When You Reach Me
About
In 1979, as her mother prepares to be a contestant on the THE $20,000 PYRAMID, a twelve-year-old New York City girl tries to make sense of a series of mysterious notes received from an anonymous source that seems to defy the laws of time and space.
Ask your child to think about the names of the chapters and how they’re symbolic to the story. Tell them you’ll ask them at the end of the book to see if they’ve figured it out.
Read one section at a time, then discuss the questions to review understanding. These questions are a starting place for conversation, not a complete test of the chapter.
Chapters 1-3 pgs. 1-11
Comprehension questions
What point of view is this story told in and who’s the main character?
Page 1,5 — first person; Miranda
1,5
Why does Miranda’s mom need to win the game show?
Page 6 — Because her mom’s hating work and if she wins, she doesn’t have to work anymore
6
What book is Miranda telling Belle about while waiting for her mom in the store?
Page 8 — A Wrinkle in Time; If you child doesn’t know yet, don’t tell them, sections of this book come up through the rest of the story
8
What did Miranda and her mom hide in this chapter?
Page 11 — A key to their apartment
11
Chapters 4-6 pgs. 12-20
Comprehension questions
How did Miranda meet Sal?
Page 15 — She and her mom had just moved into the apartment and that same day they met Louisa holding Sal in the lobby. He was crying and stopped when he saw Miranda
15
Describe the crazy man on the corner?
Page 16 — He showed up as school began and would do sudden kicks into the street, shake his fist at the sky, yell crazy stuff and throw his head back and laugh so everyone could see his mouth full of fillings. He sometimes slept with his head under the mailbox
16
Who is Miranda referring to when she says, “you”?
listen to your children’s thoughts
Chapters 7-10 pgs. 21-31
Comprehension questions
What’s the consequence of Sal getting punched?
Page 24 — It ended Miranda’s and his friendship
24
How does Miranda deal with strangers that she comes across?
Page 25 — She asks them if they have the time
25
How did Miranda deal with the bully who followed her and punched Sal?
Page 30 — She turned around and asked him if he had the time; after their conversation realized she wasn’t scared of him
30
Chapters 11-14 pgs. 32-53
Comprehension questions
Why did Miranda ask Annemarie if she wanted to have lunch together?
Page 35 — Miranda needed a friend and overheard Julia tell Annemarie that she wouldn’t eat lunch with her for the rest of the week
35
Why is it important that Louisa writes down notes from the game show?
Page 40 — So Miranda’s mom can practice just how it will be when she gets on the show
40
Who was the last kid on the list Miranda picked up to the dentist and what did they have a debate about?
Page 47 — Marcus, the boy who hit Sal; Miranda’s book
47
Chapters 15-19 pgs. 54-66
Comprehension questions
Where did Miranda, Annemarie and Colin get jobs and what was the pay?
Page 55 — Jimmy’s; a soda and cheese sandwich
55
What was missing and what did Miranda find in her library book?
Page 60 — The apartment key; a note that freaked Miranda and her mom out
60
Why was Miranda nervous to bring Annemarie home?
Page 64 — They had to walk by the group of boys and the laughing man on the corner
64
Chapters 20-25 pgs. 67-83
Comprehension questions
What was in Jimmy’s bank in the back of the restaurant?
Page 69 — Lots of $2 bills
69
How does Miranda feel about Colin?
Page 74 — She has a crush on him
74
What did Jimmy do to Julia at the sandwich shop?
Page 83 — He kicked her out
83
Chapters 26-30 pgs. 84-99
Comprehension questions
What had been stolen from Miranda’s apartment?
Page 87 — Richard’s work shoes
87
Why shouldn’t Annemarie eat bread and drink soda?
Page 92 — She has epilepsy and that type of food makes her seizures worse
92
What did Miranda learn from the third note?
Page 99 — That whoever was writing the notes was watching her
99
Chapters 31-34 pgs. 100-117
Comprehension questions
Why did Marcus hit Sal?
Page 105 — To see what would happen
105
Why had Miranda’s bread count at Jimmy’s come up short?
Page 109 — Colin had taken two of the rolls and stuffed them in his knapsack
109
How did Miranda’s mom react when she found out Miranda gave the laughing man a sandwich?
Page 115 — She was upset and thought Miranda put herself in danger
115
Chapters 35-39 pgs. 118-136
Comprehension questions
Why didn’t Jimmy let the kids into the restaurant?
Page 124 — Someone had stolen his bank and he assumed it was one of them
124
Why does Jimmy think Julia stole the bank?
Page 130 — She’s black
130
What’s the book Miranda is always carrying and debating with Marcus?
Page 135 — A Wrinkle in Time
135
Chapters 40-43 pgs. 137-153
Comprehension questions
Why did Miranda’s mom get scared when Miranda wasn’t home and she didn’t know where she was?
Page 141 — She thought something happened to her; Miranda left and said she was going to bring back a bagel for her and never came back
141
What caused Miranda’s change of heart?
Page 144 — She saw Julia’s face as she looked at Annemarie and realized she had the same face when she looked at Sal
144
Who was at the door when Miranda heard the strange knock and what did they want?
Page 153 — Colin; he kissed Miranda
153
Chapters 44-47 pgs. 154-170
Comprehension questions
Why did Sal run away from Marcus into the road?
Page 158 — Sal was scared of him because he had punched him
158
Who wrote the notes to Miranda and saved Sal’s life?
Page 162 — The laughing man
162
Why did Sal want to take a break from being friends with Miranda?
Page 169 — He wanted to have other friends because he didn’t have any
169
Chapters 48-55 pgs. 171-197
Comprehension questions
Explain what happened with Marcus’ brother and Marcus’ explanation of why he hit Sal.
Page 177 — Anthony, Marcus’ brother got beat up and Marcus stood and watched. Anthony was upset that Marcus didn’t help him and told him he’d have to hit and be hit someday to understand. The next day Marcus hit Sal and instead of hitting Marcus back, Sal bent over and cried. When Anthony found out what Marcus did, he was mad at him for hitting a short kid
177
Who’s the laughing man?
Page 189 — Marcus from the future
189
What did Miranda find under the mailbox and who’s the drawing of?
Page 194 — Her missing apartment key and a drawing of Julia
194
Summarize this story.
Miranda received three notes explaining she needed to write a letter telling the story of what happened between Sal and Marcus. The notes were from Marcus (the laughing man) from the future. Young Marcus needed the letter to know how to protect Sal.
Challenge Question
Comprehension questions
What did the chapter titles represent in this story?
Subjects on $20,000 Pyramid
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