When You Reach Me Final Study Guide There will be four sections to the test: • Character identification • Objects of significance -­‐-­‐ Symbols • Multiple choice • Short answer Use this study guide to prepare for each section. I. Character Identification – write a few words to help you remember each character. There will be a matching section for this category. • Miranda – main character, helped Alice, gets letters from Laughing Man, friends with Sal • Julia – Jimmy thought she took his bank, friends with Annemarie, likes Wrinkle in Time, wealthy, nickname = Swiss Miss, enemies with Miranda until the end • Miranda’s Mother – wants to be a lawyer, protective, got on the $20,000 Pyramid, named Miranda after the “Miranda Rights” • Richard – Mom’s boyfriend, lawyer, one leg longer than the other, “Mr. Perfect” •
Laughing Man – Note-­‐writer, time traveler, AKA Marcus as a homeless man, stole the bank, saves Sal’s life to clear his conscience, kicks at nothing in the street •
Sal – Miranda’s best friend until he gets punched, decides to take a break from Miranda, plays basketball by himself •
Annemarie – Miranda’s new friend, has epilepsy, can’t eat bread (gluten) •
Colin – worked at Jimmy’s sandwich shop with the girls, does silly things to get attention, kissed Miranda! Louisa – Sal’s mom, brings food to prisoners, thinks McDonald’s is a health conspiracy against Americans. •
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Marcus – Punched Sal, is the Laughing Man, knows about time travel, almost killed Sal, but saved him, too! •
Jimmy – owns the sandwich shop, racist, rude, skittish, perfectionist •
Annemarie’s Dad – super nice, always invites Miranda over, and has great hospitality, Alice – too embarrassed to ask to go to the bathroom in school, Miranda helps her •
II. Objects of Significance – Use the sheet in your notebook to study these. There will be a matching section for this category. • mysteries of science poster -­‐-­‐ Miranda’s poster was with her when Sal got punched, the note mentioned “yawning” •
ceramic bank – Jimmy’s bank, he told the kids to stay away from it •
spare key – Miranda and her mom hide this in the firehose, stolen by Laughing Man •
special snacks – Annemarie’s food her dad makes for her •
notes – How the Laughing Man communicates with Miranda, the basis for the story •
A Wrinkle in Time – the book Miranda always reads, starts the time travel conversation, Richard gives her a signed first edition •
Shoes – Stolen from the apartment, contained the fourth note •
Book, Bag, Pocket, Shoe – Location of the notes, Miranda saw this scratched on the mailbox, the Laughing Man was repeating these words •
Mailbox – Laughing Man sleeps under here, picture of Julia and the key were on the bottom •
The $20,000 Pyramid – Mom is a contestant, they practice all the time, won $12,100, mentioned in the first note •
Sandwich Shop – Where Annemarie, Colin, and Miranda work during lunch period III. Multiple Choice – regarding setting, theme, events, and other unique tidbits from the book such as: • Miranda’s mother’s career goal -­‐-­‐ lawyer •
Miranda’s strategy for warding off trouble in the street – asks someone the time •
Miranda’s “job” at school – office monitor, takes kids to the dentist •
Where Marcus hides from the police – dentist’s office •
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Miranda’s mom’s news about Richard in “Things That Get Stuck” – he wants to get married Alice’s problem – she’s too embarrassed to ask to go to the bathroom •
The identity of the Laughing Man – Marcus/note writer •
Sal’s new activity that he does alone after school -­‐-­‐ basketball •
Miranda’s mother isn’t sure about giving Richard a key to the apartment •
Miranda, Annemarie and Colin work at the sandwich shop (Jimmy’s) during lunch. •
Miranda found a note in her book after her apartment door was left unlocked. •
Miranda’s job at the sandwich shop -­‐-­‐ counts the bread rolls •
Where she found a note at the sandwich shop -­‐-­‐ bread roll bag •
Miranda’s nickname for Julia -­‐-­‐ Swiss Miss •
Julia criticized Annemarie for eating -­‐-­‐ sandwiches from Jimmy’s shop •
What Julia did to Miranda during class – shot a rubber band at her •
Richard lost his shoes at Miranda’s apartment •
Annemarie has epilepsy meaning she should not eat bread •
What Miranda and Richard want Miranda’s mom to do with her game show winnings – go to law school •
What Miranda was supposed to write as instructed in the last note – a letter explaining the events of the story What Miranda’s mom finally gave to Richard – the key •
What the Laughing Man did when he saw Marcus – ran away •
Why Colin, Miranda, and Annemarie quit their jobs at the sandwich shop – Jimmy is a racist Richard’s gift to Miranda – first edition Wrinkle in Time (signed by the author) •
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The event/person that makes Miranda decide to be nice to people – helping Alice go to the bathroom Who kissed Miranda – Colin :-­‐) •
Who saved Sal – Laughing Man/future Marcus •
Where the last note was found – In the shoe •
What Miranda found under the mailbox – “book, bag, pocket, shoe,” a picture of Julia, and the key Why the Laughing Man saved Sal – to clear his conscience •
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IV. Short Answer – There will be three choices for a written response on the test. You will choose one. You will be expected to write one long paragraph (10+ sentences with a topic sentence, support and a concluding sentence) in response to one of the questions below. Characters: Discuss how one character changes throughout the book. Use a character trait to describe how they act in the beginning of the book, the event(s) that cause the change, and the trait they portray at the end of the book. Changing friendships: Discuss some friendships that change in this book and explain why change can be a good thing, especially as it pertains to the specific characters. How did the change of friendship help the character? Importance of treating people with respect: Regardless of socioeconomic status, race, illness, etc. Miranda learns to treat others with respect. Discuss three events that help her come to this realization and the characters involved in each event.