The science fiction part-time travel-doesn't bog down the story. Stead does a great job showing us how different people in one community are linked not only now but in the future.

Marcus is another character that isn't the cliche one dimensional misunderstand boy. The whole what if scenario of time travel is interesting. Miranda is a likable character who struggles with Sal's turning his back on her to trying to make new friends. I liked how Stead shows 1978 in such a way that it feels natural and not forced. Subtle hints are woven throughout and if you're not careful you might miss them. I enjoyed this story and wondered who in the future was writing those notes. It's also a coming of age story where Miranda struggles to find her place minus her friend. When You Reach Me is a tale where fantasy, mystery, and science fiction are all mixed together to create one engaging story. Then she gets a final note that makes her think she's too late. More notes come, asking for more requests. This mysterious person asks for her to write a letter. Miranda finds a mystery note that tells her that someone is coming to save her friend's life. Then the apartment key Miranda's mom keeps hidden is missing. He rushes home and shuts Miranda out of his life. On the way home from school Sal is punched in the stomach by a kid for no reason at all. They are inseparable.īut one day that all changes. Sixth grader Miranda and her best friend Sal seem to know everything about their New York City neighborhood. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.Įver wonder if time travel is possible? Maybe not now but in the future? And if you had the chance to save a friend's life, would you come back and try? Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner.īut things start to unravel. Four mysterious letters change Miranda’s world forever.īy sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood.

When you reach me pages