Even so, I have no doubt that Amanda's insecurities and refusal to forgive her friend Leo for his hurtful words will resonate with young readers. I am sure that as an adult reader I see this more readily in her works than an eleven year old would. She is a teacher of important life lessons - behind your back. In case you have never read a Wendy Mass book before, she is a sneaky philosopher. And, after she and Leo figure out that they are both repeating their birthday, they team up, first to take advantage of the fact that they can do whatever they want and when they wake up in the morning it will all have been erased, and eventually to get to the bottom of the situation and whatever it is that is keeping them stuck. Repeating her birthday over and over gives Amanda the chance to work through these tough situations.

Amanda is willing to practice her back handspring and try out for the team, but she knows that she's not as good as the other girls and, being a drummer, would rather be trying out for the marching band. Stephanie is a gymnast who wants to make the team and be friends with the popular girls. Without Leo, Amanda has clung to Stephanie, who sided with Amanda after the fight. Aside from losing her best friend, Amanda's grudge also means that there will now be two different parties competing for guests on the same night. Amanda is so hurt by this that she runs out of the party and doesn't speak to Leo again for a year. At the start of their tenth birthday parts, Amanda overhears Leo telling a group of boys that he doesn't like having his party with Amanda.

Amanda and Leo have always celebrated their birthdays with a joint party.

Wendy mass 11 birthdays series order