When You Reach Me

 

 

 

 

Bibliographic Data: 

 

Stead, Rebecca. 2009. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

ISBN 9780375850868

Plot Summary:

The book begins in New York City in 1979 with Miranda Sinclair’s mother being accepted as a contestant on The $20,000 Pyramid game show. We see Miranda flashback to earlier in the previous year to an event that changed the course of her life in many ways. Her best friend Sal is punched randomly by a boy that neither Miranda nor Sal know. After this, Sal becomes distant and Miranda doesn’t understand why. She begins to receive a series of letters with dates and clues that must be followed closely in order for Sal’s life to be saved. Miranda begins to notice strange coincidences between the clues in the letters and what is happening in her own life. It begins to feel as if someone knows her future as each event mentioned within the letters begins to actually happen. Miranda questions the possibility of time travel and discovers the theory just might be true.

Critical Analysis:

Author Rebecca Stead presents very real characters and a very real setting that make the novel When You Reach Me seem more realistic fiction than science fiction, at times. The protagonist, 12 year old Miranda, is relatable and believable. The story is one that seems very real in the beginning with a seemingly normal flashback by Miranda setting the tone. Quickly, the story begins to take on the element of fantasy after the theory of time travel is discussed. Stead’s organization of the past, present and future comes together beautifully in the end and makes for an engaging climax. The first person account given by Miranda allows the reader to experience the unexpected in the same methodical, climactic approach as the main character.

When You Reach Me includes notable examples of friendship which is a reoccurring theme throughout. Miranda not only creates new friendships, but rekindles old ones and creates bonds she never imagined were possible. For example, the person Miranda thought she could never be friends with, Julia, eventually becomes close after Miranda begins to see what they have in common rather than what makes them different.

Awards:

John Newbery Medal Book, 2010

Andre Norton Award Finalist, 2009

 

Review Excerpt(s):

Kirkus, Starred Review, June 2009:

“…when all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, "Wow...cool."

 

Booklist, Starred Review, June 2009:

“The ’70s New York setting is an honest reverberation of the era; the mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children and adults, are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest.”

 

School Library Journal, Starred Review, 2009:

“This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.”

 

Connections:

*Make predictions concerning who the letter writer might be. After the first letter is mentioned in the book, have students write a journal entry making a prediction who the person might be and where they come from. Compare answers after students finish the book.

*Discuss the friendships in the novel. Are they realistic? Which ones seem more real?

*Other young adult novels with time travel:

L’Engle, Madeleine. Wrinkle in Time. ISBN 9780374386160

Cross, Julie. Tempest: A Novel. ISBN 0312568894