When you Reach Me
By Rebecca Stead

When Miranda’s mom gets selected to go on the “$20,000 Pyramid” T.V. show on April 27th, 1979, Miranda is understandably excited.
After school lets out in early December 1978, Miranda and her best friend Sal, were walking past a garage where they see the same boys, day after day, watching them. But today a guy was smashed against a red car hood, getting punched. That was the day Sal got punched.
A guy from the group emerged, and like it was nothing, stepped in front of Sal and punched him in the stomach. That was also the day Sal shut Miranda out of his life.
Miranda and her mother figure out that their apartment has been robbed, and her mother is suspicious. The extra "in-case-of-emergency" key was stolen. One of Miranda’s mom’s boyfriend’s shoe is stolen.
Later at school, Miranda sees a boy. The same boy who punched Sal, Marcus.
He was in a dentist office, having his teeth cleaned. When Miranda asks why there is a dentist at a school, “Wheelie” (the School secretary) explains to Miranda that the School dentist is for kids who can’t afford a dentist anywhere else. After Marcus leaves the dentist, Miranda catches up to him and asks him some questions. Like why did he punched Sal. Marcus explains why he did, and Miranda asks him what time it is when they are walking home together. Marcus points to a building and Miranda nods like she can see an invisible clock there. Miranda finds out that both of them have read the book, A Wrinkle in Time, and Marcus explains time travel.
As Miranda walks home, she sees a laughing man on the corner of the street, lying under an old lady’s mailbox. Under his breath he muttered, “Book, bag, pocket, shoe.” When Miranda passes, he started to point at her and say, “Smart Kid! Smart Kid!” Creepy.
Miranda worked with her friends Annemarie and Colin (who is Miranda’s later crush) at a sandwich wagon owned by a guy named Jimmy. They get free sandwiches and a can of soda each day.
The first note that Miranda found was in her book her teacher gave her. It read:

M,
This is hard. Harder than I expected, even with your help. But I have been practicing, and my preparations go well. I am coming to save your friends life, and my own.
I ask two favours.
First, you must write me a letter.
Second, please remember to mention the location of your house key. This trip is a difficult one. I will not be myself when you reach me.

The notes keep coming. The second one she found in the sandwich roll bag. The note read:

Miranda:
Your letter tells a story-a true story. You cannot begin now, as most of it has not taken place. And even afterward, there is no hurry. But do not wait so long that your memory fades. I require as much detail as you can provide. This trip is a difficult one, and I must ask favours while my mind is sound.
A postscript: I know you have shared my first note. I ask you not to share with others.
Please. I do not ask this for my self.

Two other notes come to Miranda. The third was in her pocket. The final one was in Richard’s shoe, which got stolen in the robbery. Things are starting to unravel more for Miranda. A lot more.
Marcus chases Sal onto a busy street (by accident) and a speeding truck is hurling towards Sal.
Miranda’s brain thought at that moment: SAL IS GOING TO DIE!Does Sal survive? Does he die? Who could have saved him?
Read the book When you Reach Me to find out.
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I personally thought the book was really good, but it was very confusing with the time travel. I liked the whole book.
It’s also really good if you are reading the book at night, and your parents are saying go to bed, the chapters are really short. The longest chapter in the book is around 3 or 4 pages.
I would recommend it for girls and boys because it doesn’t really focus on either.
The age I would recommend it for is probably 9 and up because the whole book is pretty hard to understand.
This book was really good! Please read it!
R.B.