When You Reach Me

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Stead, Rebecca. 2009. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780385737425

      2.  PLOT SUMMARY

      This book tells the story of a sixth grade girl named Miranda living in New York in the late 1970's. Miranda is an independent girl familiar with the streets of New York. She is learning to adjust to many issues faced by pre-teens such as friendships, relationships, and life at home with her single mother. One day Miranda's best friend, Sal, is attacked in the street and the relationship between Sal and Miranda changes from that point on. Sal avoids her and they begin making new friends. Miranda is responsible for helping her mother prepare to be a contestant on the popular television game show The $20, 000 Pyramid. During this time Miranda begins to receive mysterious notes from an anonymous person in unusual places. Although she dismisses the notes at first, she begins to realize that the person responsible for them knows about events that will take place in Miranda's life even before they happen. Miranda finally is able to put the pieces of the mystery puzzle together and realizes that the note is from the future. A boy her own age now, is writing her letters from the future as a grown man, promising to save her friend Sal's life as well as his own. In the end, Sal and Miranda renew their friendship, but have learned that as they are maturing they will need to branch out to explore new groups of friends as well. 

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The reader easily identifies with the main character, Miranda. Even though this story takes place over thirty years ago, Miranda encounters some of the same events and situations faced by today's pre-teens and teens. The reader catches a glimpse into the everyday life of Miranda when she says, "After-school junk food is another fundamental right of the latchkey child" (Stead, 2010, 5). 

The setting of New York City is highlighted in the care and planning Miranda and her mother take when on the streets of New York alone. "Her key was already in her hand. Mom doesn't like to fumble around in front of the building looking like a target for muggers" (Stead, 2010, 9). Yet another glimpse into the streets surrounding Miranda's apartment occurs when she describes the laughing man. "I had to walk home alone past the crazy guy on our corner" (Stead, 2010, 16). Although Miranda has been independent in this city for some time, it is evident that she still experiences insecurities and vulnerabilities as she deals with the strangers on the street. 

An underlying theme throughout this story is the importance of friendship. The reader witnesses the evolving nature of several relationships between Miranda and her school friends. One example is Miranda's disconnect with Sal. "I used to think of Sal as being part of me: Sal and Miranda, Miranda and Sal. I knew he wasn't really, but that's the way it felt" (Stead, 2010, 17). Although the two have been inseparable for years, they begin to recognize that the adolescent years will cause them to expand their realm of friends. In reference to the day Sal was punched on the street, Miranda makes a valid point related to this shift in her relationship with Sal. "And I didn't know it yet, but it was also the end of my friendship with Sal" (Stead, 2010, 24).

Another development of friendship is seen in Miranda's decision to reach out to the girl named Alice that others often mocked. "And in that moment, I wanted nothing as much as I wanted Alice to feel safe with me" (Stead, 2010, 144). The new experiences and relationships Miranda develops throughout the story makes her more aware of the needs and feelings of others. A final nod to the theme of friendship may be seen in the relationship Miranda tries to mend with Julia. Although the two girls have been vying for the attention of Annemarie, Miranda attempts to resolve the situation. "I leaned forward and dropped the note into Julia's lap. I hadn't had much time-it was just the one word: TRUCE. And underneath I'd written my phone number" (Stead, 2010, 147). Again, this bold step on behalf of Miranda highlights her new level of maturity and desire to make new friendships. 

Stead's writing style is strongly influenced by her experiences growing up in a neighborhood and time period very similar to that of Miranda. This allows Stead to write from personal experience and makes the story very real to the reader. Stead's use of foreshadowing is especially helpful to the reader. "The laughing man was always mumbling under his breath. 'Bookbag, pocketshoe, bookbag, pocketshoe'" (Stead, 2010, 18). Careful attention to clues such as this one is pertinent to the reader's understanding of the story's conclusion. Another example of foreshadowing may be seen as Miranda discusses time travel with Marcus. "Time travel. Some people think it's possible" (Stead, 2010, 49). Although very subtle, this conversation holds significant clues related to the actual time travel that allows Marcus to eventually save Sal's life near the end of the story. 

Although the plot is somewhat convoluted due to the nature of the story, the basic sequence of events is portrayed in a somewhat linear fashion. The first major turn of events occurs when Sal is punched on the street. "He made a fist that came up like a wave and hit Sal right in the stomach" (Stead, 2010, 22). A second major moment within the plot occurs when Miranda realizes the boy who hit Sal, Marcus, attends their school. "My brain started yelling at me: 'It's the kid who hit Sal! He goes to your school?'" (Stead, 2010, 47). 

Another helpful tool for monitoring the passage of time within the plot are the mentions of Miranda's mom preparing for her day on The $20,000 Pyramid. "Mom is getting very good at the speed round. She almost always gets seven words in thirty seconds now" (Stead, 2010, 39). Tension builds as the date of her appearance on the game show nears. Stead's primary strength in plot development is her ability to create a highly realistic story line before introducing the element of time travel near the end of the plot. In the end, Stead reveals that the laughing man has been on a journey from the future with the purpose of saving the life of Sal. "To save Sal. That's why you stood on our corner day after day. That's why you were always doing those kicks into the street-you were practicing" (Stead, 2010, 164). Stead makes these turn of events believable because she has based them in the actions and conversations of characters leading up to this fictional turn of events. 

4. PERSONAL RESPONSE: STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

I really enjoyed this book. I think Stead does a great job identifying real life situations that pre-teens and teens experience even today. The use of flashbacks in time and the references to time travel made the plot slightly difficult to follow at times. However, the story is a puzzle to be solved, and I understand that Stead used the complex plot line to create this effect. 

5. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

2010 Newbery Award

This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers" (SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL)

'"[W]hen all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, 'Wow ... cool.'" (starred review, KIRKUS)

"[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest." (starred review, BOOKLIST)

6. CONNECTIONS

*Students could read Miranda's favorite book, A WRINKLE IN TIME, by Madeleine L'Engle (ISBN 0440498058). Students can compare and contrast the two books. 

*This book could be used in a book club to discuss topics such as friendships and relationships.

*Students could practice characterization skills by creating a Glog about Miranda. Students could use quotes, notes, and images to describe Miranda's character.