The commendable focus on a boy/girl friendship is somewhat offset by the flatness of the individual characters, particularly Leo. When Amanda learns that Leo is likewise stuck, the former friends join forces, learning that dramatic consequences result from their smallest actions and discovering, in a somewhat contrived conclusion, what an old feud, an enchantment and the apple grove long since replaced by the town mall have to do with their extraordinary friendship. She muddles through a rotten day only to discover that she has to relive it, literally, over and over. Implausibly, Amanda's grudge endures for an entire year, and she finds herself, stubborn and miserable, celebrating her 11th birthday alone. In an extreme overreaction, she flees the party and cuts Leo out of her life. That is, until their tenth birthday party, at which Amanda happens to overhear Leo talking her down to some classmates.
Kirkus Review In this slow-paced middle-school friendship saga, mildly spiced with a bit of fantasy, readers meet Amanda and Leo, best friends who have spent every birthday together since day one. A rewarding choice for readers and a natural for booktalks and discussion groups.-Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2008 Booklist Emboldened by the idea of daily do-overs, she discovers that small changes in her attitude and actions result in sometimes-subtle, sometimes-monumental shifts in results for herself, her family, and her friends. The mysterious power that rewinds time eventually seems less important than the power that Amanda finds within herself. From the double-entendre title to the solid character portrayals to the clarity and wit of the writing, this novel offers a fresh twist on the familiar themes of middle-grade family and school dynamics. They soon renew their friendship and begin to experiment by making different choices throughout the day, partly for the thrill of acting without long-term consequences and partly from their fear of never escaping this mysterious time trap.
In the days that follow, both Amanda and Leo discover that they are caught in a time loop, waking up each morning to find themselves repeating their eleventh birthdays. Still feeling hurt from an unkind remark Leo made at last year's party, Amanda spends her eleventh birthday without her now-estranged friend to share the fun. Booklist Review *Starred Review* Amanda and Leo, born on the same day, have celebrated their birthdays together for 10 years.
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