When You Reach Me

by Rebecca Stead

Grades 5-7; Genre - Fiction; GRL V; AR pts: 6.0

By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know 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 slowly realizes 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. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.

Comprehension Questions

Chapters 1-3 pgs. 1-11

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.

1. What point of view is this story told in and who’s the main character? first person; Miranda p.1,5
2. Why does Miranda’s mom need to win the game show? Because her mom’s hating work and if she wins, she doesn’t have to work anymore p.6
3. What book is Miranda telling Belle about while waiting for her mom in the store? 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 p.8
4. What did Miranda and her mom hide in this chapter? A key to their apartment p.11

Chapters 4-6 pgs. 12-20

1. How did Miranda meet Sal? 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 p.15
2. Describe the crazy man on the corner? 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 p.16
3. Who is Miranda referring to when she says, “you”? listen to your children’s thoughts

Chapters 7-10 pgs. 21-31

1. What’s the consequence of Sal getting punched? It ended Miranda’s and his friendship p.24
2. How does Miranda deal with strangers that she comes across? She asks them if they have the time p.25
3. How did Miranda deal with the bully who followed her and punched Sal? She turned around and asked him if he had the time; after their conversation realized she wasn’t scared of him p.30

Chapters 11-14 pgs. 32-53

1. Why did Miranda ask Annemarie if she wanted to have lunch together? Miranda needed a friend and overheard Julia tell Annemarie that she wouldn’t eat lunch with her for the rest of the week p.35
2. Why is it important that Louisa writes down notes from the game show? So Miranda’s mom can practice just how it will be when she gets on the show p.40
3. Who was the last kid on the list Miranda picked up to the dentist and what did they have a debate about? Marcus, the boy who hit Sal; Miranda’s book p.47

Chapters 15-19 pgs. 54-66

1. Where did Miranda, Annemarie and Colin get jobs and what was the pay? Jimmy’s; a soda and cheese sandwich p.55
2. What was missing and what did Miranda find in her library book? The apartment key; a note that freaked Miranda and her mom out p.60
3. Why was Miranda nervous to bring Annemarie home? They had to walk by the group of boys and the laughing man on the corner p.64

Chapters 20-25 pgs. 67-83

1. What was in Jimmy’s bank in the back of the restaurant? Lots of $2 bills p.69
2. How does Miranda feel about Colin? She has a crush on him p.74
3. What did Jimmy do to Julia at the sandwich shop? He kicked her out p.83

Chapters 26-30 pgs. 84-99

1. What had been stolen from Miranda’s apartment? Richard’s work shoes p.87
2. Why shouldn’t Annemarie eat bread and drink soda? She has epilepsy and that type of food makes her seizures worse p.92
3. What did Miranda learn from the third note? That whoever was writing the notes was watching her p.99

Chapters 31-34 pgs. 100-117

1. Why did Marcus hit Sal? To see what would happen p.105
2. Why had Miranda’s bread count at Jimmy’s come up short? Colin had taken two of the rolls and stuffed them in his knapsack p.109
3. How did Miranda’s mom react when she found out Miranda gave the laughing man a sandwich? She was upset and thought Miranda put herself in danger p.115

Chapters 35-39 pgs. 118-136

1. Why didn’t Jimmy let the kids into the restaurant? Someone had stolen his bank and he assumed it was one of them p.124
2. Why does Jimmy think Julia stole the bank? She’s black p.130
3. If you haven’t figured it out yet, what’s the book Miranda is always carrying and debating with Marcus? A Wrinkle in Time p.135

Chapters 40-43 pgs. 137-153

1. Why did Miranda’s mom get scared when Miranda wasn’t home and she didn’t know where she was? She thought something happened to her; Miranda left and said she was going to bring back a bagel for her and never came back p.141
2. What caused Miranda’s change of heart? She saw Julia’s face as she looked at Annemarie and realized she had the same face when she looked at Sal p.144
3. Who was at the door when Miranda heard the strange knock and what did they want? Colin; he kissed Miranda p.153

Chapters 44-47 pgs. 154-170

1. Why did Sal run away from Marcus into the road? Sal was scared of him because he had punched him p.158
2. Who wrote the notes to Miranda and saved Sal’s life? The laughing man p.162
3. Why did Sal want to take a break from being friends with Miranda? He wanted to have other friends because he didn’t have any p.169

Chapters 48-55 pgs. 171-197

1. Explain what happened with Marcus’ brother and Marcus’ explanation of why he hit Sal. 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 p.177
2. Who’s the laughing man? Marcus from the future p.189
3. What did Miranda find under the mailbox and who’s the drawing of? Her missing apartment key and a drawing of Julia p.194
4. 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

1. What did the chapter titles represent in this story? Subjects on $20,000 Pyramid