Eleven

Eleven by Tom Rogers

True Heroism During Times of Tragedy

Eleven-year old Alex Douglas lives with his mom, a nurse, his dad, a commuter train driver, and his six-year old sister, in the New York City area. He dreams of being a hero but spends most of time in trouble over his persistent day-dreaming. He is always being told by the adults in his life that he needs to grow up. His three biggest goals iare to get a dog, get better at hiding his feelings to draw less attention to himself, and avoid the neighborhood bullies.

He happens to be turning eleven years old on September 11, 2001. His birthday, which he hopes will be the Greatest Birthday Ever, starts out like any other day. His mother makes his favorite breakfast and his father goes off to his job as a commuter train driver to the World Trade Center. Alex evades the usual bullies on the way to school. He first notices something is wrong when his class is dismissed early without explanation. His mother warns him to head home, stay away from the TV and keep an eye on his little sister. Instead, Alex and his sister track a stray dog around town, with Alex hoping the stray becomes the perfect birthday present, the pet dog he’s always wanted. The day unravels as Alex stumbles upon various adults who help him put together what has happened in lower Manhattan.

Alex tries to bury the thought he may not see his father again, but he can’t help but worry. On a chaotic day when neighbors and strangers come together, Alex finds comfort and hope in small acts of kindness. A store owner gives Alex and his sister a slice of pizza, and Alex bonds with a neighbor over model airplanes. In the tear-jerking (in a positive way) finale, all the main characters are re-united. Alex discovers that true heroism comes from everyday acts of compassion.

Eleven might not be as well known to the reading public as some of the other titles I have included in my list of Middle Grade Favorites, such as Matilda or Because of Winn-Dixie. The publisher, Alto Nido Press, was established by the author as a vehicle for his own titles. But it certainly packs as much of an emotional punch. The novel received critical support and is a staple in middle grade classrooms. All of which is well-deserved.

Stay tuned for the review of “Enola Holmes” by Nancy Springer.