When You Reach Me/First Light

Liar & Spy

First Light

The Lost Library

The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk

The Disappearing Friend Mystery

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

The Cuckoo Clock of Doom

When You Reach Me is a science fiction and mystery novel set in the late 1970s in New York City. It follows the story of a sixth-grader named Miranda who starts receiving mysterious notes that seem to predict the future. The notes lead her to believe that she must prevent a tragic death that will occur unless she can decipher the clues in time. As Miranda navigates her daily life, dealing with friendship issues, her mother's preparation for a game show, and the dynamics of her neighborhood, she also tries to understand the connection between the notes and her own life. The novel is heavily influenced by Madeleine L'Engle's 'A Wrinkle in Time' and ultimately reveals a complex narrative that involves time travel and the interconnection of multiple characters' lives. The story culminates in Miranda understanding the importance of human connection, the nature of time, and her role in altering one's fate.

Discover Your Child's Next Read

When You Reach Me/First Light

Rebecca Stead, 2010

Liar & Spy

Rebecca Stead, Jesse Bernstein, 2012

First Light

Rebecca Stead, 2007

The Lost Library

Wendy Mass, Rebecca Stead, 2023

The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk

Carolyn Keene, 1940

The Disappearing Friend Mystery

Gertrude Warner, Gertrude Chandler Warner, 1991

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Dusti Bowling, 2017

The Cuckoo Clock of Doom

R.L. Stine, 1995