Last updated on October 6, 2020
When You Reach Me is a young adult book by Rebecca Stead. We first meet Miranda, who mysteriously receives instructions to write a letter and give it to someone. She doesn’t yet know what she needs to write or for whom.
I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. Second, please remember to mention the location of your house key.
Chapter 17, The First Note
This story has a lot of characters and subplots. If you want to know the ending, check out this post.
Cast of Characters
Annemarie, Julia, Miranda, Sal, Marcus, Colin, Alice all attend sixth grade, in the same school. Marcus is the only one in a different class. We meet Annemarie’s dad, Julia’s mom, and her boyfriend, Richard. There’s Wheelie, who works in the principal’s office, the dentist who treats kids at school, and Jimmy, the owner of the restaurant near the school. There are several other minor characters, but the strangest character is the laughing, kicking man, a seemingly homeless character who sleeps below the mailbox, and sometimes calls out things to Miranda and her friends.
Childhood Friendships
Miranda and Sal are best friends, inseparable until Sal tells Miranda that he needs a break. That throws Miranda because Sal is the only friend she has. Lucky for her, Annemarie also needs a friend around that time. She and her friend Julia had a falling out. While Sal shuts Miranda out, Annemarie and Julia remain distant friends. Miranda and Annemarie start hanging out in and outside of school.
We see friendships form and reform. Annemarie, Miranda and Colin become friends and start working during lunch at Jimmy’s restaurant nearby. They are paid in sandwiches. We see them hired, fired, rehired and then they resign.
Over time, Miranda makes two new friends as well: Julia and Alice. She’s also friendly with Marcus. It turns out that Miranda, Julia and Marcus have all read A Wrinkle in Time, although Marcus is a bit critical of it.
Miranda has a mystery. Along with the mysterious note about writing a letter, she’s also been given a series of clues to prove the writer comes from the future and who he is. He tells her that he’s come back to save her friend.
Stolen Items
One day, Miranda comes home and finds the door unlocked. She and her mom don’t notice anything missing until some time later.
When Jimmy fires Miranda, Annemarie and Colin, it’s because he thought they stole his money from his bank full of 2 dollar bills folded into triangles.
Times Collide
One day, Miranda finds herself following Sal home from school. Then she notices Marcus heading for Sal. When Sal starts running, Marcus runs after him. This allows time to collide between the homeless man, Sal, Marcus and Miranda. In the aftermath, Sal and Miranda get a chance to discuss their friendship.
In another storyline, Miranda’s mom goes to compete on a game show. Everyone in the family has plans for the money, which opens up a possible new opportunity.
Solving the Puzzle
At the end of When You Reach Me, Miranda figures out the puzzle. She realizes the relationship between the homeless man, the current time, and the future. She decides to write and deliver the letter containing “the story of what happened and everything that led to it”. She doesn’t reveal everything that she’s discovered, but enough to ensure that everything happens as it should.
Final Verdict
I have a vague recollection of having read A Wrinkle in Time. It may be time to revisit the book since it is a classic. I think When You Reach Me plays homage to it.
I appreciate all the details Rebecca Stead adds to this story. It creates a fullsome story. I have read and enjoyed other young adult books, but I don’t think this one was quite for me. Considering the audience is young adults, though, I’m trying to go back in time to consider how I would enjoy When You Reach Me if I read it when I was 12. From that perspective, I’m going to be generous and give it 4 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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