Reddit reviews Learning JavaScript Design Patterns: A JavaScript and jQuery Developer's Guide

before you go any further, I recommend you learn reactive programming itself.

check out this book http://www.amazon.com/Learning-JavaScript-Design-Patterns-Osmani/dp/1449331815/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370738078&sr=8-1&keywords=javascript+design+patterns

there's some docs on how the observer, pubsub and mediator patterns work. you'll be in a much better position to make meteor work for you as the pubsub pattern is used alot in meteor and done using some weird non idiosyncatic js to make it so. ie: you'll be better able to solve any issues you might walk into as you delve away from the well curated meteor path.

good luck!

Learn pure JavaScript. It will not only help when learning new frameworks but will also help you to realise that frameworks are not always necessary and by understanding them better, will not rely on them as a crutch.

From my perspective, these two books helped me "level up" from jQuery to full-blown JS developer:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/JavaScript-Good-Parts-Douglas-Crockford/dp/0596517742
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-JavaScript-Design-Patterns-Osmani/dp/1449331815

I am also a member of Udemy, which has a great selection of courses to work through.

Once you understand JavaScript without frameworks, just pick up a framework and start playing with it. Do the tutorials or pick your own goal/application to build with it. I find I learn more than doing something rather than simply reading about it.