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“When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead is a 2010 Newbery Medal-winning novel about a girl living in New York City in the late 1970s who starts receiving mysterious notes.
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Why I enjoyed reading “When You Reach Me”
I recently read When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead and I enjoyed it immensely. The book is set in New York City in the late 1970s and follows the story of Miranda, a sixth grader who is trying to make sense of some strange events that have been happening to her.
One of the things I loved about the book was the way it interwove different elements of Miranda’s life – her friendships, her family, and her experiences as a young person growing up in New York City. All of these different threads came together to create a rich and textured portrait of what it was like to be a kid in that time and place.
I also appreciated the way the book dealt with some weighty themes, such as loss, growing up, and friendship, without feeling heavy-handed or like it was trying to preach to its readers. It struck just the right balance for me between entertainment and substance.
If you’re looking for a well-written, engaging, and thought-provoking novel, I would highly recommend When You Reach Me.
What the book is about
The book is about a girl named Miranda and her best friend Sal, who live in New York City in the 1970s. Miranda’s mother is a single parent and works long hours, so Miranda often has to fend for herself. One day, Sal is hit by a car and falls into a coma. As Miranda tries to figure out what happened, she starts receiving mysterious notes from someone who seems to know her future.
What I liked about the book
There are many things I liked about When You Reach Me. For one, it’s a book that makes you think. The book is set in the 1970s, and it’s about a girl named Miranda who starts receiving mysterious notes. The notes predict the future, and Miranda has to figure out who is sending them to her.
I also like the way the author writes. She uses interesting words and phrases, and she tells the story in a way that keeps you guessing. I also like the way she writes about friendship and family. Miranda has a complicated relationship with her mother, and she also has to deal with feeling left out when her best friend moves away.
Overall, I thought When You Reach Me was a well-written, thought-provoking book. I would recommend it to readers who are looking for something a little different.
What I didn’t like about the book
I didn’t like how the book ended. I felt like the ending was too abrupt and it left me with more questions than answers.
The book’s ending
Some books are written for children and adults alike, with complex themes and messages that resonate with both age groups. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is one such book.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
The book’s ending is particularly poignant, with Miranda finally understanding the time travels happening around her. It is revealed that her friend Sal, who was hit by a car and killed in the beginning of the book, is actually the one who has been time traveling. He had been trying to prevent his own death, but when he realized that he couldn’t, he made sure to leave messages for Miranda so that she could understand what was happening.
This touching story about friendship and loss is sure to stay with readers long after they finishing turning the final page.
The book’s themes
The book has several themes, including time travel, friendship, and loss.
The book’s style
When You Reach Me is a novel by Rebecca Stead that was published in 2009. The book won the Newbery Medal, and it was also named one of the best books of the year by several publications.
The book is set in New York City in the late 1970s, and it follows the story of Miranda, a sixth-grader who is trying to make sense of her life after her best friend stops speaking to her. The novel unfolds via a series of letters that Miranda writes to her friend, as well as through flashbacks to Miranda’s own past.
One of the things that makes When You Reach Me such a special book is its style. Stein keeps the reader guessing throughout the novel with elements of mystery and suspense, but she also weaves in moments of humor and tenderness. It’s a book that is enjoyable to read on multiple levels, and it’s easy to see why it has garnered so much praise.
The book’s characters
The book’s characters are incredibly believable and genuine. The protagonist, Miranda, is a 6th grader in New York City in 1978. She’s incredibly smart and observant, but also struggles with making friends at school. Her best friend, Sal, is taken from her seemingly out of nowhere, which leads Miranda on a journey to figure out how to prevent it from happening. Along the way, she befriends a strange boy named Marcus and starts to receive mysterious notes from an anonymous person who knows things about her that no one else could know.
The other characters in the book are also fleshed out and complex. Annemarie is Miranda’s sort-of rival at school who she ends up becoming friends with. Mrs. Geiss is Miranda’s eccentric neighbor who loves dogs and has a lot of stories to tell. Reuben is the doorman at Miranda’s building who always has sage advice for her.
Even the secondary characters feel like real people, which makes the world of the novel feel richer and more textured.
The book’s setting
The book When You Reach Me is set in New York City in the late 1970s. The story follows the life of Miranda, a sixth grader, as she deals with friendships, first crushes, and neighborhood bullies. As Miranda navigation’s her way through these problems, strange things start happening to her. Objects disappear, her best friend tells her he knows when she will die, and she even sees a glimpse of the future. By the end of the book, all these strange occurences come together to reveal a larger mystery that Miranda must solve.
Would I recommend “When You Reach Me”?
I thoroughly enjoyed When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced, enjoyable read.
The book is set in New York City in the late 1970s, and follows the story of Miranda, a sixth grader who is trying to make sense of a series of mysterious events that seem to be connected to her best friend, Sal. As Miranda pieces together the clues, she comes to realize that someone is trying to send her a message from the future.
I loved the characters in this book and the way the story unfolded. It kept me guessing right up until the end, and I was genuinely surprised by the twist ending. If you enjoy time travel stories or books with a bit of mystery and suspense, I think you will enjoy When You Reach Me.
