When You Reach Me

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
Youth Fiction - Lower Level- STEAD

When You Reach Me is Rebecca’s Stead second novel and the winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal. It’s 1978 in New York City and Miranda lives with her single mom in small apartment building. Miranda’s best friend Sal lives just one floor below her. Miranda’s favorite novel is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle and she carries a very tattered copy of the book with her wherever she goes. Miranda enjoys science fiction and time travel but she is not sure that it is possible until she starts receiving unusual letters. Miranda is plagued by strange events that start taking place during her sixth grade year. First off Sal gets punched on the way home from school and will not talk to Miranda anymore. Then Miranda starts receiving strange letters from an unknown person. These letters confuse Miranda because they are cryptic and some of the events referred to have not happened yet. While all this is taking place Miranda (along with Richard her mother’s boyfriend) is trying to help her mom prepare for being a contestant on The $20,000 pyramid. You learn about the different people that live on Miranda’s block, once Miranda learns the truth of the mysterious letters everything seems to come full circle. This is a wonderful novel by Rebecca Stead and very deserving of the Newbery Award, there is an intriguing storyline plus just the right combination of reality and science fiction to keep the readers enthralled. Once you have read and enjoyed When You Reach Me check out Rebecca's Stead debut novel First Light.