11Birthdays

Created by Anne Hubbell

=//11 Birthdays//= by Wendy Mass

Mass, W. (2009). 11 birthdays. New York: Scholastic Press.

Image from Goodreads. Retrieved from []

Summary:
Amanda and Leo were born on the same day 11 years ago. They had celebrated every birthday together but something happened last year that ruined their friendship. Now they are both celebrating their 11th birthday but something strange is happening. They are stuck in time and can't move forward. Each birthday ends, yet when they wake up it starts all over again. They realize they are in this together and must figure a way out.

Online Links:
About the author: [| Wendy Mass]

Image retrieved from [] Additional books by Wendy Mass include: //A Mango-Shaped Space, Leap Day, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life,// //Heaven Looks a Lot Like the Mall, Every Soul a Star,// and the Twice Upon a Time series.

Ideas for Teachers:
[|Scholastic Booktalk]

[|Kids' Wings Lesson Plans]

Bluebonnet Book Club For 2010-2011

Discussion Questions:
1. Amanda and Leo have been friends since the day they were born. What makes someone a good friend? Do you have any friendships that could compare to Amanda and Leo's friendship?

2. In order to get unstuck and proceed to the next day, Saturday, Amanda and Leo feel they must do some good. They feel they must help others. Describe some of the ways they help others. What do you think they learn from doing these acts of kindness? How might you help others in your life?

3. This story is like the movie, //Groundhog's Day//. If you had a day to do over, what day would you choose and why?

Classroom Activity:
After students have read the book and discussed the characters, setting, conflicts, resolution, and theme, have them complete a summary activity called "Share One, Get One". This is an activity in Rick Wormeli's book, //[|Summarization in Any Subject].// Students are given a 9 box matrix, or can make their own. Each student fills out three boxes with information from the story they find interesting and would like to discuss. Students then move around the room and "Share One" of their ideas with another student and "Get One" from that student. They continue to move around until their matrix is complete.