When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is the perfect realistic fiction book with a fantasy twist. It’s a mystery too. As well as a coming of age, friendship book. In fact, When You Reach Me dabbles a little in many genres. In a short 197 pages, this book packs a punch! From what I’ve read about the book it’s also getting a lot of Newbery buzz. Which I wouldn’t mind one little bit if it received Newbery recognition. It’s also on all of the Best of 2009 lists and deservedly so. Long story short: worth the read!
So I really don’t want to say to much about the book because I didn’t know a single thing about it when I read it, so the little twist at the end was a really nice surprise. It’s also the type of book that as soon as you close the very last page, you want to open the first one again and start all over again. I borrowed this one from the library but it’s a keeper that I’d like to add to my library and I think would also make a great read-a-loud as a family.
A perfect compain book to When You Reach Me is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (which by the way I hated! Previous link is my review). Our main charater in When You Reach Me, Miranda, has this FAVORITE book which she reads over and over again. When she first mentions the plot but without mentioning the title (not given till much later – so the comparison between the two books may go over some people’s heads), I thought to myself – ugh, that sounds like it’s SO not my type of book. At the next book reference I realized that her favorite book was A Wrinkle in Time and yep – so not my type of book!
But When You Reach Me IS my type of book. One that I would wholeheartedly recommend even if I didn’t tell you anything about it.
Links of interest: Rebecca Stead website and blog, more book blogger reviews.
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, approx ages 9-12.
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books. July 14, 2009.
Hardcover, 208 pages. ISBN 0385737424
When You Reach Me is available from your favorite independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Middle Readers
Tags: fantasy, female author, Fiction, published 2009, Q-T Author, science fiction, U-Z Title
Enjoy this post? Then subscribe to receive updates in your favorite reader or by email.
Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell's, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books - any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it's much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.
I really liked When You Reach Me – and I also really liked A Wrinkle in Time.
on November 20th, 2009 at 12:28 pmI had no idea this was a children’s book. It sounds wonderful. I love the cover, too.
on November 20th, 2009 at 12:34 pmI loved this book too! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I completely agree about the suspense. I went in knowing nothing, and it was magical watching the story unfold.
on November 20th, 2009 at 1:01 pmI haven’t read this or heard of it. Great review – I’m just reserved this one from the library and can’t wait to read it.
on November 20th, 2009 at 1:07 pmI loved this book, too. And, I don’t know what to say about it, either.
on November 20th, 2009 at 3:24 pmThis book is on my Christmas list. I really hope I get it.
on November 20th, 2009 at 10:54 pmI liked this one (and I loved A Wrinkle in Time as a kid) but I can’t gush over it like everyone else is. I think I just couldn’t see many young readers really enjoying this one. The plot was a little hard to get into and I wish there had been a little more explanation to everything. I did enjoy it though and I could see it winning the Newberry.
on November 21st, 2009 at 11:57 amYep–I loved this one too! My 11-year-old daughter loved it as well. It’s definitely kid-approved, but it’s one of those that is such a pleasure for adults to read as well.
on November 21st, 2009 at 4:00 pmI’m excited to hear you enjoyed this book. I just happened to pick it up at the bookstore last weekend on a whim and now I’m looking forward to reading it all the more.
on November 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pmI’ve read so much good buzz about this book! I have a copy sitting on my shelf and will hopefully read it soon.
on November 23rd, 2009 at 3:42 pmI’ve heard some great things about this book and your review has convinced me to read it!
on November 24th, 2009 at 9:09 pm[...] WHEN YOU REACH ME, by Rebecca Stead. A sixth-grade girl in New York City begins receiving mysterious notes. (Ages 9 to 12) [...]
on January 31st, 2010 at 5:04 pm