The novel contains three story lines — the appearance of Miranda’s mom on the game show, The $20,000 Pyramid, Miranda’s best friend Sal suddenly not talking with Miranda, and the appearance of a laughing man. Central themes in the novel include
independence, redemption and friendship
.
What is the lesson of when you reach me?
When You Reach Me shows us that you can decide your own identity. This is exactly what Miranda does in Chapter 41. The biggest lesson Miranda learns is that
“you can’t judge a book by its cover
.” This is especially important when it comes to Julia, Marcus, and the Laughing Man.
What is the best theme for when you reach me?
- Friendship.
- Truth.
- Time.
- Literature and Writing.
- Society and Class.
- Family.
- Identity.
- Forgiveness and Compassion.
What is the main problem in when you reach me?
Main Conflict is
that Miranda wants to know what the notes mean and who is writing them
. And that Sal isn’t friends with Miranda for some reason. An important scene is when Miranda’s mother and Richard end up playing in the $20,000 pyramid game show.
What is the ending of when you reach me?
At the conclusion of When You Reach Me,
Miranda learns that Marcus was the homeless man and gets ready to write him a letter explaining how he time-traveled to save Sal’s life.
Who Is Julia in when you reach me?
As the novel ends, Miranda finds a drawing of a grown-up Julia beneath the mailbox of her apartment building, where the Laughing Man used to sleep. We find out that Julia will become
Marcus’s wife
. Julia is the woman referred to when the Laughing Man says, “I’m an old man, and she’s gone now” (53.11).
What do the notes say in when you reach me?
“I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own,” the first note reads in tiny script.
“I will not be myself when I reach you.
” Without Sal by her side, Miranda must figure out what story the mysterious time traveler needs her to tell — all while trying to navigate a new set of middle school friendships.
Who is the antagonist in when you reach me?
Miranda has to understand time’s relativity to see how
Marcus
and the Laughing Man are the same person. Marcus has to figure out a way to go back in time to save Sal. And Miranda’s Mom is trying to beat the clock and win the money she needs to help her family have a better life.
Who is the Laughing Man in when you reach me?
Marcus is the novel’s boy genius, and somewhat tragic figure, who has a hard time relating to other people. His pretty stupid attack on Sal starts a series of events that eventually lead to Sal’s injury in the streets that day – and to Marcus’ own death (Chapter 45).
What does Sal look like in when you reach me?
Sal’s character traits are seen through Miranda’s perspective: he is
a dependable, loyal best friend
. He is also quiet and reserved and seeks his own independence. Sal grows over the course of the story to become more comfortable sharing his emotions.
What age is when you reach me book appropriate for?
| Interest Level Reading Level Word Count | Grades 4 – 8 Grades 3 – 8 39253 |
|---|
How does Miranda change in when you reach me?
Things Miranda Learns
She learns how to be compassionate. She also learns about time. All of this gives Miranda a brand new perspective – or way of seeing the world. By the end of the novel, we see her
transformation is complete
.
What does the third note say in when you reach me?
On her walk to school she finds something in her pocket: the third note. The note gives Miranda three proofs – three dates, actually, followed by three clues. The first is about Colin’s knapsack; it reads “
3 p.m. today
” (30.13). The second is about Christmas Day (“tesser well”).
Who does Miranda kiss in when you reach me?
After her win on “$20,000 Pyramid,” she gives him a key. The text also implies that he stays the night. Miranda mentions that she has kissed
Colin
a few times and that another boy kissed Annemarie.
Why does Marcus punch Sal in when you reach me?
Then there is Marcus, the boy who punched Sal, apparently for no reason. It turns out that he is essentially a absent-minded genius who is usually thinking about physics, but
was trying to be a more “normal” boy and expected Sal to hit him back
.
What is Miranda mom name in when you reach me?
Louisa
.
Louisa
is Sal’s mother and lives in the same apartment building as Miranda and her mother.
