11 Birthdays

candylove - After celebrating her birthday with Leo for all her life, on her tenth birthday, she hears him saying some mean things about her. She and Leo don't talk to each other for that whole year. Now, on her eleventh birthday, she's having a costume party and he's having this awesome one with a band, a hypnotist, a snow cone and cotton candy machine, and more! Not only is Amanda jealous, but she misses Leo a lot. But when her birthday is finally over, she gets in bed, and the next morning when she wakes up it's her birthday again! Then she finds out that Leo is trapped in it too! They have to get out of this predicament, but how? And why is it happening to them? It's clearly not happening to anyone else. they find out that it relates to their ancestors and an old lady named Angela D'Angelo. But before they escape from their birthday, can Leo make up for what he said?

Starred review from December 22, 2008
Like a Groundhog Day
for middle grade readers, Mass's (Every Soul a Star
) winning story features a girl seemingly trapped in her 11th birthday. Amanda seems doomed to relive her failed try-out for the gymnastics team, her mother being fired from her job and, worst of all, the party that even her best friend leaves early—to go to the party hosted by her former friend, Leo. The two have celebrated every previous birthday together (they were born on the same day), but a misunderstanding on their 10th has gone unresolved. After several repeats of the day, Amanda and Leo realize they are in this mess together and must work as a team. Girls will relate to Amanda's insecurities, and the confidence and insights she gains will resonate with them. Mass's expertise with pacing keeps the story moving at a lively clip, and her understanding of this age group is as finely honed as ever. Ages 9–12.