11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass is a story about Amanda and Leo, who were born on the same day and have always celebrated their birthdays together. However, after a falling out on their tenth birthday, they find themselves stuck in a loop, waking up to the same day repeatedly until they can resolve their differences and get it right. ( )

Amanda Ellerby and Leo Fitzgerald were born in Willow Falls on the same day, and have shared their birthday ever since. But after Amanda overhears Leo talking to his friends at their 10th birthday, the two stop speaking, and they haven't made up by their 11th birthday, so for the first time, they have two separate parties.

But when Amanda wakes up the day after her eleventh birthday, it isn't. Instead, she has to relive the whole day again...and again...and again. After five days, she realizes Leo is stuck in a loop too, and they begin to work together to figure out what is going on and how to stop it. It has something to do with an old family feud and a little old lady with a duck-shaped birthmark.

This Groundhog Day-style story (see also: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (YA)) is a middle grade delight, as Amanda and Leo make small and large changes in the way their go through their day.

Quotes

It strikes me how differently the same day can go, depending on my choices. (95)

"Nothing nice you ever do for anyone is for no reason. Didn't helping others feel good?" (Angelina to Amanda, 240) ( )

Amanda and Leo were born on the same day. They were actually born at the very same hospital! After they shared an accidental first birthday party, the two celebrated all of their birthdays with each other until and became best friends. Amanda and Leo did everything together until their tenth birthday. Their party came with some drama, and Amanda vowed she was never speaking to Leo again after the way he embarrassed her. She hasn’t spoken to him for a whole year, and now that their birthday is here, she can’t help wonder who will show up at her party, and who will be at Leo’s. From the start, her 11th birthday is a bit of a disaster—she has a pop quiz she wasn’t prepared for, her gymnastics try out is terrible, and then her party is even worse. She doesn’t like the “costume” theme her mom planned, especially because her outfit is uncomfortable and her shoes pinch her feet giving her blisters. Plus, almost everyone is at Leo’s amazing party. Amanda can’t wait to go to bed and have her birthday be over and done. Only when she wakes up it’s her 11th birthday again. And each day it keeps happening- no matter what she does to change things. It isn’t long before Amanda and Leo realize they are the only ones reliving this day with “memories of what happened before”. Now they have to figure out how to get to Saturday, the day after their birthday. Can they figure out what to do? Is there any way to get things back on track? What would make for the best 11th birthday? You’ll have to read this realistic fantasy fiction book to find out.

I have read other books by Wendy Mass, but 11 Birthdays is my favorite book by her so far. Amanda and Leo seem like very realistic kids, and I enjoyed seeing the different ways their birthday played out. It gave me a lot to think about. What would I do if I could relive the same day over and over again? Would I do anything wild to see what would happen? Or would I try to do everything okay and by the rules so I would be able to deal with things the next day if it ever came? I like the stories of friendship and the different turns of events because it showed how all of our actions ripple out— even in ways we do not see. Change one thing about your day and there will be surprise impacts from that act all day (especially if you know how the day went originally). I would recommend this book to anyone in fourth grade and up who enjoy books about friendship and a little bit of magic. I noticed this is the first book in the Willow Falls series. I look forward to checking out the rest. ( )

Children's fiction/audio. It's really difficult to pull off this kind of "groundhog day" story without wearing it out. The author does ok with it, considering the mediocre plotline. ( )

Wendy Mass is such a great story-teller and never panders to her (pre)adolescent audience -- it makes for enjoyable reading and always makes me wish I thought of that idea! This book is a Groundhog Day-esque repetition of Amanda and Leo's 11th birthday. They have been friends since birth, thanks to the influence of a quirky wise woman who works a little magic. After a misunderstanding and rift at their 10th birthday, the two must reconcile not only for themselves but for the greater good of their community. How they do this (do-over! and over!) is sweet and entertaining. I love that the story still promotes girl-boy friendships just as hormones are starting to kick in. ( )