit older than 10 and 11, but maybe I'm just behind the times?), and the plot is more loosely constructed than one might expect for a book that seems to be a sort of junior thriller. I felt that everything was sort of glossed over. There's not much suspense here, not even in the fragmented dream/memory sections interspersed throughout the book.
I did like the subplot of Sam and his friend having to build a castle as a class project (Sam can't read, but he's a gifted carpenter), and I liked the way their friendship grew during the course of the book. Overall, however, I'm afraid this light read won't stay with the reader much past the end.
Sam's comfortable life with his grandfather Mack and their friends suddenly seems suspect. Is Mack really his grandfather? Or did Mack kidnap Sam from his real family? The papers in the attic aren't much help, because Sam can't read.
With the help of a new friend at school, Sam begins to piece together information from the papers. Old memories begin to resurface as well, and Sam begins to realize that the place from which he was taken was not a good place, but he's still not sure where Mack fits into his life. He begins to make references to the places named in the newspaper clipping, to see if his grandfather and their friends will react.
Eventually the truth is revealed, helping Sam to understand his disturbing memories of slamming doors and angry voices, as well as the meaning of the "missing boy" news clipping.
This book moves fast -- maybe too fast? The "missing boy" news clipping is introduced before we're even given a sense of Sam's home life, which is solid. Characters are lightly sketched (I also felt the children acted quite a bit older than 10 and 11, but maybe I'm just behind the times?), and the plot is more loosely constructed than one might expect for a book that seems to be a sort of junior thriller. I felt that everything was sort of glossed over. There's not much suspense here, not even in the fragmented dream/memory sections interspersed throughout the book.
I did like the subplot of Sam and his friend having to build a castle as a class project (Sam can't read, but he's a gifted carpenter), and I liked the way their friendship grew during the course of the book. Overall, however, I'm afraid this light read won't stay with the reader much past the end.
May 3, 2009
Snooping for birthday presents, eleven-year-old Sam MacKenzie stumbles upon a mystery; a locked box and a yellowed newspaper clipping. The younger Sam in the photograph is identified as Sam Bell. Sam has always had trouble reading so the only other word he can decipher is “missing”.
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? When he and new girl Caroline are paired up to work on a school project, building a castle in Mack’s workshop, Sam thinks she can help.
But, she’ll be moving soon, and the two must hurry if they are to discover the truth about Sam’s past.
Book Discussion Questions for April:
1. The number 11 appears many times throughout the book. Why do you think this number is so important to Sam?
2. Do you think Sam will really learn to read?
3. Why does Caroline want her clay figure locked away in the castle?
4. Why does Sam put a window into the little room in the castle for Caroline’s clay figure?
5. What is the significance of Boldt Castle?
6. Onji and Anima aren’t related to Sam and Mack, but they’re still part of their family. What makes a family?
Bonus Question:
If you come into the library and can answer the Bonus Question
you’ll earn a free book to take home!
(please don't post the answer to the bonus question!)
(page 16)
Q: What is poking out of Sam’s sandwich?
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? When he and new girl Caroline are paired up to work on a school project, building a castle in Mack’s workshop, Sam thinks she can help.
But, she’ll be moving soon, and the two must hurry if they are to discover the truth about Sam’s past.
Book Discussion Questions for April:
1. The number 11 appears many times throughout the book. Why do you think this number is so important to Sam?
2. Do you think Sam will really learn to read?
3. Why does Caroline want her clay figure locked away in the castle?
4. Why does Sam put a window into the little room in the castle for Caroline’s clay figure?
5. What is the significance of Boldt Castle?
6. Onji and Anima aren’t related to Sam and Mack, but they’re still part of their family. What makes a family?
Bonus Question:
If you come into the library and can answer the Bonus Question
you’ll earn a free book to take home!
(please don't post the answer to the bonus question!)
(page 16)
Q: What is poking out of Sam’s sandwich?
May 22, 2009
"Eleven" by Patricia Reilly Giff is not the most stellar nominee for this year. A book that tries to be too cryptic and mysterious for it's own good, "Eleven" jumps right into the story, skipping over any exposition that might help the reader place things in context. On about page twenty, I was still trying to remind myself what the main character's name was. That's a bad sign. "Eleven" isn't a bad story, it's just trying too hard to be something it's not. After reading the back of the book to my students and summing up in one sentence what I had learned half-way through the book, they all wanted to compare it to "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Unfortunately, there's not much of a mystery and certainly not any adventure in "Eleven". It's a solid story of a boy trying to find exactly where his roots are and how he ended up where he is, but Giff tries too hard to make the number eleven be some mysterious clue and insists that we wonder if the main character is even related to the man he lives with. All of this is an attempt to build up to an ending that is less than climactic. There's no real drama to what actually happened to our protaganist, so why try to build up the whole book that way? Just approach it more like a realistic fiction book and cut out the cryptic poetry at the beginning of each chapter, the story would be better served by it.
November 6, 2009
Eleven is a realy great book. It is about this boy who goes up to the attic to try and find his birth day gift from his grampa but, instead he finds this newspaper clipping about some boy is missing or something.Well he is not really sure what it says because he can't read or not very well.If you wan't to hear more go to your library to read it.
January 23, 2024
this book was HORRIFIC to read. I had no clue where I was in the book and the ending made actually NO SENSE. I had to drag myself to read this. NEVER AGAIn.
October 19, 2017
I personally did not like this book at all. This is typically not a book I usually would go for but I decided to try it out to see if I had found a new genre that I had liked, but it was not very good. I could see how if you liked mystery type books or possibly older fun history books how it would be a great pick for you. Not the book for me.
April 20, 2012
This was the third book I read with my 4th grade book club crew this year, and I am happy to say that all of our book choices were brand new to me as well, which increased greatly the joy of reading with them.
Eleven is the story of Sam, an 11-year-old boy who is a struggling reader. He stumbles upon an old newspaper clipping about him... but can't unravel the mystery behind it without the help of the new girl at school. Caroline is a bookworm who doesn't like to make close friends because her artist dad moves their family around often. Their unique friendship takes center stage for me, more so than the mystery Sam is trying to understand.
Totally a hit for intermediate (4th-6th grade) students. It reassures us that "family" and "home" can take on all kinds of shapes and forms and still make sense to the heart.
Eleven is the story of Sam, an 11-year-old boy who is a struggling reader. He stumbles upon an old newspaper clipping about him... but can't unravel the mystery behind it without the help of the new girl at school. Caroline is a bookworm who doesn't like to make close friends because her artist dad moves their family around often. Their unique friendship takes center stage for me, more so than the mystery Sam is trying to understand.
Totally a hit for intermediate (4th-6th grade) students. It reassures us that "family" and "home" can take on all kinds of shapes and forms and still make sense to the heart.
October 22, 2009
Giff can wring all sorts of emotion out of a person. Her "Pictures of Hollis Woods" is a wonderful sappy/heartfelt/love conquers all story. (I don't mean to paint it in a cliched/generic light, as it is one of my favorite YA novels. Really, you should take the two hours or so an read it.) Because of that book, I've picked up and read a few of Giff's others, now including this one.
It isn't amazing. It isn't bad either. It is an interesting enough tale with decent enough characters that moves along at a fast enough pace. Basically, it's enough. Enough to keep me through to the end and enjoying myself along the way, but it is by no means her best book.
If you read Giff, go to "Hollis Woods," then here--if you have the time.
It isn't amazing. It isn't bad either. It is an interesting enough tale with decent enough characters that moves along at a fast enough pace. Basically, it's enough. Enough to keep me through to the end and enjoying myself along the way, but it is by no means her best book.
If you read Giff, go to "Hollis Woods," then here--if you have the time.
November 9, 2013
This book was pretty bad. I read it for OBOB (Oregon Battle of the Books). At first I didn't like it because I thought the boy should know how to read (it just doesn't really relate to me and probably not anyone else). After that, I thought it was pretty good as it was explaining the mystery of his grandfather, his mother, and the box in the attic. I actually was reading it, and liking it. The end of the book was one of the worst I have ever read. There was no point in the mystery (I kind of think the author was just bored writing and gave it a lame ending). Don't even try this book, you will be disappointed by the ending.
March 26, 2008
Because I loved other books by this author (Pictures of Hollis Woods), I expected to really like this one as well. It was a quick read and held my interest, but I know I'm not going to remember it... I guess I expected a mystery, and while there were mysterious circumstances around Sam's life with his grandfather (or is that his grandfather), the plot lacked suspense after the trips into the attic and started to drag. I did appreciate the friendship between Caroline and Sam, and his motivation to learn to read.
November 9, 2008
Suspense and a not too predictable ending made this book a good read. I particularly liked the kind characters of foreign origin and the warm, loving grandfather, Sam. Giff often teams up a girl and boy as friends, who help each other overcome problems. I liked the soft side of the main character and Caroline's courage.
June 23, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. My first experience with Patricia Reilly Giff, Eleven exceeded my expectations by more than a small measure. The connections between people in the story, especially the main connection, are pure magic. The grace notes in these pages are a treat for the sensitive reader. I recommend this book enthusiastically.
Read
June 7, 2016A kid who couldn't start reading and a girl who couldn't stop reading. I like this book because it was really entertaining how a boy couldn't start reading and a girl that couldn't stop reading. I recommend this book to people who like things about others people lives and how is it difficult to do something.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2008
This actually falls somewhere between "liked it" and "really liked it," which disappoints me in a way because I wanted to really love it. Something didn't click with it for me. Maybe it was being on a Peter Pan bus that did it?
July 8, 2012
My friend gave this book to me last year and she told me that it was a great book. I sat down with it one morning and finished it by that afternoon. I felt like I was part of the story. I enjoyed this book.
January 23, 2008
One Sentence Review: A pretty frustrating combination of Giff's typically stellar writing alongside one of the most forgettable stories I've encountered in a while.
December 1, 2010
It looks very interesting i like these kinds of books.
May 21, 2019
I usually compare books to other stories as I read--somehow, this book didn't want to fit into any box or continuum I could come up with. I kept attempting to name some other, equally wonderful friendship--and getting nothing. I haven't read Giff's books in years, so I enjoyed revisiting her writing, especially with so engaging a story. There's an aura of mystery to Sam's search here that led me to fear the worst--yet, luckily, my adult brain came up with harsher possibilities than this middle-grade read presented. Sam's dyslexia also felt lovely to read, with Giff treating it and his frustration so well. Something A Mango-Shaped Space-like in its respectful, graceful, and genuine portrayal an 11-year-old's inability to read. Eleven is a wonderfully character-driven book, full of questioning and understanding the nature of friends and family. Sam and Caroline's journey of discovering Sam's past shapes the entirety of the book, proof that it's our own stories that are the most fascinating.
August 22, 2021
Sam is about to turn eleven, and sneaks into the attic to find his birthday presents. But what he finds is far more important. Sam has Dyslexia, and cannot make out more than one word "Missing" in the newspaper article with his picture as a young boy in it. He needs the help of a reader, and chooses the new girl, Caroline. When they partner on a Middle Ages project, Sam carefully builds a wooden castle that he remembers seeing as a young child, and more memories come floating back. I like a lot of things about this book, particularly Sam's ability to build, his true-to-life frustration with reading, and the 'family' that Mack has provided for him. He and Caroline manage to discover most of the truth before her nomadic family moves on, and Mack finally tells him the rest. I also like the age-appropriate friendship and communication between Caroline and Sam. Thanks to Giff for showing the spatial and conceptual abilities that often come with Dyslexia, and for ending this book with Sam's determination to learn to read. This is a very positive story about a child with reading issues, and we cannot have enough of those!
March 11, 2009
Eleven
Author Giff, Patricia Reilly
Review
Source School Library Journal™ - 04-01-2008
Gr 5-7-Sam is disturbed by the number 11. Is it because his birth date contains the number? Is he afraid of turning 11 on his next birthday? Or, is the reason much darker and deeper? As his birthday nears, Sam, who is dyslexic, finds a locked box in the attic with a piece of paper sticking out. It's a picture of Sam when he was much younger with the word "missing." He knows he must get into that box and read what's on the paper, but for Sam, reading is like trying to follow a moving spider across the page. When Sam and Caroline, the new girl in class, are paired up to work on a project, he hopes she can help him. However, the newspaper clipping leads to more questions and Sam isn't sure he wants to find the answers. the boy's relationship with his beloved grandfather is well wrought and the mystery of Sam's past will engage listeners. Narrator Stacie Snell does an excellent job of providing a distinct voice for each character in Patricia Giff Reilly's novel (Wendy Lamb Books, 2008). Her telling is clear, impelling, and well-paced. Not to be missed.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Copyright School Library Journal™ - 2008. Used with permission.
Notes: characters--grandfather Mack; friends onji and anima(p/86)
Story of how Sam saved by Mack--mack and daughter Julia fought so mack left St lawrence area and went to florida--when Julia died, neighbor brought Sam to Children's home-- But then he was found and a note from Julia giving Mack the right to take care of Sam sent to him--Mack came up on the boat to get him--but when went to home lady wouldn't let him take him--saiud come back another day--Kidnapped him from the home--took him to the boat--storm and boat split--Mack so angry at lady hadn't thought about consequences--almost lost him a second time(p.153)--took a train to onji and
Anima and then next day read report in paper (which is what am found in attic)that said they were missing --vowed never to have a boat again.
Sam dyslexic makes friends with girl Caroline who has difficulty making friends but makes friends withSam/
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ELEVEN
Patricia Reilly Giff
Hardcover | Wendy Lamb Books | 978-0-385-73069-3 (0-385-73069-1) | January 2008 | $15.99 | Ages 8-13
Hardcover Library Binding | Wendy Lamb Books | 978-0-385-90098-0 (0-385-90098-8) | January 2008 | $18.99 | Ages 8-13
What if you found out you might not be who you think you are? Sam finds a box in the attic of his house where he lives with his grandfather, Mack. He sees a newspaper clipping with his picture on it at age three, and can read the word “missing,” but his reading skills aren’t very good and he has no idea what the rest of the article says. He’s afraid to ask Mack. He loves his grandfather and the neighbors around him and he doesn’t want to be taken away. Will he find the courage to ask the new girl, Caroline, to help him read what the article says? Will the fragments of dreams he keeps having about being yelled at and almost drowning ever make sense? Are these dreams tied to the truth about his life when he was younger? Would Mack even tell him the truth if he asked? Sam knows that once he begins unraveling this mystery, there will be no turning back—even if he finds out Mack isn’t who he says he is.
COPYRIGHT
Prepared by Brenda Day, Library Media Specialist, Aledo Middle School, Aledo, Texas
Sam Mackenzie goes into the attic of his grandfather’s house in search of his birthday gift. Instead, he finds a newspaper clipping that appears to be about him. The problem is that Sam cannot read. He recognizes his name and decodes the word “missing,” but these two words are enough to make Sam question his true identity. He has to find someone who can help him—and it must be a girl. The boys in his class tease him because of his learning disability. Caroline, a new girl in Sam’s class, is the likely candidate because she cannot stop reading. When the teacher pairs Sam and Caroline to construct a medieval castle for a class project, the two become instant friends. Caroline reads the article, and Sam shares his strange dreams about the number 11, a castle, and a boat. Has Sam gone too far in search of the truth? What if Mack really isn’t his grandfather? How do Onji and Anima, his extended family, fit into the puzzle? Sam Mackenzie’s family may not be an ordinary family, but they offer extraordinary love. Will the facts of his past change this?
COPYRIGHT
Prepared by Pat Scales, retired director of library services, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
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Author Giff, Patricia Reilly
Review
Source School Library Journal™ - 04-01-2008
Gr 5-7-Sam is disturbed by the number 11. Is it because his birth date contains the number? Is he afraid of turning 11 on his next birthday? Or, is the reason much darker and deeper? As his birthday nears, Sam, who is dyslexic, finds a locked box in the attic with a piece of paper sticking out. It's a picture of Sam when he was much younger with the word "missing." He knows he must get into that box and read what's on the paper, but for Sam, reading is like trying to follow a moving spider across the page. When Sam and Caroline, the new girl in class, are paired up to work on a project, he hopes she can help him. However, the newspaper clipping leads to more questions and Sam isn't sure he wants to find the answers. the boy's relationship with his beloved grandfather is well wrought and the mystery of Sam's past will engage listeners. Narrator Stacie Snell does an excellent job of providing a distinct voice for each character in Patricia Giff Reilly's novel (Wendy Lamb Books, 2008). Her telling is clear, impelling, and well-paced. Not to be missed.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.
Copyright School Library Journal™ - 2008. Used with permission.
Notes: characters--grandfather Mack; friends onji and anima(p/86)
Story of how Sam saved by Mack--mack and daughter Julia fought so mack left St lawrence area and went to florida--when Julia died, neighbor brought Sam to Children's home-- But then he was found and a note from Julia giving Mack the right to take care of Sam sent to him--Mack came up on the boat to get him--but when went to home lady wouldn't let him take him--saiud come back another day--Kidnapped him from the home--took him to the boat--storm and boat split--Mack so angry at lady hadn't thought about consequences--almost lost him a second time(p.153)--took a train to onji and
Anima and then next day read report in paper (which is what am found in attic)that said they were missing --vowed never to have a boat again.
Sam dyslexic makes friends with girl Caroline who has difficulty making friends but makes friends withSam/
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ELEVEN
Patricia Reilly Giff
Hardcover | Wendy Lamb Books | 978-0-385-73069-3 (0-385-73069-1) | January 2008 | $15.99 | Ages 8-13
Hardcover Library Binding | Wendy Lamb Books | 978-0-385-90098-0 (0-385-90098-8) | January 2008 | $18.99 | Ages 8-13
What if you found out you might not be who you think you are? Sam finds a box in the attic of his house where he lives with his grandfather, Mack. He sees a newspaper clipping with his picture on it at age three, and can read the word “missing,” but his reading skills aren’t very good and he has no idea what the rest of the article says. He’s afraid to ask Mack. He loves his grandfather and the neighbors around him and he doesn’t want to be taken away. Will he find the courage to ask the new girl, Caroline, to help him read what the article says? Will the fragments of dreams he keeps having about being yelled at and almost drowning ever make sense? Are these dreams tied to the truth about his life when he was younger? Would Mack even tell him the truth if he asked? Sam knows that once he begins unraveling this mystery, there will be no turning back—even if he finds out Mack isn’t who he says he is.
COPYRIGHT
Prepared by Brenda Day, Library Media Specialist, Aledo Middle School, Aledo, Texas
Sam Mackenzie goes into the attic of his grandfather’s house in search of his birthday gift. Instead, he finds a newspaper clipping that appears to be about him. The problem is that Sam cannot read. He recognizes his name and decodes the word “missing,” but these two words are enough to make Sam question his true identity. He has to find someone who can help him—and it must be a girl. The boys in his class tease him because of his learning disability. Caroline, a new girl in Sam’s class, is the likely candidate because she cannot stop reading. When the teacher pairs Sam and Caroline to construct a medieval castle for a class project, the two become instant friends. Caroline reads the article, and Sam shares his strange dreams about the number 11, a castle, and a boat. Has Sam gone too far in search of the truth? What if Mack really isn’t his grandfather? How do Onji and Anima, his extended family, fit into the puzzle? Sam Mackenzie’s family may not be an ordinary family, but they offer extraordinary love. Will the facts of his past change this?
COPYRIGHT
Prepared by Pat Scales, retired director of library services, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities
For more on this book
Return to THIS MONTH’S FEATURED BOOKTALKS
Teachers Guides | Authors & Illustrators | Awards | Catalog | Newsletter
Picture Books | Pre-school | Librarians
Junie B. Jones | Magic Tree House | Site Map | FAQ | Home
Copyright © 2004 Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Kids | Teens | Parents | Books@Random | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2009 Book Wholesalers, Inc.
Phone: (800) 888-4478 (815) 578-4592
FAX: (800) 888-6319 (815) 578-4680
December 2, 2016
My review is mixed. I listened to it with my 8 and 10 year old. We are a tough crowd to please. My children have dyslexia so print motivation or even listening to a longer book has been elusive. We were all excited to find a main character with similar reading struggles and natural talents in other areas.
It wasn't long however that we realized something. I don't ask much of children's books, but my largest pet peave is making the main character an orphan. I just don't get it. Orphans are far over represented in young adult and juvenile books. When your character already has dyslexia, why pile on the orphan trope. It is already so hard to find books for my kids that they can identify with.
Maybe it was the reader of the story or perhaps something else, but my kids lost interest, which isn't unusual. I listened to the end. When I told them what happened in the book later I was dramatic and they were rapt with attention. This means the story did have overall appeal to them. I do appreciate the characters and the detail given to the actions.
It wasn't long however that we realized something. I don't ask much of children's books, but my largest pet peave is making the main character an orphan. I just don't get it. Orphans are far over represented in young adult and juvenile books. When your character already has dyslexia, why pile on the orphan trope. It is already so hard to find books for my kids that they can identify with.
Maybe it was the reader of the story or perhaps something else, but my kids lost interest, which isn't unusual. I listened to the end. When I told them what happened in the book later I was dramatic and they were rapt with attention. This means the story did have overall appeal to them. I do appreciate the characters and the detail given to the actions.
October 18, 2017
At first I thought this was going to be a rehash of The Face on the Milk Carton, but it is very different. The writing is beautiful, especially the dreams where Sam is beginning to remember scraps of his past. I liked the premise that a child who struggles with reading and schoolwork may excel in other areas. Sam's friendship with Caroline was perhaps a bit too easy, but maybe not for the target age group. Her reluctance to make friends when she knew she would soon be moving on was believable. Her father’s promise that this would be the last move offered hope whether or not it was true. And I loved the way Sam made her a permanent home in the castle they built for a school project. I liked the multi-ethnicity of Sam and Mack’s relationships. What I didn’t like was the fact that all Sam’s questions could have been answered in the beginning if he had been willing to ask. To my mind there was not a strong enough motivation not to ask, but again, younger readers may be less demanding and enjoy the kids’ search to find out on their own.
June 18, 2017
A quick read that would be a good read aloud. The ending seemed rushed, but overall I enjoyed it.
"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."
"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."
December 14, 2022
I rarely review anything under three stars, but I feel it is necessary to review Eleven because it is a very misleading book. It presents itself as a mystery, supernatural story, but instead, it is a slow, realistic fiction piece that is very difficult to connect with as the reader. Sam is the protagonist; he cannot read and therefore uses his friend Caroline to help him solve the "mystery" of where he came from. Caroline's family is transient, so she is only around for a short time. Neither of these characters is well-developed. Everything just falls flat which is very disappointing because I've loved every other Patricia Reilly Giff novel I've read. I think she's fabulous, but Eleven is definitely not her best (probably her worst) work. I do not recommend this title, but I do recommend Giff as an author.
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