When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead
★★★★
I heard way too much about this book before I read it. Going into it I thought it was a novel about a time-traveler that flashed back and forth between the 1970s and another time. Yes, there is time-travel, but it’s actually a rather small part of the story, which in this case worked really well.
The main plot focuses on Miranda and her single mother. Miranda is a sixth-grader and she’s helping her mom train for a game show that she’s going to be on. I love the details that Miranda shares about her everyday life in New York. Her character felt very real to me.
Sal, Miranda’s best friend, is the victim of a seemingly random act of bullying and afterwards the two friends drift apart. Then Miranda begins to receive some strange notes from someone who seems to know the future. The plot, which at first seems disjointed, all comes together by the end of the book.
One of my favorite parts of the story is Miranda’s constant references to her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time. She carries it around with her and describes it to others. I absolutely remember feeling that way about certain books when I was growing up. I felt so attached to them. I wanted everyone else to read them and I couldn’t help applying their plots to my own life.
Though this isn’t one I’d probably re-read, I really enjoyed it and it made me want to re-read A Wrinkle in Time.
For a few more thoughts on this book, check out the reviews at…
Stainless Steel Droppings
Fluttering Butterflies
Seaside Book Nook
