• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

When You Reach Me

July 30, 2009 by Jennifer

Is there anything better than discovering a new author? One who writes a novel so enjoyable that you can’t wait to read her next offering? Well, Amanda and I have found one: Rebecca Stead.

The back of this book describes it as “a remarkable novel (that) takes place in the real world, but holds a fantastic puzzle at its heart. When You Reach Me is original and a brilliant and profound delight.”

Wow — how can a book live up to that kind of hype?? I don’t know, but this one did. It’s a perfect description — this is the real world. Twelve-year-old Miranda lives in NYC in the late 70’s, and Stead’s characterizations are spot on, with such observations as what the birthright of a latchkey kid is (watching TV and eating junk food). The difficulties of navigating friendships as one grows up is also a key theme.

It’s real — and yet not. When sixth-grader Miranda begins receiving strange notes that seem to come from the future, she is unsure what it means. You don’t want to know too much either — the book is much better if you allow the author to take you along on the ride. The mystery unravels slowly, but the puzzle is not complete until the end of the novel, making for a very satisfying conclusion.

Another neat technique employed in the telling of the story is the connection to Miranda’s most favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time. As it so happens, Amanda and I were listening to a recording of that book just after Amanda read this book, and just before I read it, which was a neat layering — drawing more meaning out of both stories.

If, like me, you grew up in this time, or like Miranda A Wrinkle in Time is your favorite book, you will be as delighted as your own tween is at When You Reach Me. If you’re an adventure-loving kid (of either sex), like my own sixth grader, you’ll be captivated too!

Jennifer Donovan is a former latchkey kid who took full advantage of the rights and privileges associated with it. She still gorges on junk food and TV when no one else is around.

Filed Under: 5 Star Reads, Children's Books, Jennifer, Middle Grade Chapter Books

« The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn
Books on Screen: Better than the Book? »

Comments

  1. Tina says

    July 30, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Sounds like a book I would like to read!

  2. Linda says

    July 30, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Madeleine L’Engle is one of my favorite authors, so I would love to get this book for my classroom library!

  3. Missy says

    July 30, 2009 at 11:46 am

    I just added this one to my wish list. It sounds great!

Trackbacks

  1. Semicolon » Blog Archive » Sunday Salon: More Books I Want to Read says:
    August 9, 2009 at 9:24 am

    […] You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. I’ve read a lot of buzz about this YA novel, and now I see in Jennifer’s review that the protagonist of the novel has a favorite book: A Wrinkle in Time! Since I’m a […]

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • Citizen Orlov
  • The Lady from Burma
  • Death Takes a Bath
  • Square of Sevens
  • In the Shadow of the Bull

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2023 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316