MADreads

Sixth grade version of “Time Traveler’s Wife”

December 11th, 2009 Katharine - Sequoya

…or perhaps a love letter to Madeline L’Engle.  These are two ways to describe When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  Like many reviewers have said, this book is hard to talk about with out giving too much away.  Part coming of age, part middle school friendship drama, part supernatural time traveling adventure, it has it all and according to Nancy Pearl is destined to be the next Newbery Award winning book.

Do you remember how it felt to be a pre-teen, full of questions and poised on the edge of adulthood?  Stead captures these moments perfectly.  Maybe I liked this book so much because Miranda the main character reminded me of myself growing up.  My best friend growing up was also a boy (hers was Sal mine was Paul).  I also adored escaping with my books after a dramatic school day (Miranda LOVES A Wrinkle in Time, I preferred Trixie Belden stories).  Miranda’s story begins in 1978 NYC and I was hanging out with Paul in the early 80’s, but that’s where the similarites end.  Nothing quite as strange and mysterious happened to me out in SD as it did for Miranda in NYC.

Miranda and Sal are street wise NYC apartment dwelling latch key kids and on their way home from school one fall afternoon when Sal is attacked by a boy that neither of them know.  Sal, only bruised by the menacing sucker punches, soon begins to distance himself and Miranda can’t figure out why.  She begins to finally make friends with girls in her class and also unexpectedly befriends the very boy who beat up Sal.  Miranda’s mother has been chosen to be on a game show and prepping for her appearance is taking up alot of family time.  This is when the mysterious notes start popping up referencing events that only Miranda knows about.  Who is writing them?  What are they predicting and most importantly why?  You will want to read fast and figure out the cryptic messages, but try and take your time and let the story unfold, it will be worth it.

The book’s dramatic conclusion makes you want to re-read it immediately so you can see how the messages all make sense at the end.  This one would be ideal for the whole family to share; classroom drama for the school age, 1970’s nostalgia for the parents and a mind bending adventure to go along with it.  Put this one on your 2010 reading lists now.

Entry Filed under: Childrens, Fantasy