What is the setting in the book when you reach me?
6 min read
Asked by: Nikki Martinez
New York City1978-1979 school year of Miranda, the main character. Stead placed Miranda’s home in the Upper West Side, New York City, where Stead grew up.
What is the main conflict 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. Miranda’ s mom needs the money for her family.
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 antagonist in when you reach me?
When You Reach Me: Characters
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Miranda | Protagonist |
| Marcus | Antagonist turned Hero |
| Sal | Secondary Character |
| Miranda’s Mom | Secondary Character |
When you reach me ending explained?
At the end, Miranda figures out the puzzle. The homeless man was Marcus, from the future to save Sal from his younger self. She also finds out that Marcus and Julia ended up together for many years.
Is Marcus the Laughing man?
She finally realizes the laughing man, who is actually Marcus as an old man, sent her the notes. He has come back from the future to save Sal’s life.
How does Miranda realize who the Laughing man is?
It asks her to deliver her letter by hand – and that she knows where to find him. The note adds that the trip is a difficult one, and the writer can carry nothing. Miranda realizes the Laughing Man saved Sal’s life – and that “you” is the Laughing Man.
What was Miranda’s trick for dealing with strangers she was afraid of on the street?
Mom’s Rules for Life in New York City
Miranda has her own trick: ask the stranger (“usually a boy”) what time it is. Doing so says to the stranger, “I see you as a friend, and I don’t have a watch. Therefore, I’m probably not worth mugging.” So far, according to Miranda, it’s worked “like gangbusters” (8.3).
What’s the consequence of Sal getting punched?
Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda’s mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen.
What happens to Annemarie in when you reach me?
Annemarie is, to put it bluntly, Miranda’s replacement for Sal when he stops walking home from school with her. Miranda had never thought much before of the girls at school (11.8), but she decides to pursue a friendship when she learns that Annemarie is at odds with her own best friend, Julia.
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 Miranda leave out of the letter when you reach me?
Miranda continues to get mysterious notes left in out of the way places. Subsequent letters urge Miranda to tell a story in the letter she is asked to write. The author of the notes also refers to a difficult trip. The third note offers proof that the author knows what is going to happen before it happens.
How much money does Miranda’s mother win on the game show?
$20,000 Pyramid
Miranda isn’t totally sure what this means until her mother goes on $20,000 Pyramid and wins a bunch of money.
What is Miranda’s nickname for Julia?
Swiss Miss.
Miranda finds Julia’s description of her features to be just plain obnoxious and pretentious. We later learn that Julia picked up her fancy words from her travels with her parents, which further annoys Miranda, leading her to give Julia the nickname “Swiss Miss.”
What age is when you reach me book appropriate for?
This was a GREAT STORY!
I say ages 9+ because there is a few conversations that could be potentially hard to follow, and there is a death at the end that me seem disturbing.
What does Miranda find stuck under the mailbox where the homeless man sleeps?
Later on, Miranda goes to the mailbox the laughing man (Marcus) slept under, where she finds a picture of an older version of Julia smiling happily. The novel ends as Miranda gives Marcus the letter.
What do Miranda and Richard want Miranda’s mother to do with the prize winnings?
Practice for the speed round of the game has gone well, and hopes are getting high for Miranda’s mother to win. Miranda and her mother keep a list of things they hope to buy with winnings from the game show: a vacation, a camera, new carpeting, and a TV.
What is Miranda’s personality in when you reach me?
Miranda, who is the protagonist, or main character, in the story; she is 12 years old and lives in New York City. Miranda’s mom, who doesn’t have a name in the story other than Mom; she is loving, kind, and wants to be a lawyer. Richard, who is Mom’s boyfriend; he is a lawyer and treats Miranda and her mom very well.
What does Miranda’s mom do at the jailhouse?
Though she may not be the most conservative dresser, Mom is Miranda’s – and the novel’s – moral guide. She aspires to be a public defense lawyer (3.25), she runs a parenting group for women in prison (26.5-9), and she urges Miranda to treat people like the Laughing Man humanely (5.3).
What does Miranda realize about the person leaving notes?
The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows things no one should know. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she’s too late.
Does Christy become a lawyer on Mom?
Becoming a lawyer had been a longtime subplot for Christy as she strove through school to reach her goal of enrolling in law school, gaining jobs and internships, and eventually becoming a lawyer.
