Repeated references to A Wrinkle in Time foreshadow the role of time travel in When You Reach Me. Before A Wrinkle in Time is named specifically, however, hints are left to guide readers towards noticing the importance of time in this story through references to watches, keeping time, and telling time.

Time is important to the subplot of Miranda’s mother preparing for her appearance on The $20,000 Pyramid. Contestants are given only a short amount of time to solve as many puzzles as possible on the show, so Miranda’s mother practices meticulously with a timer. Despite not having enough money to decorate her apartment nicely, Miranda’s mother splurges on “a fancy egg timer that can accurately measure a half minute” (3). Miranda is also precise about the amount of time available to prepare between receiving the game show’s postcard and when her mother’s appearance is scheduled: “We have exactly twenty-one days to get Mom ready” (5). Precise timing is important for Miranda’s mother in her preparations. Every day that goes by is an opportunity to practice, and every second that passes within each practice round is crucial. Miranda’s mother demonstrates her understanding of this importance when, after one week of practicing, she is unable to complete the second round of clues in time and “no one says anything” (42).