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When You Reach Me

(2009, Fiction - Friendship, Written by Rebecca Stead)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 9.

  • Is it any good?

    5.0

  • Common Sense says

    Perfectly voiced, mysterious sci-fi coming-of-age tale.

Themes in this book include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship, growing up, loss

Why We Rated This on for Ages 9 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The book makes it clear that racism is not OK, and shows kids that it’s never a good idea to make assumptions about anyone, regardless of their circumstances. Miranda and her mom are imperfect characters, but they have a close, loving relationship. Miranda realizes that even though Julia has money, that doesn't mean she has a better life or gets more attention from her parents.

  • Role models:

    Miranda is mostly a positive role model, even though she isn't perfect. As a latchkey kid who is home alone after school, she's responsible for taking care of herself. She befriends an unpopular girl and is best friends with a boy, without any dating connotations. On the negative side, she's sometimes snotty to her mother. One day she goes to her friend's house without telling her mom, making her mother cry from worry. She also watches a fair amount of television.

 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Miranda is fearful of walking home alone past a group of boys who call out to her and past the homeless man who sleeps under the mailboxes. A boy slams another boy against a car and hits him. Every time the boy tries to get up, the other kid pushes him down and hits him again. A boy punches Sal in the stomach, then hits him across the face; Sal's nose bleeds. Sal is almost hit by a truck; instead, the laughing man is killed. After the accident, Belle leads Miranda past "a heap of something awful in the street."

  • Sex:

    Miranda and Colin kiss several times. Miranda's single mother has a boyfriend but he does not have a key to their apartment.

  • Language:

    Very mild language, such as "idiot", "shut up," and "that's bull." Miranda says something is a "whole different bucket of poop," as her Mom likes to say, "except she doesn't use the word 'poop.' "

  • Consumerism:

    A few products or companies are mentioned by name, including McDonald's and Blow Pops. A now-defunct game show, The $20,000 Pyramid, plays a key role in the plot.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About When You Reach Me

Parents need to know this time-traveler novel features the death of a man who is hit by a truck in front of the main character. It also addresses a girl's fear of a homeless man near her New York City apartment and touches on racism. The main character's friend is punched in the stomach by another boy for no apparent reason. Readers will get more out of the book if they've also read A Wrinkle in Time, which is referenced frequently as Miranda's favorite book.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about what role the game show The $20,000 Pyramid plays in the book. Why did the author choose that game show in particular? What does it mean that chapters have such titles as "Things You Keep Secret"?
  • Miranda says watching after-school TV is "a birthright of every latchkey child." Do you think that is true?
  • Why is A Wrinkle in Time Miranda's favorite book? If kids have read it already, did they like it or When You Reach Me better?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    becca1206
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on and give it 0.0

    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    becca1206
    Lives in Illinois
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    amazing, but scary

    i just finished reading this book and it is amazing in every area. it is a bit frightening at some parts, and it gives a graphic description of a man getting hit by a car. parents would want to talk to their child about some parts, but other than that, it was a really good book!

    This review...

    Helped me decide (1) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
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  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    dragonsrule
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I really like this book. I got creeped out though, for in one chapter the main character starts out by saying you, but she means it as if it is a note written to someone in particular, not YOU or ME (the reader). Also in one of the chapters (The Last Note) we get a step by step description of what happened one day, including a man getting run over by a car. I think this is a good book for kids age 10+, but parents might want to talk to their kids about a couple of things (e.g. the man getting run over).

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
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  4. Parent Reviewer
    robinpeggy
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    Evocative, stunning writing -- should be a classic

    My daughter loved this book so much I read it too. Wonderfully written, suspenseful, mysterious. A terrific heroine who lives in a slightly dangerous urban neighborhood. Her mother particularly came alive for me.

    This review...

    Helped me decide (1) | Had useful details (1) | Read my mind
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