When You Reach Me

About this book

Miranda, a sixth grader in 1979 NYC, receives mysterious notes from someone who seems to know the future. Stead's 2010 Newbery Medal winner intertwines Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time with a New York coming-of-age story and is widely assigned in 5-7 grade for its layered time-puzzle structure.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 Newbery Medal 2010
  • recommended· 6th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 mystery exemplar
  • recommended· 6th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Standards grade 6 — NYC-set Newbery

Similar grade-level books

• 
  The Giver
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  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
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Common questions

What grade level is When You Reach Me?

When You Reach Me is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–8, with a Lexile measure of 750L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of When You Reach Me?

When You Reach Me has a Lexile measure of 750L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

What curricula assign When You Reach Me?

When You Reach Me appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is When You Reach Me banned in schools?

When You Reach Me does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does When You Reach Me explore?

Central themes in When You Reach Me include time travel (speculative), friendship, 1970s NYC, mystery, metanarrative. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.