When You Reach Me

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

Summary

Miranda is a twelve year old girl in middle school. Her best friend, Sal, lives in her building.Miranda and Sal's friendship changes after he shuts her out and begins distancing himself from her. She makes with a girl named Annmarie. She also notices that the new kid, Marcus, seems to be around a lot. One day, Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. The writer tells her that they need her help to save her friend's life. One day, it all starts to come together and the notes start to unfold. When Sal is almost hit by a car, it is a "homeless man" that saves him. Miranda eventually learns that Marcus is the homeless man, and has learned how to time travel. He was sending her the notes all along, to save Sal.

Commentary

I am not usually a fan of science fiction, but I did enjoy this book. The mystery keeps the reader on edge, wanting to know what will happen next. It leaves you guessing about who is sending the mysterious notes. The book really focuses on changing friendships, which is something that young adults and adolescents are dealing with. They can relate to Miranda's struggle to figure out relationships and find something she is good at.

Book Trailer

Question and Answer with the Author