"When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead (2) Quiz

Answer: Why Do We Yawn?

She makes up the poster in school.

"There are a lot of interesting theories about yawning. Some people think it started as a way of showing off the teeth to scare predators away, or as a way to stretch facial muscles, or to signal to the rest of the tribe that it's time to sleep. My own theory, which I included on my poster, is that yawning is a semi-polite way of telling someone that they're boring everyone to death. Either that or it's a slow-motion sneeze."

Answer: Ask if he has the time

It is what Miranda does to show she's "harmless" and not worth bothering.

Another of her mother's rules is "If a stranger is hanging in front of the building, don't go in-just keep walking around the block until he's gone." And the rest of the one about being aware of your surroundings ["look ahead"] is, "If there's someone acting strange down the block, looking drunk or dangerous, cross to the other side of the street but don't be obvious about it. Make it look like you were planning to cross the street all along."

Answer: Bike

The other two items on the list are a sailboat and a trip to China. The carpets are for Miranda's room.

"That's the official list, anyway. Richard and I have our own plan for the money, if Mom wins it."

Answer: Annemarie

The menu consists of pizza and pop.

"In sixth grade, kids with any money, even a little, go out for lunch unless something is going on and they won't let us, like the first week of school, when there was a man running down Broadway stark naked and we all had to eat in the school cafeteria while the police tried to catch him."

At this point in the story, Sal isn't talking to Miranda, Colin hasn't made an appearance yet, and Miranda doesn't much care for the way Julia treats the other kids.

Answer: Detroit

Miranda learns this in "Things You Keep Secret" while she is the dentist's "runner". This means that she gets to go from class to class, collecting those students with an appointment with the dentist. The last of these is Marcus, who she met twice before, but never realized went to the same school. He's in the sixth grade, just like Miranda, and is fascinated with time travel. In fact, in second grade he "wrote a report about it... Back in Detroit, where we used to live, till last year."

The other three answer choices are places in Pennsylvania.

Answer: Friday

When Miranda's mother comes home she learns that "it [the door to their apartment] wasn't locked when I got home today." This prompts a search of the place, but everything appeared to be the way it was supposed to be. However, during the evening meal Miranda's mother "stood up and walked out of the apartment... I found her standing in the stairwell, peering into the nozzle of the fire hose." ] This was where their spare key was kept.] "'It makes no sense,' Mom said, standing over her jewelry box and staring down at the gold bracelets that had belonged to her mother. 'Why steal the key, unlock the door, and not take anything?'"

Answer: "I will not be myself when I reach you."

This is the first of the three notes that Miranda receives from an anonymous entity.

"Your first note was written in tiny letters on a tiny square of stiff paper that felt like it had once gotten wet. I was packing my knapsack for school when I noticed it sticking out of my library book"-which the sixth grader hadn't even read.

The text in its entirety is as follows:

"M,
This is hard. Harder than I expected, even with your help. But I have been practicing, and my preparations go well.
I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own.
I ask two favors.
First, you must write me a letter.
Second, please remember to mention the location of your house key.
The trip is a difficult one. I will not be myself when I reach you."

That same morning, after seeing the note, Miranda's mother "took the morning off and had the locks changed, even though she said that M could be anyone, that this had nothing to do with our missing key, and that the note could have been stuck in that book by anyone, years ago probably, and we'd never know why."

Answer: Angel

This is in the chapter entitled "White Things" and was the first time Miranda asked Annemarie over to her apartment.

"'Angel!' the Laughing Man called out. He was looking right at Annemarie, and I couldn't help thinking that, depending on your idea of heaven, Annemarie might appear to be something like an angel. Her coat was pure white and went all the way down to her toes, even though it was the middle of November and really not all that cold."

Answer: "You will want proof."

It is actually the first line of the third note.

Miranda discovers the second one at work on a Monday afternoon. The entire note reads as follows:

"Miranda:
Your letter must tell a story-a true story.
You cannot begin now, as most of it has not yet taken place. And even afterward, there is no hurry. But do not wait so long that your memory fades.
I require as much detail as you can provide. The trip is a difficult one, and I must ask my favors while my mind is still sound.
A postscript: I know you have shared my first note. I ask you not to share the others. Please. I do not ask this for myself."

Answer: $2 bills

Jimmy is the store owner that Annemarie, Colin and Miranda work for for a few months.

Jimmy owns a Flintstones Bank, which is off limits to his three helpers. One day, though, Colin determines to open it-and Miranda is just as curious. Annemarie, who tries at first to convince them not to, winds up being the lookout.