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When You Reach Me Audiobook
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"Like A Wrinkle in Time (Miranda's favorite book), When You Reach Me far surpasses the usual whodunit or sci-fi adventure to become an incandescent exploration of 'life, death, and the beauty of it all.'" —The Washington Post
This Newbery Medal winner that has been called "smart and mesmerizing," (The New York Times) and "superb" (The Wall Street Journal) will appeal to readers of all types, especially those who are looking for a thought-provoking mystery with a mind-blowing twist.
Shortly after a fall-out with her best friend, sixth grader Miranda starts receiving mysterious notes, and she doesn’t know what to do. The notes tell her that she must write a letter—a true story, and that she can’t share her mission with anyone.
It would be easy to ignore the strange messages, except that whoever is leaving them has an uncanny ability to predict the future. If that is the case, then Miranda has a big problem—because the notes tell her that someone is going to die, and she might be too late to stop it.
Winner of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award for Fiction
A New York Times Bestseller and Notable Book
Five Starred Reviews
A Junior Library Guild Selection
"Absorbing." —People
"Readers ... are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward." —The Wall Street Journal
"Lovely and almost impossibly clever." —The Philadelphia Inquirer
"It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises." —Publishers Weekly, Starred review
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"This book has won a ton of awards and it's easy to see why, with a concept so similar to the Madeleine L'Engle titles. If your middle schooler is interested in tales of urban living or time travel, give them this to read. A review is difficult to write without spoilers, but Miranda is chosen by a time traveler to assist him in saving "a life." She doesn't really do it, but when the book ends she intends to because now she understands what he wanted. The plot does meander and the chapters are short and episodic so it did take me a while to get through it, yet I am a fan of this style of writing. Really liked it, didn't love it. Would have loved it if Miranda was a little deeper and I was allowed to know Marcus a little more--don't understand why, considering the role he plays."
— L.A. (4 out of 5 stars)
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Winner of the Newbery Medal A Junior Library Guild Selection An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book An ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults A best book of the year: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal, Booklist, Indies Choice Named to Multiple State Award ListsFive starred reviews
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"[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.'
— Kirkus Reviews, 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.
— Booklist, 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.
— The Horn Book Magazine, Starred review -
This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.
— School Library Journal, Starred review -
It's easy to imagine readers studying Miranda's story as many times as she's read L'Engle's, and spending hours pondering the provocative questions it raises.
— Publishers Weekly, Starred review -
Smart and mesmerizing.
— The New York Times -
Incandescent.
— The Washington Post -
Readers ... are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward.
— The Wall Street Journal -
Absorbing.
— People -
[T]he believable characters and unexpected ending invite readers to ponder the extraordinary that underlies the ordinary in this fictional world and in their own.
— The Washington Post -
“In this taut novel, every word, every sentence, has meaning and substance. A hybrid of genres, it is a complex mystery, a work of historical fiction, a school story and one of friendship, with a leitmotif of time travel running through it. Most of all, the novel is a thrilling puzzle. Stead piles up clues on the way to a moment of intense drama, after which it is pretty much impossible to stop.”
— New York Times -
“Like A Wrinkle in Time (Miranda’s favorite book), When You Reach Me far surpasses the usual whodunit or sci-fi adventure to become an incandescent exploration of ‘life, death, and the beauty of it all.’”
— Washington Post
Awards
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Winner of the 2010 Newbery Medal
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A New York Times bestseller
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Selected for the Autumn 2009 Kids' Indie Next List
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Winner of the 2010 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
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Winner of the 2009 Parents' Choice Gold Award
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A 2009 School Library Journal Best Book
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A 2009 New York Times Notable Book for Children
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A 2011 Children’s Book Award Nominee
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A 2009 Publishers Weekly Best Book for Children's Fiction
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Winner of the 2010 Indies Choice Book Award: Middle Reader Book of the Year
When You Reach Me Listener Reviews
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" Library ebook. Had a hard time getting into it. But pushed forward. It was okay. "
— Danni, 2/13/2014 -
" This is one of the best books I've read all year. Great plotting; wonderful, sympathic characters I felt like I knew and cared about. There is a mystery - or rather mysterious things happen - things that are revealed at the end which render this quite a unique story - they actually elevate the material. It is no wonder to me that this won the Newberry Medal. "
— Ivan, 2/9/2014 -
" YR and awesome. "
— Christabel, 2/8/2014 -
" 4.5 stars. This is a book I think I enjoyed more than the kids. I read A Wrinkle in Time to them several months ago to help prep for this book as I knew that it dealt pretty directly with that book. I am glad I did as I think everyone understood and enjoyed it more because of that. Very worthy Newbery winner IMO. "
— Jodi, 2/8/2014 -
" This is probably one of my favorite books of all time. Gonna be honest, the plot kind of blew my mind. It's funny, sad, awe-inspiring, joyful and entertaining all at once. Stead's style of writing is very real and relatable. This book really struck me deeply and made me think about the concept of time and pre-destination and free will and all that jazz. I LOVE THIS BOOK "
— Rachel, 2/8/2014 -
" I have never been happier with a Newbery pick than this one. Rebecca Stead has come close to writing the perfect novel: every word is well - selected and every element of the story ties in. I loved everything about this book and look forward to the fifth and sixth readings of it. "
— Jill, 2/4/2014 -
" I really enjoyed this book. I was reading it to see if my students would enjoy it/it would be appropriate for their reading level/etc. (which was mainly an excuse for me to read it, since I'd been eying it in a scholastic book order). The intriguing mystery that starts at the beginning is an undercurrent throughout the entire story which really kept me reading. The ending I never saw coming, which was refreshing for me since I haven't read many books geared for middle schoolers that aren't relatively predictable. If you're looking for a quick read - I'd definitely grab this book. "
— Rachel, 1/26/2014 -
" One of the best young adult fiction books I've ever read. She draws you into the story and creates the emotions so well. Amazing! "
— Siusan, 1/21/2014 -
" A clever, fun, and mysterious story. I really liked that the main character learned that being kind pays off. "
— Adrianne, 1/13/2014 -
" A nice mystery. "
— Wilson, 1/8/2014 -
" Very interesting book. Many references to Wrinkle in Time. Must reread it!! "
— Leslie, 12/28/2013 -
" Probably deserved 3.5 stars. I liked it, but wasn't sure what to think at several points. Still worth reading, especially for Madeline L'Engle fans! "
— Nina, 12/19/2013 -
" A little slow at first, but it was a good, quick little read. "
— Connie, 11/14/2013 -
" Great time travel story! I love when stories have so many different pieces like a puzzle and they all come together in the end. A short, fun read. "
— Mary, 10/23/2013 -
" Bought three Rebecca Stead novels for my nine year old nephew this Christmas. This is a nicely paced story with a mystery included. Characters are easy to identify with but also face challenges in their lives. I liked this one the best of the three. "
— Jack, 9/19/2013 -
" I think it is one of the best books I've ever read... I can't believe the man under the mailbox is... Sorry, I just can't spoil it "
— James, 7/10/2013 -
" Very complex, ingenious plot. Worth a second reading. "
— Trudy, 12/12/2012 -
" So smart. I want to start reading it again. Right. Now. "
— Melinda, 12/6/2012 -
" Love, love, love this book! Best to read Madeleine L'engle's A Wrinkle in Time first though. "
— Alex, 11/26/2012 -
" Awwwwwwwww! My little heart!! Very happy. A book you'll love no matter your age. "
— Khadijah, 9/8/2012 -
" This book absolutley changed me. I normally am not appealed to most books, and get bored, but this one, I just couldn't put down. FIVE STARS "
— Ethan, 5/27/2012 -
" I heard this was a great book, and it is! A great elementary or middle school book. "
— Ariel, 5/25/2012 -
" Re-read this book today and LOVED it! It really is incredible! "
— Molly, 5/24/2012 -
" This book is sci-fi/realistic fiction. It is about a girl named Miranda who begins receiving strange notes. It says someone is going to save her friend's life. It is a bit like A Wrinkle in Time. I loved it and if you like books about time travel, or you liked A Wrinkle in Time, you will like this. "
— 7709eva, 3/26/2012 -
" It was OK, but it didn't wow me. Probably wouldn't read it again. "
— Manda, 9/23/2011 -
" A great read. Full of mystery and suspense and time travel. Won the Newbery award in 2010. Great for kids and adults. "
— Kayla, 8/19/2011 -
" A Newbery Medal winner...looking at catching up on those young adult fiction stand-outs. If you enjoyed a Wrinkle in Time, you will appreciate her story of young teens and their friendships and time travel. "
— Carol, 8/18/2011 -
" I read this after my supervisor mentioned it might be added to our curriculum. It's a sweet book with a good twist, but more suited for 6th grade readers, not 8th grade. "
— Sarah, 5/23/2011 -
" Love this book sooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!!!! I was soo sad when it ended!!! "
— Mwilkinson, 5/22/2011 -
" I liked this book alot. I had no idea what was going on. It kept me guessing and had a great twist at the end. "
— Jennifer, 5/21/2011 -
" it was a good book interesting and one of the best books but it doesn't beat buterfly by jodi bullock<br/> "
— Ruby, 5/21/2011 -
" Read it for the kids school. Really pretty good, still think about it from time to time. "
— Elizabeth, 5/19/2011 -
" Enjoyable read that deals with time travel in a way that holds up pretty well, and that I could understand. "
— Jessie, 5/18/2011 -
" Loved this book! Adding to my shelves for my third grade students who are ready for a challenge! "
— Cndquick, 5/17/2011 -
" I'm going to have to read more books in this genre, because I was puzzled throughout. Miranda keeps getting clues for something to happen in the future and bring light to happenings of the past. She was quite likeable, maybe more so to me, because she was puzzled, too.:) "
— Connie, 5/16/2011 -
" This book does not disappoint, even on multiple readings. I have read this 3 times and find new nuances in the story each time. May be a bit easier to understand if you have read A Wrinkle in Time recently. "
— Sharon, 5/14/2011 -
" I am usually a fan of Newbery winners and honor books. I didn't find this one quite so stellar as usual. "
— Mw, 5/13/2011 -
" i loved this book again an addiciting book i love rebbeca steads books! "
— Daisy, 5/12/2011
About Rebecca Stead
Rebecca Stead has written three novels for children: When You Reach Me, a New York Times bestseller, and winner of the Newbery Medal and the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award for Fiction; Liar & Spy, a New York Times bestseller and New York Times Book Review Notable Book for Children; and First Light, a Junior Library Guild Selection and a New York Public Library Best Book for Teens. She lives in New York City with her family.
About Cynthia Holloway
Cynthia Holloway, a native of Seattle, has performed on stage, in film and television, as well as doing voice-over work. She has given her voice to television programs, radio and television commercials, video games, and audiobooks.