I have seen a few other young adult books go the same way kind of way as "When You Reach Me" and I have to say that it is an interesting technique. What I'm talking about is having a book that deals with all the familiar adolescent literature issues such as parent relationships, friend relationships, self-finding, etc and the context of a story with extraordinary happenings. The view of time as an ocean rather than a river is becoming more and more popular and this book uses the idea well. This extra aspect to the book makes it in some ways a fantasy, things happen that as far we know are impossible, which works to heighten the interest and appeal of the book. Purely reality based books are becoming rarer in the Y.A. genre, as that becomes a bit too mundane for many readers.
What was skillfully done in this book was the organization of Steid's ideas as the book goes through chapters that seem scattered and random, but end up working together to get the points of this book across, all within the added context of time travel and the mystery it provides. Another good thing about this book is that it can relate to a wide array of people, the protagonist is female, but there are several male characters with well described and varying personalities for boys to relate to, as well as the same for female characters. The book deals with a lot, and is more or less entertaining throughout,, in other words, it's a good Y.A. novel.
Comments (2)
Troy, I agree that the author does a good job of making the book accessible to both genders. Even though the protagonist is female, she has some very boyish qualities. She's tough, spunky, and independent. She works well with other boys, as her relationships show. She rarely indulges in anything particularly girly, like make-up or clothes. Even her crush on Colin is presented in a way that boys can appreciate. It's not mushy or particularly romantic.
Posted by Happi Adams | April 21, 2010 3:10 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 15:10
I agree with both of you about the fact that this book represents a wide variety of characters so that all types of readers can see themselves in at least some aspect of the book. I think that is so crucial for a novel, especially one that is young adult... if kids can't relate to someone in the book, I think it would make it harder for them to enjoy and appreciate the novel as a whole.
Troy, in your comment, you talk about time as an ocean, rather than a river. I have never really heard it put quite that way, and I think you are very accurate in your description of this novel. There are so many aspects of time that are put into question within "When You Reach Me" and it really gets readers thinking about the nature of time and its complications. While some of the events are extraordinary and seemingly impossible, this book certainly gets the reader thinking and questioning.
Posted by Brooke Estridge | April 21, 2010 9:52 PM
Posted on April 21, 2010 21:52