When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (Book Summary and Review) - Minute Book Report

preview_player
Показать описание
This is a quick book summary and analysis of When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. This channel discusses and reviews books, novels, and short stories through drawing...poorly. New Minute Book Reports are posted every week.

This is a story about a girl named Miranda who lives with her mother in New York City. Her mother works at a law firm and is preparing for the game show, $20,000 Pyramid, with boyfriend, Richard, and Miranda.

Miranda is friends with a boy named Sal who lives in the same apartment building. One day, as they are walking home from school, a boy named Marcus punches Sal in the stomach and runs away. Sal limps home and becomes distant toward Miranda.

Eventually Miranda makes new friends, Annemarie and Colin, and the three of them work at a local sandwich shop during lunch. She even begins talking to Marcus about time travel.

Miranda starts receiving random notes that instruct her to write a letter. She is confused, but as she receives more letters, the letters begin predicting future events.

One day, as Miranda sees Sal walking ahead of her, Marcus starts to run after Sal. Sal, being scared, runs from Marcus. However, as Sal is running, he doesn't see an oncoming truck. Just as he is about to get hit, a homeless man pushes Sal out of the way. The homeless man dies instantly.

Sal is shaken up, but recovers. Miranda comforts Sal and they talk about how their friendship has changed.

Miranda's mother goes to the game show and wins. During the show, Miranda realizes that the homeless man is Marcus from the future.

In the end, Miranda finishes her letter and gives it to Marcus.

This story addresses an interesting dynamic of friendship. When two people are such good friends that they rely solely on each other to provide companionship and have no other friends, it can become difficult to socially interact with others when the other person is not around. Sal realizes this and so he wants to make friends other than Miranda.

While this story takes place in the real world and contains all of the real financial and social struggles that people face, it does also tease the idea of time travel. Early in the story, Marcus details the intricacies of time travel and lays the foundation for what will ultimately be the reveal of the homeless man's identity.

And this reveal is not fast either. Future Marcus has to integrate into the society as a homeless man for a long time before he can save Sal's life.

This disconnect from one's future self is also revealed in this discussion on time travel in that the present self often doesn't recognize the future self. Of course, this doesn't only apply to time travel, but to the more traditional linear timeline as well.

People change several times over the course of their lifetime and it's important for readers to remember this. The likes and dislikes, attitudes, and beliefs that a person may have now will most likely change in the future, maybe to the point where our past self is unrecognizable to our present self. This doesn't mean it's useless to have likes and dislikes, but rather a reminder to keep our opinions in perspective and that it's okay for them to change.

Through Minute Book Reports, hopefully you can get the plot and a few relevant discussion points in just a couple of minutes.

Рекомендации по теме
Комментарии
Автор

If you found this video helpful, please Like and Share the video with your friends. If you want to know what I’m currently reading, as well as watch other book summaries, please subscribe to the channel. Thanks.

MinuteBookReports
Автор

This book *needs* to become a movie! Seriously, ever since I read it, I have been waiting for a movie.

mooonblooom
Автор

oh. my. God. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is one of my favorite books and you helped me realize what it actually signifies.

harleylopez
Автор

That friendship part is so true, especially when your in a class with no friends or your only friend is sick, it happens to me all the time and I'm always lonely at lunch :.)

mooonblooom
Автор

Anybody else read this book for battle of the books in elementary school and have forever had there life changed from it

lyssp
Автор

I read this book like 2 years ago and I loved it and was blown away by who the laughing man was. I reread it a week ago and am still blown away

Rcoal
Автор

Had finished reading "When You Reach Me" about almost a year ago and it's a masterpiece of mystery and friendship! 🌟 Rebecca Stead weaves a captivating tale with a touch of time travel that keeps you guessing until the very end. The characters are relatable, and the plot twists are mind-bending. 🕰️

Set in 1970s New York, the nostalgia is vivid, and the way Miranda unravels the mystery through notes adds a unique charm. Perfect blend of heartwarming and mind-bending moments. A must-read for fans of middle-grade fiction! 👧📖

#BookReview #WhenYouReachMe #RebeccaStead #TimeTravel #MiddleGradeFiction

arbens
Автор

it is not a homeless man it is the laughing man AKA my fav character

ellafrank
Автор

I’m currently doing this for a back to school summer project and I love the book alongside

aestheticqueen
Автор

He kicks Sal out of the way, not push. ( lol sorry 😂)

MJ-sqgc
Автор

Thank you so much that makes me want to read the book. By the way the drawings look really nice!

defnotsmiling
Автор

one thing. not hating but in the end of the book it says Marcus shouldn't being close in the time machine. Great job!

TannerDavis
Автор

Thanks I needed help on understanding the meaning (I have a test abt this book tm).

lylonpop
Автор

Now i dont gotta spend days reading the book when I can just watch a 2 minute video. I won the youtube jackpot!!!

Hikikomori
Автор

What is the recommended age group for this book?

lornaschlutz
Автор

This was the most insane thing I've ever read when I picked it up from the library when I was like 10

ceebe
Автор

Can you put Korean subtitles in your video?

엄서현-nc
Автор

Reading this in Ela class 7th grade 701 Owncs middle school

mannyb
Автор

I loved this book but did not understand the meaning.

pidgon
Автор

Bro your review needs work. I Like your other videos though:)

edwardshim