When You Reach Me

Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Plot Description: Miranda and Sal are best friends and both live in New York City.  They do everythinhg together until one day while walking home from school, when Sal gets punched.  They both race home but Sal slams the door in Miranda’s face and shuts her out of his life.  Then the house key that Miranda’s mom keeps outside the door gets stolen and Miranda finds a mysterious note.  The notes continue to come giving clues to try to help Miranda figure out the puzzle.  Miranda finally figures out that her friend Marcus learned how to time travel and came back as an old man in order to save Sal’s life.  He was the one leaving the notes advising her to write a letter so he could recognize himself.  Miranda finally writes the letter that the notes ask and comes to peace with the death of Marcus because she knows that it was his time.

Genre: Mystery, Fantasy

Age Group: This would be appropriate for grades 5-9.

Series Information/Similar Books: First Light by Rebecca Stead, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, The Prisoner’s Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

Personal Thought:  This book has a surprising ending and will be enjoyed by many readers.

Subject/Themes: Time Travel, Friendship, Responsibility

Awards: Newbery Award 2009, IRA Children's Book Awards 2010, Book Sense Book of the Year 2010,  Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards 2010.

Character Description:

Miranda is in six grade.  Her best friend and neighbor is Sal.  Her mom has just received notice that she will be on the show $20,000 pyramid.

Sal is also is six grade.  He has shut Miranda out of his life in order to develop other friendships.

Marcus is the boy who punches Sal in the face.  He learns how to time travel and has come back as an old man and loses his life while saving Sals.

Annemarie becomes Miranda’s new friend.  She has epilepsy and is on a strict diet.  She tries to fit in and not tell Miranda about her diet and gets sick.

Annotation: Miranda continues to receive mysterious notes that get stranger and stranger each time.  Will she be able to solve the mystery in time to save a life?