When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Miranda is a 6th grader who lives with her mom in New York City. Miranda and her mother's friend, Richard, spend a lot of time helping Miranda's mom prepare for her appearance on the $20,000 Pyramid, a popular game show in the 1970s.

Much of the story revolves around Miranda's relationships with her friends and fellow classmates. There is the typical girl triangle, first crush, and things like that. At the same time, Miranda is trying to figure out the meaning of the strange notes she receives. The story is somewhat complex because you learn various details throughout the story that eventually are woven into an understandable pattern. It might be challenging for some to hang in there as the story comes together.

Topics: friendships, single-parent families, city life, strange people, dietary restrictions, bullying, stealing, mysterious notes, $20,000 Pyramid (game show), 6th graders, lunch job, A Wrinkle in Time, strange occurrences, time travel, misunderstandings

Genre: science fiction (much of the story is realistic fiction)

Audience: 6th and 7th graders

Mrs. Beckwith's review: 3 of 5
Note: swearing

Amazon Reviews

Walking Up a Rainbow by Theodore Taylor

I'm not quite sure how to describe Walking Up a Rainbow. The language used is somewhat rough...seemed apparent to me that it was a male author. I thought it did a great job with many historical details. In fact, there were many times I was tempted to look up additional information on many of the details within the story. Susan's parents both die in an accident, and she is left on her own.

Susan discovers that her father owed a huge debt to the town villain. She finds a letter in her father's office describing his intention to hire a herder to herd their sheep to California to feed the gold miners. The goal was to raise enough money to pay off his debt. Unfortunately, he died before he could do it. Susan decided to carry out her father's plans and hired a herder and his workers to help her get the sheep to California. Many misadventures happen along the way keeping the story interesting.

Topics: sheep drive, Isthmus of Panama, debt, orphan, cowboy, sheep herders, life on the trail West, hardships, survival, medicine/doctoring

Genre: historical fiction

Audience: 8th grade

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3 of 5 (not sure if it'd have wide kid appeal, but for the right reader, I think they'd enjoy it...just have to get in the rhythm of the writing style and voice.)

Sensitive areas: attempted rape, language, death

Amazon Reviews

Phantom Victory by Pamela F. Service

This is an older book (1994), but definitely has staying power. Terri is a native of South Bass Island, and Brian is visiting for a family vacation. Though they are initially wary with each other, they eventually team up to unravel a unsolved mystery surrounding the Victory Hotel. Oh, and did I mention they each are able to see the ghost of their dead ancestor?

Topics: ghosts, missing jewels, mysterious death, shady characters, building restoration, caves

Genre: mystery, supernatural

Audience: best for 6th grade

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 4 of 5

No Amazon reviews available (out of print)

Diary of a Witness by Catherine Ryan Hyde

This story follows two boys, Will Manson and Ernie Boyd. It's told from the viewpoint of Ernie, an obese (overweight) high school student. Will has a severe case of acne and is really smart. They become friends when Will stands up for Ernie when Ernie is being bullied by some classmates. They discover they both like fishing. They also both come from single parent families. Ernie lives with his mom, and Will lives with his dad.

Early on in the story, Will's younger brother dies. That starts a downward spiral in Will's life. Ernie watches as events unfold for Will. Ernie is able to thwart Will's suicide attempt. However, Will becomes more and more mentally unstable because of the influences around him. Ernie has some tough decisions to make as he's trying to help Will through this time. It's a powerful story, and may be disturbing to some readers.

Genre: realistic fiction

Audience: 8th grade (maybe 7th)

Topics: death of a sibling, obesity (fat, overweight), fishing (trout and saltwater), single-parent family, child endangerment, being a loser, suicidal thoughts, small towns, mental health, parents who don't care, deer hunting, power of words, outcasts

Sensitive areas: language, dysfunctional family, increasing violent/vengeful thought patterns

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 4 of 5

Amazon Reviews

The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton

This is an older book, copyright 1962...before even I was born :-)However, it remains a good read. Edward and Eleanor live in Concord, Massachusetts, with their elderly aunt and uncle. A family tragedy occurred many years ago. Prince Krishna, their Aunt Lily's beau from many years ago, had developed a treasure hunt for Lily's siblings Ned and Nora (Edward and Eleanor were named after them). While they were searching for it, Ned and Nora disappeared and were never seen or heard from again. Prince Krishna disappeared shortly after that, and Lily's heart was broken. She never married. Now, Edward and Eleanor are determined to figure out what happened to Ned, Nora, and Prince Krishna for two reasons: find the treasure to get enough money to save their house and finally have an answer for Aunt Lily about what happened to her family.

Genre: Fantasy (6th grade)

Topics: family; disappearance; mystery; eccentric people; Indians (India); jewels; Concord, Massachusetts; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Louisa May Alcott; Henry Thoreau; riddles; mystical; transcendentalism

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 4 of 5

Amazon Reviews

Skullduggery by Pete Hautman

Skullduggery is the second book in the Bloodwater Mysteries set in southeastern Minnesota. Once again Roni and and Brian find themselves in the midst of another mystery. Dr. Dart, an archeology professor, is attacked in a cave where he is investigating a site to determine if an Indian (Native American) tribe lived there in the past. A group wants to build some condos there, but if it really was a former Indian site, he'll be able to protect the area.

Roni and Brian need to figure out who injured Dr. Dart as many speculate that Dr. Dart just fell and hit his head. They are also trying to determine what the truth is behind the condo development project. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad guys? You might be surprised!

Topics: environmental protectionism, archaeology, mystery, reporters, swindlers

Genre: realistic fiction / mystery

Mrs. Beckwith's Rating: 3.5 of 5

Amazon Reviews