Fantasy: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Stead, Rebecca. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York, Random House, Inc. ISBN 9780385737425

Summary

When You Reach Me is the tale of Miranda, a twelve year old in New York who receives mysterious letters from an unknown person from the future. As time passes and more letters arrive, Miranda loses touch with her friend Sal, harvests new friendships with Annemarie and Colin, and helps her mom practice for her appearance on “The $20,000 Pyramid”.

Analysis

When You Reach Me is set in New York City in the 1970’s. The apartment in which Miranda and her mother lived is often described as dilapidated, something that a poor, single mother and child would often experience. Miranda and her friends are very aware of their surroundings. References to the dangerous nature of the New York streets help the reader visualize the locations described. Many things take place on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue, a significant location in the story. Jimmy’s sandwich shop also plays an important role in the story.

Each character plays a very special role in the story. Our protagonist, Miranda, is an optimistic child who gives anyone a chance. She’s heartbroken when her best friend, Sal, stops speaking to her, only to learn later that he just wanted time to make more friends. In their time apart, Miranda herself makes new friends, Annemarie and Colin. Her dislike for Julia, a somewhat dislikeable character in the story, changes when she sees the longing for an old friend in Julia’s eyes, something Miranda understands. Proof that she will befriend anyone, Miranda spends some time with Marcus, a boy who unexpectedly punches Sal. She also gives the crazy “laughing man” on the corner a chance. Miranda also has endearing relationships with her mother’s boyfriend, Richard, and a girl at school named Alice who has peculiar bathroom needs.

The plot follows an interesting path. Through most of the story, the events are realistic, making it hard to grasp the idea of it being a science fiction novel. Once the letters begin to appear as if from the future, the sci-fi notion is easier for the reader to understand. The climax blows the reader away, making odd connections to events that happened throughout the entire story and tying unexpected characters together.

Miranda never gives up on her feelings about time travel, even when challenged by other characters. Their beliefs help the reader feel as if this truly could happen. Stead’s quirky writing makes the reader feel as if time travel is truly possible. Her words also make us cheer for Miranda during her triumphs and tribulations.

Miranda’s perseverance is eminent in many aspects of her life…through maintaining friendships, supporting family, and searching to find the truth to the mysterious letters. Themes of friendship and independence are also present.

Personal Response

                                                 

Because of the mostly realistic nature of the story, I had difficulties following. When the story reached the climax, I found myself looking back toward the beginning of the story, piecing together every bit of the puzzle. Although it is sometimes confusing, the endearing story would be a great read for students who are into mysterious, eventful novels.

Reviews and Awards

2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature Winner
2010 John Newbery Medal Winner

“Charmingly eccentric and impossible to categorize, this middle grade novel pays homage to Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time while employing many of that book's elements as it crisscrosses the boundaries between reality and fantasy, time travel and mystery.” –Uma Krishnaswami, Children's Literature

“Some might guess at the baffling, heart-pounding conclusion, but when 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." – Kirkus Reviews

“The story's revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made. Their reverberations give plenty of impetus for readers to go back and catch what was missed.” –Horn Book Starred

Connections

The science fiction nature of When You Reach Me stems from the time travel involved in the story. Students can be inspired to write their own tale of time travel, only they need to travel not for the benefit of themselves, but for someone else’s well being. It can be totally fictional or based on one of their own life events.

Rebecca Stead’s writing in When You Reach Me is very endearing. Students can fall in love with more of her characters by reading another one of her books:

                First Light

                Liar and Spy