When You Reach Me

Book:  When You Reach Me
Author:  Rebecca Stead
Like/Don't Like:  Really liked.

There was something about this book that made me feel nostalgic.  It's set in the last 70s, a time I vaguely remember, but that's not why.  It sort of had a feel of an after-school special, or a Judy Blume novel.  Maybe that's it.  Warm feelings aside, it's a pretty great book.

Miranda is in the sixth grade and is tackling the usual 11 year old stuff like losing a best friend to outside forces, trying to make new friends, a mom who is trying to figure how to raise an independent kid in a dangerous world.  Pretty familiar story.  Except for a twist:  Miranda is receiving letters that appear to be from someone in the future.  I would hardly call this a sci-fi book.  The letters are vague and not often referred to, the story mostly focuses on the daily problems Miranda is dealing with.  But they gave the story a bit of a mysterious edge that was unexpected and appealing.