Science Fiction: 5-8

Stead, R. (2009). When You Reach Me. New York: Random House Children’s Books.  

The summary given by the Library of Congress is as follows: “As her mother prepares to be a contestant on the 1970s television game show, “The $20,000 Pyramid,” a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of space and time.”  From the clues and hints throughout the book an adult reader may be able to identify the mysterious character.  I regret that I had not had the opportunity to read this as a child - it introduces time travel and it’s complexities in a way that may be difficult or simplified for a child to understand.  Miranda constantly refers to A Wrinkle In Time throughout the story and aligns events in her life with the events in the book.  The book is well-written and embraces the perspective of a young adult trying to find her place among friends and confusing events. (Grade 5 and up).