Name: When You Reach Me
ISBN: 9781410427793

Rebecca Stead

As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1970s television game show, "The $20,000 Pyramid," a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.

When You Reach Me

doxi 

But I’ve decided I won’t say much. I’ll just hand him my letter and say, “Try not to land in the broccoli.” He’ll understand. He’s a smart kid.

When you reach me

Maybe I’m just not a mystery person, but I didn’t like the eerie tone of this novel. Definitely wouldn’t recommend it to children.

Jeweliet Coffee

Sarah Sammis

First of all, it's cute. Then it's a page turner. I read on and off till 21% and it's a high way to the last page after then. I read while i walk, do my labwork and all, i just couldn't put it down. Then it's the first 5 stared book i read this year. Never expected that! I seriously didn't know what i was signing up for. It's perfectly portioned, so simple yet conveys so much. I kept getting chills from the climax to the end. And here i am still ugly crying, absolutely devastated for the wrap up. I love every bit of it. I'll be coming back to this book often.

Laura Mauler

Wow. This definitely belongs on the list of 100 best children's books.

Jaden Nelson

Surprisingly different than what I thought it would be. Even though it is a middle grade book, not what I usually read, it was very thought provoking and had a surprising amount of intellectual material new to me. It was even a tiny bit confusing because of the complex topics, but I really liked it in the end. Meg (main character) is very like able. A really nice little book I would recommend.

charisa

took a short break from the wall of storms to return to a childhood classic LOL. this book is just beautiful. i really don’t have many words to describe it. there’s so much heart and hope and ache rolled up into less than 200 pages. i think i cried like three times.

angie

the story got me invested early on and it was very fun to read! i loved that it doesn't only focus on the mystery surrounding the notes, but the main character's growth as well.

Jeannette Ordas

I loved this book and read it slowly in little bits so that I could savour every page. Everything about Miranda, her family, and her friends and even New York City in the '70s was perfect.

Connor 

This was good in the sense that it was... just... a really, really solid read. Not flashy, not melodramatic, just... a well written, solid, enjoyable story. 

 I already knew the ending (shoutout to my mom who thought I'd already read it... whoops) when I started, and that definitely changed my experience, but I still really loved this? I love puzzle books where you get to piece together what's happening and why and with whom. As a big fan of Meg Murray myself, I completely understood why Miranda was so taken with A Wrinkle in Time and loved seeing how Stead wove that story into this new one.

Stefanie  Uwah

Characters: I could really relate to the main character, Miranda. She seemed so real and I loved reading her thoughts. She was a lot older than her years! I really liked her mom and her mom's boyfriend Richard. He was very kind and lovable! I wanted them to hurry up and get married! Every character in this book felt real and not overdone. 

Plot: Some people thought the plot was predictable but it wasn't to me. Maybe it's because I have never read A Wrinkle in Time, which is what this book is kinda paying homage to. I was very surprised when I found out who had been writing notes to Miranda and how the person knew all of these things about her. All in all, I think it was a very well constructed plot! 

Writing Style: I have to admit I was a bit confused with the writing at the beginning of the story. It was written in the present, then past, then present again. And it is also written like she is writing a letter to someone so it can get a little confusing. I usually don't like when books have a bunch of flashbacks but in this book it is done perfectly. The transitions between past and present were seamless and it never once pulled me away from the actual story (well, you know, except in the first 20 pages). Kudos to Rebecca Stead!

Other Quirks: I really loved how the cover tied in with the book. The landmarks matched up with details of the book and that was really cute! I also liked how most of the chapters titles started with Things you... or Things that... because of the game show $20,000 Pyramid. 

Verdict: 4.5/5! Really good, solid book. The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5/5 is the fact that I am still bit confused about the time travel aspect. I still have questions about it. I don't want to say more because I don't want to give any spoilers! But if you do know what I am talking about, comment below. I want to have clarification!

See me here at http://secretsofabookie.blogspot.com/

Ashley Wendt

Well now. That was a refreshing surprise of a Middle Grade story. It was mysterious and endearing. I did have the mystery figured out pretty early on, but I still absolutely enjoyed the story telling, the character growth and the message of this story!

Haylie Belle

I very much enjoyed this book. It has just the right amount of mystery and drama. My fifth grade teacher read this book to my class and I loved it. I remembered the title of this book and just had to buy it when it appeared at my school's yearly book fair. Good job, Rebecca Stead!

Trever

For a YA book, this crosses over pretty well. I really enjoy that it's a genre crossover between literary and science fiction.

Destiny J Tamayo

The story follows a sixth grader named Miranda who gets the cold shoulder from her best friend Sal after he gets punched in the face. Afterwards a series of notes are sent to her asking her for help to save his and her best friends life.
**2.5** it was an okay book it just felt flat. I couldn't sympathize or relate to the characters. The only character I cared about was Marcus. For the life of me I can't figure out what was the point of this book. Overall the writing was simplistic and easy to read but nothing I never seen before. I really liked the aspects of time travel that were mentioned in the book since it's a really interesting topic that is debated. Clearly the book a Wrinkle in Time played a big role in the book, but I never was able to get into that novel so it may have taken away some enjoyment and connection to the book. I felt like the story was dragging on even though the book is less than two hundred pages. I only really recommend this book if you enjoyed a Wrinkle in Time or if you enjoyed any of her other novels, but unfortunately this wasn't the book for me.

Jordan Robinson

I had to read think for school but omg I'm not even mad. This was super cute and fun and quick. Just what I wanted and needed.

Tori Shamlian

** spoiler alert **
           This was a reread from elementary school (!!) and I enjoyed picking up on so much more as a (semi-)adult reading it for the second time. Stead manages to bring in some important social topics even in a children’s book, like racism and classism. Ultimately, I loved how the idea of the veil persisted throughout the book and foreshadowed the ending. There were some especially beautiful moments of writing too!

•Sometimes you never feel meaner than the moment you stop being mean. It’s like how turning on a light makes you realize how dark the room had gotten. And the way you usually act, the things you would have normally done, are like these ghosts that everyone can see but pretends not to. (68%)

•She doesn’t mean that it’s a real veil. And it isn’t about magic, or some idea that maybe God is looking right at you, or an angel is sitting next to you, or anything like that. It’s just her way of saying that most of the time, people get distracted by little stuff and ignore the big stuff… I’ve thought a lot about those veils. I wonder if, every once in a while, someone is born without one. Someone who sees the big stuff all the time. (39%)

Shannon Leigh Williams

This book is my baby. Mine. My favorite. Call me crazy! I feel so possessive of this book... Like no one else can read it, but at the same time, everyone should read it!
Oh my goodness... If you love A Wrinkle in Time, this book is the best!!! No matter how many times I re-read it, it never gets old. Amazing!!!

Miranda's life is starting to unravel. Her best friend, Sal, gets punched by a kid on the street for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The key that Miranda's mum keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then a mysterious note arrives: 'I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favours. First, you must write me a letter.' The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realises that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.

When You Reach Me

Reviews

Highlights