Eleven (review)

Between uneasy dreams and the finding of mysterious papers in his attic, eleven-year-old Sam is beginning to suspect that his beloved grandfather (who is also Sam's guardian) is keeping secrets from Sam about the past. Since Sam has trouble reading, he elicits the assistance of his new classmate Caroline, and they try to piece together clues to figure out what happened to Sam when he was little and what that means about his life now. Though the secret past event itself—a stint in a children's home and a boating accident upon his retrieval by his grandfather—is implausible in its elaborate high melodrama, the storytelling is polished and compelling while remaining accessible to a young audience. Sam's literacy issues aren't merely included for didactic value, as they play a key role in heightening the suspense and bringing him together with Caroline, and it's also clear that they're shaping his personality and his class role in troubling ways. There are also touches of classic orphan-story pleasures here, with Sam living an idyllic life with his grandfather and friendly collective of neighbors and additional tension deriving from the possibility that his discovery may destroy this utopia. This will therefore intrigue fans of Giff's Pictures of Hollis Woods (BCCB 12/02) and other home-finding tales as well as those readers who enjoy a smooth tale of psychologically touched mystery.