Tuesday, August 25, 2009

58. When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead

Ages 9-14, Grades 5-7 Wendy Lamb Books, Random House July, 2009 200 p. Rating: 4 2010 Newbery WINNER 1979 New York City - Miranda's mom is getting ready to be a contestant on the $20,000 Pyramid. Her best friend, Sal, has stopped being her friend - she knows not why. She's spending her lunch period working a Jimmy's, helping to prepare sandwiches. She avoids the crazy, laughing homeless man who hangs out on her corner. She reads A Wrinkle in Time over and over. And she grapples over tiny notes she's been receiving that truthfully foretell bits of her future. Told in short chapters, this multi-faceted story is interesting and thought-provoking. At the end I spent an hour slipping back to look for foreshadowing and clues. Some of my 4th graders - and even some of my 5th and 6th - will not "get" some of it- but those who can think outside the box and/or love A Wrinkle in Time will certainly enjoy this story.

1 comment:

twentybyjenny said...

Dear Chris,

Have you had any students that had not read WRINKLE IN TIME who still enjoyed WHEN YOU REACH ME? It seemed to me that you could enjoy WHEN YOU REACH ME without being familiar with L'Engle, but I'd be curious to know if that is true for your students. I loved this book.

Best,
Jenny