When You Reach Me- Rebecca Stead

Sorry gentle reader(s). Once again, an unforgivably long period of time has passed between my reviews. Life, as they say, happens, but I now find myself with a bit of free time, and a stack of books three feet high that I'm going to try and get through. In addition to this post, look for a review of Neil Gaiman's latest coming soon as well.

I didn't get a chance to do a post on this year's American Library Association (most notably the Caldecott and Newbery Awards- for a complete list of this years winners and honorees go here.) but I wanted to make sure that this year's Newbery winner, When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead got its proper due in these hallowed yet electronic pages.

When You Reach Me is nothing short of an amazing and mesmerizing second novel from Rebecca Stead. She effortlessly blends at least three genres (realistic fiction, mystery, and science fiction, and throw in historical fiction to boot as the book is set in 1979.) and her characters and depiction of New York City never once seem forced or contrived.

In the story, Miranda is a regular, everyday sixth grader living in 1978-1979 New York City. Her mother is a paralegal who is training to appear on the game show The 20,000 Dollar Pyramid. Like many sixth graders, Miranda struggles with friendships, boys, money, her mother, school, bullies, and, oh yes, mysterious anonymous letters that know too much about her, and appear to be sent from the future.

It's thee letters that make When You Reach Me so great. The first reads:

I'm coming to save your friends life and my own.

I ask two favors.

First, you must write me a letter.

Miranda has no idea where the letter came from or who sent it. As more letters appear, it is clear that the author knows things about the future that no one should, and Mira becomes increasingly enmeshed in what appears to be prophecy. The juxtaposition of Mira's everyday sixth grade life and the mysteries of time travel shouldn't work at all, yet all aspects of the plot come together seamlessly and the resolution (like all truly great resolutions should) leaves the reader thinking, pondering, and mulling for days afterwards. Couple this with an extended running homage to Madeline L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, and you have a book truly worthy of the Newbery's lofty pedigree. Highly recommended.

Rebecca Stead's Site

Esperanza Rising- Pam Muñoz Ryan

Today's guest blog comes to us courtesy of a first time extra special guest blogger, Miss Frisby. She's been a dedicated commenter for a while (always very much appreciated Miss Frisby) and now get ready for her anbariclights debut. On a related note, if you leave the origin of her nom de plume in the comments section, you can see me for a special prize. (Sorry Miss Frisby, you're excluded from this offer.)

Sir Readsalot

Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan, is a really great book. Esperanza Ortega lived a life full of ups, never downs, and servants. First, she doesn’t care about any thing or anyone around her. Then, she changes into a different person.
One day, in the springtime just before her 13th birthday, her Papi never comes home. Earlier in the day, her Mama had warned him about bandits. When he finally comes home lying in a cart pulled by workers, he is dead. Then later in the spring, Esparanza is asleep and she just makes it out alive when a fire rages through her house. The house burns down, and Esperanza’s Abuela, or grandma, hurts her foot. Her mean uncles come for the property and her family moves to America. There, Esperanza must do something she’s never done before, work on a farm picking vegetables.

What else will happen to her? Read the book to find out. This book is for people who like Mexican history and adventure. Esperanza changes by the end of the book.