Reviews

When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead

colleenaf's review against another edition

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5.0

Most perfect book I have read in years. Really truly. Wow. So deserving of the Newbery and is one of the rare ones that kids are going to devour for years to come.

Surpasses Bill and Ted as my favorite work of time travel art. Okay...well maybe not...but I DO think this is brilliant, haunting, and so funny at points. Also loved it never went exactly the route I thought it would. Everything had a well-placed twist, and the final reveal was oh so satisfying.

grace_autin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious

5.0

lanamosk's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

adryingbiro's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

4.0

janemylechreest's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-paced
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

andreagraves's review against another edition

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3.0

I had expected this to be better then it was... it was okay for me.

clairedaniel3's review against another edition

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5.0

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Highly recommend!

paintedsowl's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

kmg365's review against another edition

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2.0

I'm not sure what the problem was. I should have liked it. SF/Fantasy element-- check. Time period: 1970's-- check. Junk food fixations-- check. Loving descriptions of old television shows-- check.

The book fell flat for me. Maybe I've seen one too many time travel paradox Star Trek episodes, or maybe it's because I've never been able to force myself to read L'Engle. I guessed the big reveal early on, though I wasn't absolutely certain I was correct until the last chapter.

In my mumblety-something year career as a librarian, I've only been wildly enthusiastic about the Newbery winner once. That was last year, so I guess I'll have to wait another mumblety-something years to be thrilled again.

celticrockgirl's review against another edition

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5.0

When You Reach Me was one of the best books I've read in a long time. It was the kind of book you can't put down, you want to race through to find out the mystery, but at the same time you want to savor every word of this amazing author's prose. When I was 40 pages from finishing, I was already hoping the author was working on a sequel!

It's an understatement that this book deserves the Newberry Award! Rebecca Stead, you are a genius. After finishing the book I wanted to hug you, then chat with you over coffee all about this amazing story, and how you came up with it!

I truly never read a young adult novel that made me think so deeply, and that I related to so well (I mean since I was a young adult I guess!). Though I will say, Miranda- the narrator who is 12- is quite mature and smart for her age. She says things I've thought myself, or did closer to her age. All the characters in the story are so real and so relatable...

I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story... with a little bit of sci-fi, coming of age, 70s nostalgia, school days crushes and cold shoulders, and true heart... This book had it all.