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11 Before 12

by Lisa Greenwald

A friendship tested by a middle-school checklist

Regular price $12.56 USD
Regular price $20.94 USD Sale price $12.56 USD
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Paperback New English

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AlbakiReads Editorial

A friendship tested by a middle-school checklist

As sixth grade begins, Kaylan and her best friend Arianna make an eleven-item list of changes and challenges to tackle before their shared twelfth birthday. The plan is meant to give Kaylan a sense of control amid new schedules, social groups, and other unfamiliar parts of middle school. But as the friends work through the list—alongside makeovers, detention, new friendships, and frank talks with their mothers—their attention shifts from caring for one another to meeting the list’s demands. The story connects the pressure to reinvent yourself with the work of keeping a close friendship intact during a period of change.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Ages 9–12 interested in stories about friendship and starting middle school.
  • Readers who enjoy plots centered on lists, personal challenges, and navigating changing friendships.
  • Young readers exploring themes of self-image and fitting in.

Themes

Friendship and loyaltyMiddle-school transitionsSelf-image and fitting inExpectations and personal change

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

Fans of Lauren Myracle and Wendy Mass will love acclaimed author Lisa Greenwald's new series about two best friends who kick-start middle school with a bucket list of eleven things they need to do to become AMAZING before their joint twelfth birthday party.

The first day of middle school means trading in freeze tag at the pool for new schedules, fabulous outfits, and a fresh start. But for eleven-year-old Kaylan, the chaos of new locker combinations, cafeteria cliques, and potential first kisses is more than she can handle. She dreads the start of sixth grade and feels like she wants--no, needs--a winning game plan.

Luckily, Kaylan and her effortlessly chill BFF, Arianna, have a fool-proof plan for tackling transitions: a list of eleven things they need to do to totally transform themselves before they both turn twelve in November.

But between making guy friends, getting detention (and makeovers!), helping humanity, and having super-candid conversations with their moms about their flaws, the first 100 days of school turn out worse than Kaylan ever imagined. Kaylan and Ari forget to focus on their friendship and soon their loyalty to the list--what was meant to help them keep it together--becomes the very thing tearing their lives apart.

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Customer reviews

M
AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

T
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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.