When You Reach Me. by Rebecca Stead. 2009. 199p.
New York: Wendy Lamb Books. Newbery Medal, 2010
Twelve year old latch-key kid Miranda lives in New York City
with her single mother. Set in the late 1970s, her New York neighborhood is a
lively setting replete with an intriguing cast of characters, including her
best friend Sal, a strange but brilliant boy named Marcus, and a ragged and raving
homeless man she calls the Laughing Man. When a series of mysterious anonymous
notes that seem to predict the future begin showing up amongst her
belongings, Miranda attempts to piece together a mystery that hints at time
travel and impending danger.
Stead ably weaves together a number of plot lines to create
a genre-crossing novel that defies easy categorization- mystery, realistic
fiction and coming of age story are all represented, with a special place given
to science fiction. Indeed, Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, plays a prominent role in the story as Miranda’s
favorite book as well as the inspiration for several details of Miranda’s life.
The issues of race, class, friendships and growing up are realistically tackled
as Miranda faces the challenges of adolescence, and Stead presents young readers
with subtle life lessons.
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