Eleven

 

Eleven 

By Lauren Myracle

Reading Level: 4.0+

Interest Level: 8-12

Winnie is a 5th grade girl on the brink of her 11th birthday. This story opens in March, as Winnie prepares for her 11th birthday party. She's happy with her life and content with the relationship that she and her best friend Amanda have. However, she's very aware that there are some shifts going on in with other girls around her. Where they all used to play make-believe, some of the girls now consider that too babyish. Even Amanda, who is happy to play when no one else is around, is embarrassed by Winnie's public silliness and instead wants to read the latest Seventeen magazine or try on perfume. When a new girl moves in and befriends Amanda, their friendship and those of the other girls in their grade, shift and change as is so common especially at this age.

Each chapter in this book chronicles a month in Winnie's life, spanning the end of 5th grade and moving in to 6th. This unique approach to telling the story is an effective one, providing a timeline that the reader can relate to by applying it to their own youth. Some things are funny and others are painful, but they all ring true. Many girls will see themselves in one of these characters and will be anxiously looking for the next installment in this series.

Myracle, L. (2004). Eleven. New York, NY: Dutton Children's Books.