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When You Reach Me/First Light
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When You Reach Me/First Light
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When You Reach Me/First Light
Ebook525 pages6 hours

When You Reach Me/First Light

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this ebook

For the first time, Newbery Medal–winning Rebecca Stead’s two brilliant books are available together in an eBook-only omnibus.
In the award-winning When You Reach Me, readers uncover an astonishing New York City puzzle with Miranda. Someone is sending her anonymous notes, and each one reveals more about a mystery that changes her life forever.
Stead’s debut novel, First Light, is a dazzling tale of science, secrets, and adventure at the top of the world. While on a research expedition with his family, Peter discovers a hidden world beneath the arctic ice of Greenland, and meets Thea, a bold explorer.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateDec 25, 2010
ISBN9780375986819
Unavailable
When You Reach Me/First Light
Author

Rebecca Stead

Rebecca Stead ("Plan B") went to the kind of elementary school where a person could sit on a windowsill or even under a table to read a book, and no one told you to come out and be serious. After trying to be serious as a lawyer for a while, she decided to be a full-time writer. Her book When You Reach Me was awarded the Newbery Medal in 2010 and was a New York Times bestseller. She lives in New York City with her family. 

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Reviews for When You Reach Me/First Light

Rating: 4.2465753424657535 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I really enjoyed this chapter book. I had read this book when I was in elementary school, and i was immediately engaged because the story was a fantasy about time travel. All of the characters were well developed. The younger characters were in middle school, and the language in the story made them come to life. I really enjoyed the plot in this story, and how at the beginning of the book, I felt confused as a reader because at the end everything made a lot of sense. The message in this story was about believing in yourself which is an important message for young adult readers. Even though there were some adult themes, a young adult reader might be able to connect to this story really well. The writing was really engaging, considering I was hooked from the first page to the last page. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and all of the characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is book is filled with so many details and stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Hopefully I wont leave anything out because there is a lot to cover and it can get a little confusing. The main character is Miranda who lives with her mom in New York City. Here mom is planning on being on a games show called $20,000 Pyramid. Miranda has a friend named Sal who she doesn't really hangout with anymore because one day Sal got punched in the face by a boy in a green coat. Which we later find out if Marcus which Miranda starts hanging out with. I almost forget to mention the old laughing man who sleeps outside of Miranda's apartment, he is an important character. After Sal gets punched and all of that happens Miranda starts finding letters. The letters asks things like "where is the key to your apartment?" and "Write things down that hasn't happened yet?". Miranda gets freaked out by the letters and at the same time she is starting to hangout with other people at school Annermerie and Colin which also think this is all very weird. The third note she is gets its about things that will happen in the future, which I don't want to give away all the details in the story. Later in the story Sal is walking home and see the boy in the green jacket and stats running away from him but he is running into a street. Sal nearly gets hit by a truck but gets pushed out of the way by the laughing old man. it is finally time for Miranda's mom to go on the game show and she ends up winning a lot of money. But during the games show Miranda realizes that Marcus is the old man. He time travels and he is the one writing the letters. This is a good science fictions book because it sort of has a mystery side to it with finding out who wrote the letters. And also the whole time traveling part of the story is full of science fiction.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I want to give nothing away, so I'll just say (a) terrific, and (b) reminds me of A Prayer for Owen Meany ... so if you liked that one, you'll have a similar response to this one. How wonderful that Rebecca Stead writes books for kids than can hold their own with the best adult fiction.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Easy, but made me think about life, time (travel) and little everyday actions with big influences to others and yourself.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I liked this book. The book is about Miranda, a 6th grade girl. It explores friendship as well as possibility of time-travel.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    2.5...

    The story flows smoothly until the notes begin to arrive....

    Miranda lives in a seedy N.Y. apartment with her mother. Her best friend Sal lives in the same building, they have been friends for years, but something is happening...Sal is pulling away from the friendship so Miranda is forced to make friends among her classmates.

    Miranda's mother is practicing to be on the $20,000 Pyramid....most every night her mother's boyfriend comes over and they all practice playing the game.

    There is a group of older boys who tease & bully the others kids, but Mostly Miranda ignores them...yet she befriends one in particular, Marcus, who has punched Sal and has a keen interest Time Travel....

    In between all of this, Miranda's house key goes missing and she begins to receive strange notes alluding to events that have not yet taken place.....

    I rated the book 2.5 because I didn't not like the book, but I didn't like it either (Shelfari really needs a star for "Just ok"). The premise of the book, just wasn't clear to me, and how it all came together confused me. The clues to the mystery were obtuse and made no sense to me until the revelation at the end of the story. The author was to have written this story with the Newbery Award winning book "A Wrinkle in Time"..by Madeline L'Engle in mind....but I can not say, not having read it.




  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This book was compared to A Wrinkle in Time, but I enjoyed this one a lot more. From Amazon.com: Shortly after sixth-grader Miranda and her best friend Sal part ways, for some inexplicable reason her once familiar world turns upside down. Maybe it's because she's caught up in reading A Wrinkle in Time and trying to understand time travel, or perhaps it's because she's been receiving mysterious notes which accurately predict the future.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a very good story for kids. It's a great way to get them interested in mysteries. I didn't even figure out the ending!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So well written!!!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    When You Reach Me is a story set in 1979 about a 6th grader, Miranda, who lives in New York with her mother. Miranda starts to receive mysterious notes that lead her to believe that the author has some knowledge of the future. While it is somewhat unsettling for her, especially when the author tells her she shouldn't share them with anyone, she goes along with it, and she begins to share with us, and the mystery person, her entire story. After tragedy, she starts to put the pieces together, and comes to a shocking conclusion. I thought that the book was well written, and I had a hard time putting it down. I found that Stead's telling of the story drew me in, and I felt as if I was part of it. She has a way of telling a detailed storyline in a very casual way, without one feeling as if they are being force fed a dense bowl of details. I thought that the character development was very good, in the fact that the reader got to know them, and was able to watch the different friendships grow and fade over the course of the book. I also found Stead to be very careful about the clues that she gave for the ending. While she mentioned all these not so ordinary actions that were taking place, hinting at who the "time traveler" may be, and who he might be there to save, I did not see it coming at all. This was a great book from start to finish.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A young girl in NYC in the late 70's discovers friendship, family and an undercurrent of mystery and time travel. Well done
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book was a good surprise. I had read a description of it, and it turns out that the description didn't do it justice. Miranda, the novel's protagonist, is a believable and realistic character. That makes for a nice foil against the subtle fantasy/science fiction aspects of the novel. We see Miranda navigate the streets of her NYC neighborhood, her friendships at school, and her relationship with her mom and her mom's boyfriend. There is a mystery going on. Miranda's extra key disappears. She begins receiving notes. Her best friend Sal won't talk to her. Ultimately, all of the events are resolved in the end in a satisfactory and imaginative ending.Readers who enjoy fantasy/science fiction would enjoy this book. This book could fit well in a unit about growing up and being in middle school. This book would appeal to fans of the mystery genre as well.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I like that it brings in a lot of different characters who are completely different from one another. I think that is really rare when so many characters share the pages. I also really like that the novel deals with some very real issues like single-parent families, homelessness, racism, etc. I would have loved this book more if it weren't for the ending. The ending is a little bit too out there for me. I like that someone is writing the main character all of these notes and her narration throughout is a response but discovering who it is really killed it for me. I think the story would have been better without that bizarre twist.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    When You Reach Me is a strange book about a girl named Miranda. She is in 6th grade. She has a best friend named Sal. They live in a New York City neighborhood, so they know where to go, like the local grocery store, and who to avoid. Like the weird/crazy guy on the corner. But thing start to come together. Sal gets punched by a kid on the side of the street for what seems like no reason, and after that he shuts Miranda out out of his life. Mirandas mom keeps a secret key hidden for emergencies only is stolen. Then, a mysterious note arrives, written on a tiny slip of paper:I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda realizes that whoever is making these letters knows things no one should know. Each letter brings her closer to thinking that she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think shes to late.This novel takes place in the real world but hols a puzzle at its heart.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Miranda and her friend Sal know their New York city neighborhood inside out, along with its cast of offbeat characters including a homeless man on the corner. But in sixth grade, Sal grows away from Miranda, and she makes new friends.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Best book I've read in a long time, maybe because I could identify with the time period and setting but I think teens will like it too because it has a very interesting twist.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Having never read A WRINKLE IN TIME, I didn't get the connection. It felt like the author was maxing out her word count then threw everything together in the couple of chapters. I appreciated the nostalgia, though. I picked it solely for the Newbury taped to the cover and was left feeling gipped.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A coming of age story about growing up and friendship. The book is a first person narrative with a surprise "mystery" twist at the end. With small clues throughout the story, you'll wonder how it is all going to come together. What does it mean? Who is leaving the notes? The story is simple yet packs a powerful punch that will leave you to ponder your own impact on the world.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I finished this book yesterday and I've been trying ever since to come up with the best way to review Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me. By now, everybody's most likely heard that it won the Newberry Medal this year and it well deserved. It's a wonderfully beautifully written story. I'm going to try but there's no way I can do this story justice.

    Miranda is in sixth grade. At first she thinks she's got life figured out but things start to fall apart. Her best friend, Sal, no longer wants to be friends with her after being punched by a stranger on their way home from school for no reason. So Miranda is stuck making new friends and learning how to handle being a latchkey kid after school without Sal to keep her company. Then, one day, mysterious notes began appearing. The first one says, "I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I ask two favors. First you must write me a letter." As the story goes on, Miranda realizes that this person knows things about her that there's no way he should know. Who exactly is he? And what does he want from her?

    The characters in When You Reach Me are so real and ordinary that I had no problem putting myself in Miranda's shoes. Miranda goes to school, hangs out with friends, helps her mom prepare for The $20,000 Pyramid, refuses to read any book but A Wrinkle in Time (when I finished this book, I was wishing my copy of A Wrinkle in Time was handy so that I could go back and reread it). Stead so deftly weaves in a sci-fi/fantasy element to this story that as a reader, you hardly notice it's showing up until it hits you in the face.

    I borrowed this book from the library but I know without a doubt that I will be buying a copy for my library. It's a definite keeper and rereader.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A couple of movie references to review this book, and spoilers are involved.Remember the first time you saw "The Matrix"? If you went into the movie not knowing much about it, the whole first half hour or so was insanely confusing. You had absolutely no idea what was going on, you just trusted that all would be explained eventually. And sure enough, by the end, you fully understood the beginning. There is a bit of that element with "When You Reach Me." Much of what you're reading seems to be the usual first person narration by a 12-year-old girl telling about her friends and family and school. But there are a few weird elements that make no sense at all. But, indeed, all will be revealed by the end.Second movie reference: Remember that moment in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure," where they guys need to break the historical figures out of jail, and but they'd need Ted's dad's keys, which had been stolen. So they decided that after their adventures were over, they would go back in time to before the keys were stolen, take them, and hide them somewhere so they could get them now... like, behind this sign! "What do you know? I did steal my dad's keys!" This whole book is a serious elaboration on that theme.It's a mystery, involving time travel.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The epigraph to When You Reach Me, a quote by Albert Einstein, is prophetic: “The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious” -- because on the very next page, the novel opens with a Wow! that plunges readers into an intriguing story, the mysteriousness of which is indeed a terrific experience.It’s the story of Miranda’s year in sixth grade -- of being suddenly on the outs with Sal (a boy who’s been her best friend since birth); of navigating new friendships, new social classes, a homeless guy on the corner, and possibly a new step-father; of helping her mother prepare to be a game-show contestant.Into this mix comes a series of mysterious notes that intrigue Miranda, and freak her out a little bit -- not only because they come to her out of nowhere and from who-knows-whom, but also because they predict the future. Also in the mix are references to Einstein, to science (a teacher named Mr. Tompkin?) and to science fiction (Miranda re-reads A Wrinkle in Time), all of which add layers to the mystery of the notes.The world Stead creates in this novel -- a reflective tween’s point of view, her friendships and rivalries, her family life and the retro (late ‘70s) Manhattan setting -- are reminiscent of Louise Fitzhugh’s beloved classic, Harriet the Spy. There is less emotion in this novel than that one, but the mystery aspect is quite well done, and positively begs a re-read to examine exactly how Stead stitched it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It's 1978. Twelve-year-old Miranda lives in New York City, walking to school each day with her best friend Sal and reading A Wrinkle in Time more times than she can count. But then everything changes. Sal refuses to walk to school with Miranda. And Miranda starts finding notes left for her in strange places. Notes that caution her not to tell anyone about them. Notes that seem to predict the future. And if Miranda can figure out who's leaving the notes and what they're telling her to do, she might be able to prevent a tragic death. Rebecca Stead paints a complete picture of Miranda's life in late-70s NYC. Once I got into the story I couldn't put it down. The setting and time period evoke the books I read as a child (Harriet the Spy, etc.). The narration switches back and forth between present and past tense, but never in a way I found confusing. There are twists and turns and the ending is immensely satisfying. I kind of want to pick it up and read it again right now.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    "When You Reach Me" is supposed to be set in the late 1970s but I didn't get any real feel for the time period while the relationships and conversations between the characters are forced and unbelievable. Therefore, I never engaged with them or the book in general. The plot is fairly slow with very little action and the time travel premise falls flat lacking the magic that it should have had. Unfortunately, I can't see this book having wide appeal with young teenagers.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The narrator is very funny, in a deadpan, sarcastic way. I was smiling or laughing at most of the sentences in the first third of the book. Then it starts to get more serious. I'm not sure if this is meant to be a science fiction book - the jacket blurb doesn't mention it - but time travel is involved. It really makes you think. Days later, I was still trying to figure out everything that happened in the book, trying to find logic in it. I don't know if kids would understand it better because it's easier for them to digest these ideas, but there are parts I didn't really follow. Again, this was because I was trying to find the logic behind all of it. It was still a funny read, and it was a Newbery winner so that says something.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It’s the end of the 1970s and twelve year old Miranda lives with her mother in a rundown apartment right upstairs from her best friend, Sal. They walk back and forth to school together every day noticing the “laughing man” on the street corner who's always pumping his fist and shouting into the air. Forever it's been Miranda and Sal. Until the day they’re walking home and he gets punched by a new kid for no reason. Miranda can’t figure out why- but after that Sal doesn’t want to be her friend anymore. Luckily, she and Annemarie begin hanging out more and during their lunch break they even go to Jimmy's restaurant with a boy in their class, Colin, and work (for free sandwiches). They don't get paid, but it's still fun. Miranda also gets to know Marcus, the boy who punched Sal. She thought he would be a bully, but he's actually very nice and he's also read her favorite book- A Wrinkle in Time. He tries to explain the one thing he doesn't like about the book, but Miranda doesn't quite get what he’s talking about. Still, she can't stop thinking about what he said and she continues to try to make sense of it. When Miranda receives a small written note with a mysterious message she's nervous and tells her mother. The notes keep coming and she's informed that she shouldn’t tell anyone about them. Now she's even more worried. Who's sending Miranda the notes? What do they mean? Why doesn’t Sal want to be friends anymore? Will she figure out what is going on? You will have to connect the dots as you read!


    I had heard about When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. One of my favorite things is the connection to the book A Wrinkle in Time. Miranda is obsessed with this story and brings her copy everywhere. I can understand how she feels because I love this book too, so right away that helped me relate to her character. Because the story takes place in the 1970s I thought it was interesting to see what life was like then compared to now. I like Miranda and how she really thinks about things. It was fun learning about how she was helping her mom prepare for a game show. I especially liked trying to piece together the clues of what was happening once Miranda started receiving the notes. I put most of it together fairly quickly, but I wasn't sure I was correct until the end. And I was still missing one piece. I recommend this book to kids who like A Wrinkle in Time, science-fiction, time travel, realistic fiction and a story with hidden messages.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Terrific coming of age story mixed with some time---travel? Poignant and fun, inventive and astute. Adults should read this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    As the story begins, Miranda’s mother is preparing to be a contestant on the game show, $20,000 Pyramid. As they practice for the speed round and the Winner’s Circle, they add items to the wish list that hangs on their fridge. While they try not to get their hopes up, it’s too late for that. This is just a part of the story though…

    Miranda and Sal have been best friends for years, but everything changes the day Sal gets punched by Marcus. Sal begins to shut Miranda out, and she finds herself spending time with Annemarie & Colin. Then things turn strange. Various items start to disappear, like a key, a shoe and a bank.  Not only do things go missing, but anonymous notes start to appear:

    “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
    I ask two favors. First you must write me a letter…
    The trip is a difficult one. I will not be myself when I reach you.”

    What does this mean? The notes keep appearing and Miranda soon realizes that whomever is writing them knows things that no one could know. How could the note-writer possibly know what happens in the future?

    Not only is this story a mystery, but it is also a story about relationships and friendships. Take time to read this one. You won’t regret it!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When I Reach You is a children’s book that won the Newberry award in 2010. It tells the story of 6th grader Miranda, her best friend Sal. By sixth grade, Miranda and Sal, are seasoned New Yorkers—they know how to navigate their neighborhood, where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda begins to realize that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Two secondary plots include her mother preparing for appearance on the $20,000 pyramid and time travel and Miranda’s love of the book A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Even though this novel is intended for children, it is a sweet, sad book about friendship, growing up (and out into the world), family and sacrifice that most adults could really appreciate. It also presents middle school characters in a believable manner, particularly the character of Miranda—these are children on the edge of growing up, dealing with the pain of changes in friendships, feeling alone and not recognizing those that they can reach out to. It is also a homage to the book A Wrinkle in Time (one of my favorite books) and the genre of sci-fi and time travel. I think this would be a great book for a family read. 4 out of 5 stars.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I liked this book a lot! The reader is easily enthralled by its suspenseful plot. The dynamic story follows a young girl in New York as she discovers more about friendship, identity, and the world around her. However, it is not simply a coming-of-age novel. Early on in the book, the readers are introduced to elements of mystery, though it initially gives the impression of a realistic fiction story. The reader slowly finds out that the story plays into fantasy and science fiction. Many connections have to be made throughout the story, both by the characters and the readers. The language flows well and is appropriate to the time period it’s set in, the late 70’s. The point of view was well-chosen for the use of the plot. Since the reader views the world from Miranda’s eyes, not many conclusions can be made or outside knowledge drawn in as the story proceeds. The novel is very though-provoking in its unusual sequence of events. Through the captivating plot and expressive characters, When You Reach Me is an exquisite read for readers of all ages. The big idea is that the world is not always as it seems, but we often need others in our life to help us figure out the truths.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Quick read. I liked it, even though I didn't understand it!