Summary
Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me blends elements of science fiction and mystery with a coming-of-age story. Published in 2009, this middle-grade novel quickly garnered critical acclaim and won the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2010. Set in 1970s New York City, the story follows sixth-grader Miranda as she navigates friendships, family dynamics, and a series of mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. Stead's masterful plotting and attention to detail create an intricate puzzle that keeps readers guessing until the very end. Mixing relatable, down-to-earth themes such as the quest for independence and the power of kindness with elements of time travel, When You Reach Me continues to captivate young readers and their parents too.
Plot
When You Reach Me follows sixth-grader Miranda as she navigates life in 1970s New York City. Miranda and her best friend Sal know their neighborhood well, but things begin to change when Sal is inexplicably punched by a new kid and stops talking to Miranda. Around the same time, Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes from someone who seems to know things about her life and future events.
As Miranda tries to unravel the mystery of the notes, she makes new friends and helps her single mom prepare to be a contestant on the game show The $20,000 Pyramid. The notes become increasingly urgent, claiming the writer is coming to save Miranda's friend's life. Miranda slowly realizes the notes are connected to time travel and that she may be the only one who can prevent a tragic death.
Meanwhile, Miranda befriends Marcus, the boy who punched Sal. They discuss time travel and the logic in Miranda's favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time. A homeless man known as “the laughing man” becomes a recurring figure in Miranda's life. As events unfold, Miranda works to piece together the clues about the notes, her friends, and the laughing man.
In a dramatic climax, Miranda witnesses the laughing man save Sal from being hit by a truck, sacrificing his own life in the process. Miranda finally understands that the laughing man was a time traveler—an older version of Marcus who came back to save Sal. The novel ends with Miranda preparing to deliver her written account of the events to young Marcus, completing the time loop.
Themes
The magic and paradoxes of time travel
The value and challenges of friendship
Growing up and the quest for independence
Mystery and puzzle-solving
Family relationships and single parenthood
Social class differences in 1970s New York City
The power of kindness and second chances
Setting
When You Reach Me is set in New York City's Upper West Side in 1978 to 1979. The novel vividly captures the atmosphere of late 1970s Manhattan, with its bustling streets, local shops, and sense of urban community. Miranda, the sixth-grade protagonist, navigates her neighborhood with a growing sense of independence typical of that era, when children had more freedom to explore their surroundings unsupervised.
Specific locations play a crucial role in the story. Miranda's apartment building, her school, and the corner sandwich shop where she and her friends work all serve as key settings. The presence of a homeless man on their street corner adds an element of mystery and intrigue to the familiar landscape. These places form the backdrop for Miranda's daily life and the unfolding mystery at the heart of the novel.
The time period is significant not only for its cultural touchstones—such as the game show The $20,000 Pyramid—but also for its contrast with modern times. Author Rebecca Stead chose this setting to highlight the differences in childhood experiences between then and now. This nostalgic yet realistic portrayal of late 1970s New York City helps ground the story's more fantastical elements in a believable, relatable world.
Characters
Miranda Sinclair: The 12-year-old protagonist and narrator. Miranda is a thoughtful and observant sixth grader navigating friendships, family dynamics, and mysterious notes about the future. She loves reading A Wrinkle in Time and helps her mother prepare for a game show appearance. Miranda's perspective and growth drive the story as she unravels the time travel mystery.
Sal: Miranda's former best friend who suddenly stops talking to her after being punched by another kid. His distancing from Miranda forces her to make new friends and drives much of the plot. Sal's life is ultimately saved by the time traveler.
Miranda's Mom: A single mother studying to be a paralegal while preparing to compete on The $20,000 Pyramid game show. She is caring but often distracted, leaving Miranda with a lot of independence.
Marcus: A brilliant loner who punches Sal but later befriends Miranda. He discusses time travel theories with her and is revealed to be the time traveler as an adult.
Annemarie: One of Miranda's new friends. She has epilepsy, which causes tension in their friendship when Miranda is unaware of her condition.
Colin: Another of Miranda's new friends who works at the sandwich shop with her. He and Miranda share their first kiss.
The Laughing Man: A homeless man on Miranda's street who is later revealed to be Marcus as an adult, having traveled back in time. He sacrifices himself to save Sal's life.
Richard: Miranda's mom's boyfriend who is kind and supportive. He helps prepare Miranda's mom for the game show.
Julia: Annemarie's best friend who initially clashes with Miranda but they eventually become friends.
Jimmy: The owner of the sandwich shop where Miranda and her friends work. He briefly fires them over a misunderstanding about stolen money.
Quick facts
Rebecca Stead was inspired to write When You Reach Me after reading a New York Times article about a man with amnesia.
Parts of the novel are based on Stead's own childhood growing up in New York City in the 1970s.
The character of the “laughing man” was modeled on a real homeless man who lived near Stead's childhood apartment.
Stead's favorite childhood book, A Wrinkle in Time, features prominently in the story.
Stead consulted with her father on the scientific aspects of time travel to ensure the logic made sense.
When You Reach Me took Stead about two years to write, including her taking a break partway through due to writer's block.
The novel won the 2010 Newbery Medal, one of the most prestigious awards in children's literature
The results of the Newbery award were accidentally leaked on Twitter 17 minutes early.
In 2012, When You Reach Me was ranked #11 on a list of all-time best children's novels by School Library Journal.
The audiobook version is narrated by Cynthia Holloway.
About the Author
Rebecca Stead is an acclaimed American author of fiction for children and young adults. Her breakthrough came with her second novel, When You Reach Me, published in 2009. Hailed for its intricate plot and nuanced character development, this time-bending mystery captivated readers and critics alike, earning Stead the prestigious Newbery Medal in 2010.
Born in 1968 in New York City, Stead pursued a career in law before transitioning to writing. Her literary journey began with the publication of her debut novel First Light in 2007. Her novel Liar & Spy won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 2013, making her the first American author to receive this honor. Other notable works include Goodbye Stranger, The List of Things That Will Not Change, and collaborations such as Bob and The Lost Library, co-written with Wendy Mass.
Residing in New York City with her family, Stead remains dedicated to crafting engaging stories for young readers. Her work is characterized by its ability to blend complex themes with accessible narratives, often exploring the challenges of growing up and the intricacies of human relationships.
