A review by sampearl14
Eleven by Sandra Cisneros

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.