UP English Fall Semester When You Reach Me
Mr. Follansbee Questions, p. 87-106
1. What happens to Annemarie when she is eating in the cafeteria because the
“naked guy” is running up and down Broadway?
Annemarie has a seizure in the cafeteria.
2. Who knows how to help Annemarie? Why does this same person accuse
Miranda of being an “idiot”?
Julia knows how to help Miranda. She refers to Miranda as an “idiot” because
she doesn’t know how to take care of Annemarie.
3. What’s wrong with Annemarie? What has she been eating at Jimmy’s that she
shouldn’t? Annemarie has epilepsy and her father has her on a special diet that
seems to work. She cannot eat bread or drink soda.
4. What does Julia ask Miranda about that she claims has been going on since
“like third grade”? Does Miranda admit that Julia is right? Is Julia right? Why
does Miranda’s face turn red?
Julia asks Miranda why she has hated her ever since the third grade. Miranda
doesn’t admit it to Julia, but her reaction (turning bright red and hearing the
ocean) suggests that Julia has put Miranda “on the spot”.
5. On her way home from school that day, whom does Miranda follow? Why
does he kneel down to tie his shoe? Does anything happen?
Miranda follows Sal home. Sal kneels down because he sees Marcus coming
towards him down the street. Marcus passes right by Sal without even noticing
him.
6. What does Miranda wish she had done on this occasion? Why?
Miranda wishes she had called out to Sal so that he would have had an excuse
to get up and walk towards her and then maybe Marcus would have stopped to
talk to her and Sal would have realized that Marcus had nothing against him
personally.
7. When Miranda calls Annemarie that night, what does she tell Miranda about
working at Jimmy’s? What has Annemarie been doing with the lunches her
father makes her?
Annemarie finally levels with Miranda and tells her how much she has enjoyed
working at Jimmy’s but that going off her diet is a “big deal”. She has been
throwing the lunches her father makes her away.
8. Who do you think put the rose on Annemarie’s doorstep?
The laughing man could have done it or Colin or Julia.
9. Where does Miranda find the third note from “you”? What does it say that
concerns her? (see p. 98)
Miranda finds the third note in the pocket of her winter coat which she hasn’t
worn since last year.
10. Whom does she meet on the way to school? What question does she ask
him? How does he answer?
She meets Marcus on the way top school, and she asks him about using a time
machine to get back to last Wednesday and how she will know that she has
gotten there.
11. Who interrupts them? Does she know what she’s talking about? Does
Marcus agree with her?
Julia interrupts them, and she clearly knows what she’s talking about. Marcus
agrees with the analogy Julia makes about her diamond ring and jumping from
diamond to diamond.
12. Why did Marcus punch Sal in the stomach and slap him in the face?
He wanted to see what would happen.
13. What does the laughing man do when he almost bumps into Marcus and
Miranda?
He starts running away from Marcus.