The Eleventh Hour

"A book is read, a story ends, a telling tale is told.  But who can say what mysteries a single page may hold?  A maze of hidden codes and clues, a clock at ever turn, And only time will tell what other secerts you may learn..."

The Eleventh Hour

Graeme Base

First published in 1988 by Penguin Books Australia Ltd.
Another edition published by Abrahams Books for Young Readers in 1993
Copyright Doublebase Pty Ltd, 1988
Picture Book
30 pages
Children of all ages

Horace is turning 11 and wants to throw a party for his birthday.  He based everything off the number of 11.  The 11th day of the 11th month,11 foods (that elaphants like best), and 11 different games to be played at the party.  When the guests arived on the day of the party they were amazed by the banquet that Horace made BUT to follow the theme of the number 11 the feast could not begin until 11, at the time it was only 8am.  They enjoyed games of all kinds while they waited for the time to be 11 so they could enjoy the wonderful food.  The clock stuck 11 and they all went back into the banquet hall but to their suprise all the food was gone, the table a mess, nothing left to eat.  They all get into an uproar and start accusing each other of eating the feast.  Each one would deney and have some kind of an alibi, so who ate the food?  They never found out but enjoyed some samwichs that Horace thought quick to put together and they had a picknick and enjoyed the cake that Horace made and had hidden away in the kitchen, so it was no eaten with the rest of the banquet.  BUT who ate the food?  It was one of the guests, it is up to the reader to find out who it was.  Following the hidden clues and messages on every page, or just randomly guessing on the note in the back of the book, or just cheating and reading the answer book in the back.  For me I know who ate the feast, but if you ask me to keep solving the mystery I have not, so I will leave you with one clue..."Not one mouse could eat it all."

This book would be great for readers of any age.  I read the book aloud to my roommates and we all got into tying to solve the mystery of who ate the feast.  We pulled out the compter and loged the clues and used excell to decode the letter on the back, ran back and forth from the bathroom to use the mirror to read some of the clues.  It is just not a book that children will enjoy, but that a family can read and together solve this mystery.

This book; however, could cause problems for those easily frustrated and for those who cannot think outside of the box.  If you donnot enjoy a good mystery and a book that makes you think then this book would not be for you.

I remember reading this book as a kid, and years later I had the same reaction, I would not stop until I found out the mystery of who ate the feast.  I have yet to open my answer book in the back of the book because I have not found all the clues and all the hidden messages.  Sooner or later I will cave, but for now, I am being stubborn and want to solve it myself.  I love this book!