Reviews

Eleven by Sandra Cisneros

zoet's review

5.0

In Eleven by Sandra Cisneros, the main girl, Rachel’s character is shown through thought. The writing is strung together like the stream of consciousness of a child who still has that freedom to think freely and wholeheartedly because only until later, like full adulthood, do people really learn to keep a lid on their emotions. Also, even though she possesses very mature ideas like never truly being one age and being aware of other people's many ages (like her mother crying) the Rachel is still restricted to the thought of a child with immature similes and metaphors such as comparing herself to a balloon and having pain in the head like when drinking milk too fast. She represents a more youthful time where you didn't have to express you were sad because of x, y, z. Instead you could just cry and let snot come out of your nose and everyone knew you were sad. And it's a time much too early to understand sickness, old age, disease, stress--even menstrual headaches. Instead, the most pain you got to your head was by drinking milk too fast. Even her wish to be a hundred and two, this last thought is childish as it’s Rachel’s way of running. She doesn’t understand yet that to be a hundred and two, it’s not done by wishing, but instead having to experience the pain, agony, and all ugly, red sweaters of the years in between.

destinugrainy's review

5.0

Like some days you might say something stupid, and that's the part of
you that's still ten. Or maybe some days you might need to sit on your
mama's lap because you're scared, and that's the part of you that's five.
And maybe one day when you're all grown up maybe you will need to cry
like if you're three, and that's okay.

Kisahnya bukan hanya sekadar tentang ulang tahun ke-11, tapi tentang seorang anak yg tidak didengarkan karena tubuhnya masih kecil.

lostintranslation's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

jmira's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

jazzhurt's review

5.0

Man, this brings me back to my kid self. I empathize with Rachel. Good writing! I would love to read a longer story with this voice. It’s so familiar.

tardycreative's review

5.0

An absolutely brilliant read, everyone I know has felt like this, I have felt like this at some points in my young life and even nowadays I feel this way. When people ask me how old I am, I have to concentrate and pause a little too long to remember how old I am, for I keep thinking I am 26 or 27, but in actuality I am 31, though I am overly playful for my age I often act like a 9yr old. I think everybody feels like this, I think no one is actually the age that they feel they are - some people cope better than others to react how others expect you to react for your age and others, like me, just don't cope and act in years either too young or too old in front of others; then we're called weirdos.

I identify with this story a lot.

lamdarlene's review

4.0

read this for class and i really liked it. it was super short and simple but i loved the writing format.

nellamoon's review

5.0

One of my favorite works from Sandra Cisneros. I still get mad when I read this sometimes, though.

The biggest lesson I got from Eleven is that growing up doesn't mean you leave your childhood and its emotions behind -- we are simultaneously every previous age, intricately intertwined. These ages come out when we need them (and sometimes when we dont). Maturity is learning how to master the child inside of us.

dolliecadaver's review

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

such a charming and relatable sentiment about the struggles of growing up. Short and sweet

sampearl14's review

4.0

4.5

“That’s not, I don’t, you’re not…Not mine.” I finally
say in a little voice that was maybe me when I was four.
“Of course it’s yours,” Mrs. Price says. “I remember
you wearing it once.” Because she’s older and the teacher,
she’s right and I’m not.

Oh to be eleven. Such a hard age to begin with. Rachel, the main character, is disappointed about her birthday. She doesn't feel like she turned eleven. She doesn't feel any different. She explains how in reality, we are all the ages at once. Sometimes she feels the need to be comforted by her mom - at that moment, being 5. Sometimes you say something stupid - being 10. Today, on her birthday, she is struggling with age. She wishes she was older because maybe then, people would listen to her and believe her. Her teacher even makes her put on this sweater to prove a point - causing Rachel to completely bubble over and give in to tears..

But the worst part is right before the bell rings for
lunch. That stupid Phyllis Lopez, who is even dumber than
Sylvia Saldivar, says she remembers the red sweater is hers. I
take it off right away and give it to her, only Mrs. Price
pretends like everything’s okay.

Again - what a difficult age. This is a super short story and full of so much emotion that I'm sure most of us have felt at least once around that age. If not, you're one of the few lucky ones I guess.