This book by Rebecca Stead is a young adult novel that is part mystery*, part science fiction*, part coming-of-age story.

    When Miranda, who is obsessed with “A Wrinkle* in Time” by Madeline L’Engle, starts to receive strange notes, she tries to understand what they could mean, especially since they seem to defy the laws of space and time.

    Meanwhile, Miranda helps her mother prepare to be a contestant* on the US$20,000 Pyramid game show. As Miranda unravels* the mystery, she learns about herself, her family and friendship.

    Despite the compelling* mystery, the book reflects most deeply on friendship. Specifically, the novel addresses the question of how to hold on to old friendships without stifling* them, and it brings out the stabilizing effect that new friendships can have in the effort to preserve* or reclaim* old ones.

    A middle school-aged protagonist*, like Miranda, is just learning to ask big questions and discover who she is. The book can help young people work through these issues themselves and help adults remember the core* of who they are.

    Stead does what the best authors do — she writes a very good story with full characters. Depth flows from these things. This story is a good story — the kind that makes you smile, makes you a little sad and makes you want to keep reading. (SD-Agencies)