When You Reach Me

Written by Rebecca Stead

Published by Wendy Lamb Books an Imprint of Random House Children's Books, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2009. 

Miranda is an average 6th grader with a best friend named Sal, who know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where is safe to go, and who and where to avoid, like the crazy man on the corner. All was going fine until one day something happens to Sal and these mysterious notes start popping up in random places. These notes have warning for things that have to do with her and things that have not even happened yet. When she finds the last note will it be too late?
Lexile Level: 750L
Age Range: 9-12 years
Page Count: 208
Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud
2010 Newbery Medal Winner; Boston Horn/Globe Book Award for Fiction

Key Words: Mystery, Friendship, Supernatural, Entertaining, Time.

Internet Resources:
Rebecca Stead's Website
http://www.rebeccasteadbooks.com/
This is the authors website, which is a fun and very interactive page for the students to visit to learn more about the author, explore the other books that she has written and is also great for educators who may want to have her come and speak about her books. There is also a link to her blog that the students may enjoy reading.
When You Reach Me Teachers Guide
https://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/teachers_guides/9780375850868.pdf
This is a teachers guide from the publisher which is a great resource for people who are teaching the book. There is everything from vocabulary and pre-reading suggestions to curriculum connections that a teacher can make while reading the book.

Vocabulary:

• Omen: a sign of something to come. 
• Assumption: a thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen without proof. 
• Perspective: a point of view.
• Essential: necessary or important.
• Justification: the act of showing something to be right or reasonable. 
• Appreciate: value or be grateful for someone or something. 

Teaching Suggestions:

1. Since this book is a mystery, make sure to stop along the way and have students make predictions every time something major happens. Especially stop after Miranda gets each of the notes as to what is going to happen. 
2. Miranda is named after the Miranda Warning. You could have the class research what the Miranda Warning is in groups and create a poster to teach the rest of the class and the teacher. 

Reading Strategies:

1. Before: To get the students in the mind frame of reading a mystery have them fill out a questionnaire about mysteries. Before asking the questions provide them with a summary of the book. The questions are from this teaching guide. Ask students: 1)What is a mystery? What kind of book would you label a mystery? 2) Above is a summary of When You Reach Me. What are some of the mysterious mentioned in this summary? 3) Why do you think people read mysteries? What makes mysteries fun? 4) What is a clue, and why is it important for a mystery story to include clues? 5) What are some mysteries you have read?  
2. During: I would have the children create a concept map while reading to keep track of everything that happens. 
3. After: Have students get into groups of 5 and have book discussions. Give them the 7 discussion starters of friendship, self-identity, family, social classes, bullying, fear, and finding clues. For more guidance on what to ask the students about these discussions visit the teaching guide. 

Writing Activity:
Ask the students to pick their favorite part of the novel and to write a journal entry as if they were Miranda describing what is going on in her life and the feelings that she is having associated with those points in the story.