 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
When You Reach Me
- By Rebecca Stead
- Genre: Friendship
Common Sense Media says
Perfectly voiced, mysterious sci-fi coming-of-age tale.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
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.
What's the story?
Twelve-year-old Miranda has enough to worry about: her best friend, who suddenly refuses to hang out together; a boy she might kind of like; the homeless guy on the corner near her New York City apartment; and her single mom, an aspiring game show contestant. But now Miranda is getting creepy hidden notes that tell her to write down the story of what happens to her -- but not inform anyone. It will take a tragedy to show Miranda that neither the notes nor her friendships are quite what she imagined.
Is it any good?
WHEN YOU REACH ME is already garnering buzz as a potential Newbery nominee, with a twisty plot that plays with the time-space continuum. It's hard to call it sci-fi, however, since the main focus is Miranda's perfectly voiced, first-person account of negotiating friendships and family dynamics on the cusp of adolescence. Young readers will relate to Miranda's gradual, sometimes painful self-awareness, though they might find its 1979 setting quaint as characters actually talk to each other (rather than text or IM).
With its mystery hook, this is one of those well-written books that should appeal to both librarians AND kids.
What 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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AGE
heart warming book for the whole family
such an amizing book!!! i is a little confusing in the begining but the way it is writen it just pulls you in. i would recamend for parints to read this book aloud to your kids, as then its easer to understand for some reason. for ages 8 to 100 this is truly a heart warming book for the whole family
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Kid, 12 years old
December 21, 2010
AGE
Amazing Piece of Literature
It definitely says something about how life is like in that time period and in that location. It makes it clear that racism is bad. This is my favorite book of all time. It has my two favorite things woven together, sci-fi and mystery. At times it is confusing, funny, complicated, and sometimes just downright weird. But the great thing about this book is the last couple of chapters sum everything up, all the stuff makes sense.
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AGE
awesome book!
This might be mt favorite book...ever. The plotline is very devious and the characters are extremely well thought out. I think that the time-travel part might get a little confusing for young kids, and this might make the book less enjoyable. But for kids 10 and up, I totally recommend this book.
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Kid, 12 years old
October 29, 2010
AGE
good for 10 and up
I LOVED THS BOOK!
-It gets your brain thinking.
-Miranda is a good role model when she helps people and feels sympathy.
-It shows that you should always give people a second chance when making friends.
Its a great book!
... i heard that it is better then harry potter. SO not true. just saying. but When You Reach Me is still a great book, dont get me wrong!
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AGE
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.
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Kid, 12 years old
May 15, 2011
AGE
Great for ages 10 and up!
It is okay....
It is a bit hard to understand but you get there eventually.
Very Interesting, sci fcish/time travel novel.
Has a bit of violence.
A good book to read over a long period of time. e.g holiday,a long car trip.
recommended for ages 10+ and anyone who likes a very entested detailed story.
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AGE
LOVED IT (been re-reading it for several years now)
HI again! I loveed this book. I read it in 5th grade and re-read it all the time. It had great messeages and heartfelt down to earth charecters that you cant help but fall in love with!
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Kid, 12 years old
October 17, 2009
AGE
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).
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AGE
Awesome Book
I think this book is a perfect blend of mystery and fiction. I think Miranda is a good role model. She invites Annemarie for lunch, helps Julia when she needs to use the restroom but is too afraid to ask anyone, and becomes friends with Julia when she realized that Julia really cared for Annemarie. I think the book has a little bit of violence, but not too much. The book also tells you not to judge people for their skin color.
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AGE
Awesome book, it'll make you want to reread it over and over again =)
Awesome book! Definitely read it! I stayed up late and finished it in one night, couldn't even put it down...
Although, I suggest you read A Wrinkle in Time first, it's also a great book, and it'll help you understand certain parts better (also helps you understand more about time travel)
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| Author: | Rebecca Stead |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Friendship |
| Publisher: | Wendy Lamb |
| Publication date: | July 14, 2009 |
| Number of pages: | 200 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Read aloud: | 9 |
| Read alone: | 9 |
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