Book review-Newberry award winner
1.Bibliography-Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York, Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780385737425
2. Plot Summary-This is the story of a 6th grader named Miranda, who receives a mysterious note and strange things begin to happen in her life. Miranda and her mother are working to prepare for an appearance on the television game show, The $20,000 Pyramid. Mysterious notes, missing objects and unusual characters in her neighborhood help Miranda discover the important things in her life.
3. Critical Analysis-The character of Miranda is one with whom readers can identify. As the female protagonist, she is the only child of a single-working mother, who wants a better life for her and her daughter. Throughout the novel, many of the events that Miranda and her friends encounter help to facilitate their growth into adulthood. Set in to 1970’s, Miranda’s neighborhood is described in detail paying careful attention to the eccentric characters in and near her apartment building. With the addition of the mystery notes that begin to show up, the plot takes a strange twist and Miranda begins to make connections between the notes and occurrences in the neighborhood. She feels that the notes are going to lead to something tragic, and is unsure of what the future actually holds. This story presents a young woman on the verge of becoming a teenager and all of the problems and triumphs one her age can encounter. Rebecca Stead uses a delicate balance of dialogue and narration from the viewpoint of Miranda, while concentrating on building a better relationship with her mother, Richard-her mother’s boyfriend and her friends.
Texas Lone Star Book 2010-2011
Newberry Medal Winner 2010
School Library Journal(starred review)- “Stead's novel is as much about character as story. Miranda's voice rings true with its faltering attempts at maturity and observation. The story builds slowly, emerging naturally from a sturdy premise. As Miranda reminisces, the time sequencing is somewhat challenging, but in an intriguing way. The setting is consistently strong. The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways.”
Kirkus Reviews(starred review)-"[W]hen all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say,'Wow ... cool.'"
Booklist(starred review)- "[T]he mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."
The Horn Book Magazine (starred review)- "Closing revelations are startling and satisfying but quietly made, their reverberations giving plenty of impetus for the reader to go back to the beginning and catch what was missed.
People Magazine-"Absorbing."
The Wall Street Journal-"Readers ... are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward."
5. Connections-
Another book by Rebecca Stead:
Stead, Rebecca. First Light. ISBN-10: 0440422221
Sunday, May 2, 2010
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