Review of When You Reach Me

Bibliography

Stead, Rebecca, read by Cynthia Holloway. When You Reach Me. New York: Listening Library, 2009. ISBN:  9780739380727

Plot Summary

Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever. By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper.  The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death.

Critical Analysis

One of the themes of this low fantasy, science fiction, and mystery book is time travel.  The setting of the book, New York City in the late 1970’s,  draws attention to time right from the beginning of the story.  Another clue that time is important is that Miranda’s favorite book is A Wrinkle in Time.  The main character is Miranda, a sixth grader, and the story is told from her point of view.  The story has many little mysteries and puzzles to figure out and the first person narration allows the reader access to Miranda’s thoughts.   Friendship is another theme that weaves itself through the book;  Miranda’s strained friendship with her childhood friend Sal, her growing friendship with Julia and Annemarie, and the guilt she feels over her new friendship with Marcus.

Cynthia Holloway, a narrator of more than thirty audiobooks,  does an excellent job portraying the voice of Miranda.  There are many threads to this book; time travel, friendship, single parent family dynamic, social class differences, epilepsy, future goals, and dreams.  Rebecca Stead does a great job of tying all the threads into one cohesive tapestry of a very engaging story.
      

Awards and Excerpts

Andre Norton Award, 2009 Finalist United States

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2010 Winner Fiction and Poetry United States

Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2009 Winner Book You Couldn't Shut Up About United States

Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2009 Winner Favorite Book to Handsell United States

Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2009 Winner Favorite Middle Grade Novel of the Year United States

Golden Duck Award for Excellence in Children's Science Fiction Literature, 2010 Finalist

Eleanor Cameron Award for Middle Grades United States

Great Lakes Great Books Award, 2010-2011 Honor Book Grades 6-8 Michigan

Indies Choice Book Award, 2010 Winner Middle Reader United States

IRA Children's and Young Adult's Book Award, 2010 Winner Young Adult-Fiction International

John Newbery Medal, 2010 Winner United States

National Parenting Publications Award, 2009 Gold Books for Ages 9 & Up United States

Parents' Choice Award, 2009 Gold Fiction United States

School Library Journal Battle of the Kids' Books, 2010 Nominee United States

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize, 2011 Shortlist United Kingdom

Booklist Editors’ Choice: Books for Youth, 2009 ; American Library Association; United States

Booklist Top 10 Crime Fiction for Youth, 2010 ; American Library Association; United States

New York Times Notable Children's Books , 2009 ; United States

Notable Children's Books, 2010 ; ALSC American Library Association; United States

YALSA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 2010 ; American Library Association; United States

School Library Journal review excerpt:  “Rebecca Stead's novel pivots around the day Sal gets punched by an unknown classmate and shifts the order of the universe. She skillfully weaves written notes into each scene and repeats clues when necessary. The climax is full of drama and suspense. This story about the intricacies of friendship will be a hit with students.”


BookList review excerpt:  “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. Just as Miranda rereads L'Engle, children will return to this.”


Connections

Other books by Rebecca Stead:
First Light (2007)
Liar & Spy (2012)

A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962)

Play one of the various versions of the Pyramid board games:


Link to the Educators Readers Guide:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/teachers_guides/9780375850868.pdf