I know last August was a time when readers of children’s novels were eagerly anticipating the release of Mockingjay, the third and final installment of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. As for me, I generally dismissed children’s novels… until I read a pretty cool one last summer that got me hooked on children’s novels. When you reach me by Rebecca Stead was a very fun summer read. I don’t generally read Sci Fi (although I am really dying to read “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), and honestly, I didn’t even know the book was going to be very Sci-fi.
I read a nice review in the New York Times book review that made me want to read the book. Then I forgot all about it until a sixth grader lent me the book. I looked forward to the puzzle and a story about growing up in nyc. I loved the fact that it was such a New York City story and enjoyed how all the characters were so well developed. The abstract topics were balanced well by the ordinary concerns of a teenager involving friendship.
This book makes me want to read Young Adult books (well, maybe not the ones about cliques and vampires). I realize that children’s books can have a well written and sophisticated storyline. And it’s nice to read a short, concrete, digestible book once in awhile, a book you can read in one subway ride. Too bad today is the official first day of autumn and I feel compelled to read more serious books.
