When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (2009)

Plot Summary:  Miranda and Sal are best friends.  Growing up in 1970’s New York City together, these 6^th graders know which route to take home from school, when to cross the street to avoid groups, and know to walk around the block one more time instead of entering their apartment building if they see a stranger lurking  around out front. They even stick together to elude the crazy man that hangs around in front of their building since he sometimes shouts things out to them.  Until that day—the day that Sal is suddenly punched in the stomach by one of the boys in front of the garage for no apparent reason.  Sal stops talking to Miranda, starts avoiding her and quickly ducks away whenever he sees her.  What’s going on? For as long as she can remember, it has always been Miranda and Sal—for sleepovers, homework time, and back and forth to school.  Miranda is not sure what she has done wrong to make Sal not want to be her friend anymore. 

During the story, Miranda often refers to her favorite book that she is reading for perhaps the hundredth time, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.  She often describes parts of the book as well as the characters.  Miranda admits that she identifies with Meg, the girl in the story, who is looking for her father probably because Miranda herself doesn’t know her father. 

One day, a mysterious slip of paper shows up in Miranda’s apartment—a letter that reads “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. . . you must write me a letter.” Miranda receives several other letters and wonders who could be sending these messages?  And how does the letter writer know everything that goes on?  

Combine the mysterious letters, the crazy man on the corner, and Sal’s odd behavior, and there is quite a mystery to unravel.

Genre:              Mystery

Suggested age range:  10 through 14

Subjects/Themes:  Time Travel, Friendship, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle,

Awards:  Newbery Award 2009

Reviews: *Starred review* in Booklist, as well as a very positive review from School Library Journal.

Annotation:  Fans of A Wrinkle in Time and other books in The Time Quartet Series will really enjoy this story.  The stories have a connection that is intriguing.

Please watch this video of the author discussing her book!