When You Reach Me - Rebecca Stead

Recommended for ages 8-16.

When You Reach Me seems at first like the story of a regular 12 year old girl growing up in the suburbs - family and friendship dramas, boys, school etc. But suddenly she receives an anonymous note, then another, and another. These notes are weird, and hint at future events, personal things that their author could have no way of knowing about. They creep Miranda out in more than one way.

It's not possible to know about things that haven't happened yet. Or is it???

Playing on the borderline of mystery, adventure and science fiction, this book is a quick and engaging read. The characters are satisfactorily drawn, the plot is fast-paced, and although the ending is not as neatly drawn together as I like, I concede that the topic is one that denies a tidy ending.

This book has similarities with The Time-Traveller's Wife, although explores its themes in a much more child-friendly way. Great for readers who are happy to be left in the dark a little.