Book Review: When You Reach Me

What is it about?
(This review might contain minor spoilers)

When You Reach Me is a charming story about Miranda, a 6th grade girl living in New York City circa 1979. When she is not at home, Miranda spends most of her days hanging out with her best friend Sal. When she is at home, she busies herself with the usual and unusual 6th grader routines, like helping her mother prepare to be a contestant on the $20,000 Pyramid. Miranda seems to enjoy her life and never stops to think twice about it, until everything starts to change. Seemingly out of nowhere, Sal stops hanging out with her, she is forced to make new friends, and, most alarmingly, she begins receiving strange notes that appear to be coming from the future.

If I had to categorize this young adult book, I’d label it a sci-fi, coming-of-age mystery that tackles themes dealing with growing up, friendship, and family. Yet, it really isn’t a sci-fi novel and it’s barely a mystery. Yes, there are sci-fi elements but I use that term delicately since so much of the novel is grounded in reality. Throughout the book, Rebecca Stead carefully references A Wrinkle in Time and casual conversations about time travel to ease the reader into the possibility of jumping back and forth in the space-time continuum. Likewise, she takes her time laying out the mystery across the entire novel. The result is a very compelling read.

Rececca Stead is very cunning in her ability to draw you in. The book is divided up into very short chapters (most with titles that mirror the $20,000 Pyramid categories – i.e. “Things You Keep in a Box”) and each chapter reveals just enough details to keep the reader curious. Her writing is like a well crafted serialized television show, she does not end with frustrating cliff hangers; instead, she continually entices the reader with snippets of information. Over time, the mystery builds and before you know it, you have fallen down her rabbit hole and are fully devoted to solving Miranda’s puzzling predicament.

Who is this book for?

I feel what separates great YA fiction from mediocre/generic YA fiction is its ability to appeal to both adults and children. When You Read Me does a wonderful job catering to both audiences. By setting the novel in 1979, and repeatedly referencing A Wrinkle in Time and the $20,000 Pyramid, it easily gives a frame of reference for anyone over 25 that enjoyed Madeleine L’Engle’s book as a child and/or was a sucker for daytime game shows. More importantly, the book is well written and the characters are authentic representations of real people.

Most likely, this book will be primarily enjoyed by middle school age students. The short chapters make the book accessible to your average middle school reader and the discussions about time travel or the abundant use of foreshadowing supply plenty of enticing content to keep your advanced readers interested.

So, there you have it. I really grew attached to this book, even though it can be read in just one or two sittings. When You Reach Me is an enjoyable story about growing up and learning what love, family, and friendship is truly about. I recommend picking up a copy for yourself, your classroom library, or diving in a getting a class set (I’ve already added this book to my summer reading list for rising 7th graders).