It’s Monday! What are You Reading

“When You Reach Me” by Rebecca Stead

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This is a Newbery Award winning book 2010.  The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children ALSC.  Author Rebecca Stead has done a fine job of meeting that criteria here in this science fiction mystery novel published 2009.  The story is set in New York City Upper West Side in 1978-79.  The school year for the main character Miranda is everything but normal.  Miranda takes us on a journey of time travel in her small but dangerous poverty stricken neighborhood.

The twisting plot keeps the reader engaged as young Miranda looses her best friend, witnesses a death and has her first kiss all while trying to piece together notes that have been left for her mysteriously telling her she must write a letter “when you reach me”.

The Laughing Man who is the crazy guy who stands on the corner and sleeps under a mailbox is someone that her friends Sal, Marcus & Colon know to avoid. Yet as the shoe, letters, pocket and  stolen key (above in picture) are starting to connect in the story,  Miranda’s life is ever changed by the laughing man.

Who is leaving the letters?  Do they mean that only Miranda has the power to prevent a death?  As letters keep coming Miranda is forced to consider that only someone from the future would be able to know the things that are written in the letters, so she must consider that time travel is possible.

JACKJAW– Again another new to me ‘Thing’,  Yes I would read this story as whole class read, adding items that are similar to the image I inserted above.  The image is suppose to Miranda’s mind working to fit all the clues together, I would be more than willing to build this as a tangible item for the kids to use while following the story.

Also this week I read a non award winning beginner level book.

 This a leveled reader book authored by Hans Wihelm. He uses rebus-style picture s as clues in this book to help children become familiar with words. In this book a puppy and fox become friends while playing outdoors in the fall leaves.
This book would also be helpful in an ELL classroom. The children who are learning to read in English would recognize the pictures (likely in their primary language) and I think that would be helpful understanding the theme of the story while reading in English.  I would like to use more of Rebus-Style books in ELL classrooms that I substitute in this coming fall.