Spend a Day (or More) with 11 Birthdays
February 4th, 2010 by Karen
February is a month full of holidays — you’ve got Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and the Lunar New Year. But let’s not forget the all-important holiday that just happened a couple days ago: that’s right, people, Tuesday was Groundhog Day.
Personally, I don’t have much faith in a groundhog’s weather predictions, but I do love the old movie Groundhog Day, starring Bill Murray. You’ve probably never seen it because you’re not as ancient as I am (the film came out in 1993), but the basic premise is that Bill Murray’s character is forced to live the same day (Groundhog Day, obvi) over and over again until he can figure out how to escape the loop.

11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass
It’s a hilarious movie, but it’s rated PG. So if your parents guide you not to watch it, I’ve got the perfect book equivalent for you: 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass! In the book, Amanda is forced to live the same day (her birthday, obvi) over and over again until she can figure out how to escape the loop.
Unfortunately for Amanda, it’s a pretty miserable birthday — the first since a huge fight with her former best friend, Leo (who just happens to have the same birthday). How will Amanda finally make it to the next day? And could Leo be in on this weirdness too? To find out, read the book! (And if you like it, why not get into the spirit and read it over again once you’re done?)
Or if you’ve already read 11 Birthdays, leave me a comment with your take!
— Karen
4 Responses
Hi! my teacher read 11 Birthdays to us in school.Have you ever read 12 Finnaly? its also by Wendy Mass, and it has Leo,Amanda and the old lady with the duck shaped birth mark!I almost finished the book.Hope you read 12 Finnaly and 11 Birthdays!
@Gianna: I haven’t read 12 Finally — but it’s actually sitting here on my desk in my “To Be Read” pile. Now that you’ve recommended it, maybe I’ll move it up the list!
i havent read the whole book yet, but im dying 2 kno whay the theme is!
can you tell me sumbody? please!
@Selena: Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean. If you’re asking about the book’s theme, I’d say one of the major topics is friendship. But if you’re asking about our current theme on Kidsmomo, it’s Author Memoirs and Autobiographies. Hope that answers your question — whatever it is! 🙂