Dear Roonie,

I read your book, and you were right.  I loved it!
I stayed in bed this morning, and didn't get out until I had finished.
(Having strep throat on a Saturday turns out to have some perks.)
One of the million reasons I love you is that you like to root for the underdog.
Me too.  And there were more than a couple of underdogs in When you Reach Me.
Thanks for insisting that I would really really like this book.
I love you tons,
XO
Mom

When You Reach Me
by Rebecca Stead

One of the opening chapters of the book is called "Things You Hide" and starts like this: 
I was named after a criminal.  Mom says that's a dramatic way of looking at things, but sometimes the truth is dramatic.
"The name Miranda stands for people's rights," she said last fall, when I was upset because Robbie B. had told me during gym that I was named after a kidnapper.
Miranda and Sal are best friends, and live in New York City.  After having just visited some of the same places that Miranda and Sal navigate on a daily basis, another chapter called "Mom's Rules for Life in New York City" resonated with me:
1.  Always have your key out before you reach the front door.
2.  If a stranger is hanging out in front of the building, don't ever go in--just keep walking around the block until he's gone.
3.  Look ahead.  If there's someone acting strange 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.
4.  Never show your money on the street.
When You Reach Me won the 2010 Newbery Medal, and is an exciting adventure with mystery, science fiction and bullies.  I devoured it in less than three hours.  Two thumbs up for a book that just about everyone will enjoy.