Book Review: When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb, 2009. 208 pages.

Twelve-year-old Miranda has had an okay life in New York City. She’s learned some street smarts, how to live in the big city, avoid trouble and troubled people like the laughing man who frequents the corner outside her apartment building. Miranda’s single mom, a paralegal in a small law office, always has the means to provide Miranda with food, shelter, and nice things every once in a while. Miranda has become increasingly more self-conscious about their modest living situations however, as she begins building friendships with her 6th grade classmates Annemarie and Colin after a falling out with her best friend Sal. Since the afternoon that Sal was beaten up by a boy in the neighborhood, Sal refuses to talk about it with Miranda, or anything else for that matter, and begins avoiding Miranda for reasons unknown to her. Soon after, she begins to receive a cryptic note from mysterious someone desperately in need of Miranda’s help. Despite trying to ignore the note, other unusual things begin happening in her life and she can’t help but notice that the mysterious note-writer has an uncanny sense about the events unfolding before her, and more notes with the same pleading tone make their way to her hands. What’s more unsettling are the messages in the note, “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.”

Rebecca Stead’s writing style is smart, telling a familiar type of story, but in such a way that keeps the reader engaged and eager for the rest of the story to unfurl. The main character Miranda shows incredible insight for her age, and young adolescents will be exposed to a variety of themes ranging from class, race, friendship, growing up, and much more. This book would greatly appeal to readers ages 10-14, especially those who would also like A Wrinkle in Time or similar books, but honestly this book transcends typical labels, showing elements of science, realistic, even historical fiction (it does take place in the late 1970s). The only issue with this book is whether it is more of under the category of children's vs. young adult literature, but the book's complexities are so compelling that both younger and older readers will definitely enjoy. When You Reach Me is a clever mix of adventure, mystery, and suspence and is rightly appreciated as a recipient of the Newbery Medal (2010), An ALA Best Book for Young Adults for Top Ten (2010), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction (2009, and Parents' Choice Gold Award (2009).

**EDIT**

This book has gotten so many wonderful reviews I feel like I haven't done it justice. Here's a longer review by a librarian
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/1790000379/post/760043876.html.