When You Reach Me- Rebecca Stead

            When You Reach Me follows sixth grade Miranda.  She navigates school and has the normal problems that sixth graders often do.  One day, she received a strange note asking her to write down upcoming events.  As time goes on, she gets more notes with strange requests and predictions no one could know about.  Can Miranda figure out the meaning behind these notes and help, as the notes say, the writer and herself?

              This book was not my favorite.  It got a little confusing because it had an element of science fiction, time travel, but that felt out of place since it was the only science fiction element.  Although time travel is woven into the story, it’s not set in the future; it is set in the late 1970’s.  Instead of fighting foreign technology or alien beings, our main character fights problems that a normal 12-year-old faces.

            Having grown up on shows like Doctor Who and movies like Back to the Future, I found the fact that Miranda struggled throughout the entire book to understand the time travel tedious and a bit boring.  I think, all in all, the time travel element of the book didn’t impress me.

            However, the book has very realistic portrayals of friendships in sixth grade.  Miranda struggles with her friend Sal refusing to talk to her, and very believably begins new friendships. I think the elements of friendships in this book are its strongest qualities.

            It was an okay read, but not for the sci-fi lovers.