"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead

Title: When You Reach Me
Author: Rebecca Stead
Published: July 14, 2009
Awards: Newbery Medal (2010)
Genre: Children's Literature

Sticking with finding quality children's and young adult literature for the classroom, I'm reviewing another Newbery Medal winner from author Rebecca Stead.

Since 12-year-old Miranda can remember, it's always been Miranda and Sal. Sal and Miranda. The two best friends help each other navigate the streets of 1970's New York City. They know who to trust, like Belle the grocery store cashier, and who to avoid, like the "laughing man" who lives on their corner. Then one day things change. Sal gets punched for seemingly no reason, and subsequently shuts Miranda out of his life. As if that wasn't strange enough, soon Miranda begins to receive mysterious notes from a stranger who claims to know about a deadly accident that will occur sometime in the future: an accident he can prevent, but only with Miranda's help.

The novel is wonderfully realistic with it's themes of friendship, first crushes, and quirky families. Making the novel even more believable is the rich historical detail from the 1970's. For example, Dick Clark hosting the game show that Miranda's mom is entering and the lingering distrust of African Americans. At the center of it all is a dangerous mystery of fantastic proportions that Miranda needs to solve! Fans of A Wrinkle in Time will love this book (but I won't tell you why)!

When You Reach Me is a great addition to any classroom library. My copy even had 10 pages of discussion suggestions and activities for teachers! But readers young and old will get swept up in the mystery and will root for Miranda as she learns more about her world and herself.

Kaylee says:

"Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Title: Moon Over Manifest
Author: Clare Vanderpool
Published: October 12, 2010
Awards: Newbery Medal (2011)
Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction

As I get closer to completing my degree, I'm starting to seek out excellent trade books to include in my classroom library. You really can't go wrong with including the Newbery Medal winners and honorees on your shelves, so when Moon Over Manifest came my way, I had a feeling it was going to be good. I was not disappointed!

Abilene Tucker grew up on her father's stories about living in the little town of Manifest, Kansas. So when he ships her there on a train to live with an old friend while he takes a railroad job, she's disappointed to discover that it's just a dried-up old mining town. Things take a turn for the exciting, however, when Abilene finds an old cigar box filled with mementos and letters. The letters send her and her two new friends, Lettie and Ruthanne, on a real-life spy hunt despite being warned to "Leave Well Enough Alone." Working off a debt to the local diviner Miss Sadie, Abilene hears more stories from Manifest's past, which is one filled with unique characters and lingering secrets. The secrets unravel one by one as Abilene knits together the town's history and her father's role in it. Eventually, she begins to see her own story being woven into the seams.

Moon Over Manifest was a great read! I was hooked from page one! Abilene is wonderfully tomboyish and full of practical "survival" wisdom garnered from years of living on the road with her father. My personal favorite is, "Anyone worth his salt knows, it's best to get a look at a place before it gets a look at you," which she utters right before jumping off of a train.

The historical detail included in this book was rich and beautiful. Taking place during the Depression in 1936, author Clare Vanderpool paints the town in a way that makes you really feel as if you were living during that time.

I was fascinated with trying to piece together Manifest's history along with Abilene. The story is presented in four ways: Abilene's narration, Miss Sadie's stories from the past, Hattie Mae's News Auxiliary, and the letters from the mystery box. Each piece reveals more and more of the secrets hidden within the town, and it will keep you guessing.

The novel was a heartwarming and (sometimes) heart wrenching story of love and loss told in the voice of a young girl who just wants to know where she fits in. It is truly deserving of the Newbery Medal that graces its front cover. I would highly recommend it to readers young and old. Teachers, this is one for your classroom library!

Kaylee says: