When You Reach Me Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

In my book, Meg is looking for her father. When she finally gets to Camazotz, which is a planet somewhere near the Big Dipper where he's being held prisoner, this evil man with red eyes asks her why she wants him, and she says, "Didn't you ever have a father yourself? You don't want him for a reason. You want him because he's your father."

So I figure it's because I never had a father that I don't want one now. A person can't miss something she never had. (9.5-6)

Though Miranda doesn't know her father, it's not a big deal in this book. We never meet him or hear much else about him. Why do you think that is? Do you think Richard acts like a father to Miranda? Why or why not?

Quote #5

"But first you have to learn the V-cut," he told us. "Very important." Except he said "Velly important," and stretched his eyelids back with two fingers, and bowed down low – it was the classic fake-Chinese act. I had never seen a grown-up do it before. If Mom had been there, she would have whacked him on the head with a plastic tray. (18.2)

Though Miranda is often annoyed by her mom, her mother's values stick with her as she moves through her daily life.

Quote #6

Her bringing the chips and cookies is supposed to help somehow. It's not really the cookies, she says. It's the fact that someone brings them. (26.16)

Miranda's mom volunteers to run a parenting group for pregnant women in jail. Why does she bring the inmates cookies and chips?