Given the author’s expertise at developing sympathetic characters and creating a suspenseful plot, readers will find the complexity of Sam’s vulnerabilities to be as intriguing as the unfolding enigma of his past. Evoking an entirely different mood and set of circumstances, this intimate story realistically examines friendship, family secrets and the struggles of a learning-disabled child trying to make sense of the world. Although the premise echoes that of Caroline Cooney’s The Face on the Milk Carton

As they embark on two projects-building a medieval castle for social studies and solving the mystery of Sam’s past-they also construct a solid friendship, despite Caroline’s parents’ plans for another, imminent move. Learning the truth requires research, and Sam, a special-needs student who has trouble reading, solicits help from Caroline, a new girl at school. ) creates what she calls a “jig-saw puzzle” of a book, showing readers how Sam pieces together artifacts and his own flashbacks to find out whether Mack, the man he has lived with for as long as he can remember, really is his grandfather. This novel study has discussion questions and some activity ideas at the end of the novel. This story has many themes of friendship, family, and how everyone has some talent regardless of other abilities. In this exquisitely rendered story of self-discovery, Giff ( Lily’s Crossing Eleven tells the story of Sam, and his journey to understand his past. The day before he turns 11, Sam searches the attic for hidden birthday presents and discovers more than he bargained for: a newspaper clipping showing a photograph of him as a missing child.

Eleven by patricia reilly giff summary