What is this?

Children's Books

Welcome to the Youth Services Children's Books blog. We encourage you to give feedback and share.
NOVEMBER 27, 2009
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

This is a very unique and thought-provoking novel. It’s 1979, and 12 year old Miranda is helping to prepare her mother to appear on The $20,000 Pyramid television show. Miranda asks her mother all kinds of questions and categories that could appear on the show. In the midst of all this preparation, Miranda receives a mysterious note. It says, “I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own.” Miranda is totally puzzled by all of this.  However, as a result of this note, and the others that follow, Miranda becomes more aware of the people and places around her. She becomes a better friend. “A Wrinkle in Time,”by Madeline L’Engle is Miranda’s favorite book. She wants to understand time travel. Somehow, she is able to connect the anonymous notes with events that happen in “A Wrinkle in Time.”

This is a mystery and science fiction story  that will want to be read more than once, to understand the significance of the clues. This book received a starred review in School Library Journal. Highly recommended for grades 5-8.

Add a comment  (2 comments) posted by Mrs. Rose

----------------------------------------------------------------

Comments

Mrs. Rose said, on Jan. 18 at 9:42AM
This book just won the 2010 Newbery Award for best children's book of the year. Yeah! It is a well-deserved award. Congratulations to Rebecca Stead!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs. Sommer said, on Mar. 15 at 8:35AM
It was wonderful to see how the pieces of this story all fit together. It becomes clear that Miranda is writing this story to the person who has left her notes, explaining so perfectly her changing relationships with the people around her, and capturing the details of 1979 so well. The discussions with classmate Marcus about time-travel are especially interesting, and the inclusion of "the laughing man", a seemingly crazy but harmless homeless man who stays by the mailbox near their apartment building, gives dimension to this clever novel. I could completely relate to Miranda's love of "A Wrinkle in Time". It was my favorite book at her age as well. Maybe it still is. Highly recommended. This is also good on CD.

Subscribe via RSS
Search
Categories  

 

 

Powered by engagedpatrons.org Powered by engagedpatrons.org