When You Reach Me is a novel that deals with both realistic and more fantastical elements.  Time travel is featured prominently, but the main story this novel tells is that of changing and developing friendships. The main character, Miranda, has always had one best friend: her neighbor Sal. However, at the beginning of sixth grade, they begin to fall apart, and Miranda is forced to make new friends, Annemarie and Colin. Through these changes, Miranda learns how to adapt to new environments and new people. Her former enemy, Julia, and a strange boy named Marcus, who once punched Sal, are some characters that she begins to view differently. Miranda's life also starts to change in stranger ways. She starts getting anonymous notes, and she soon realizes that she needs to solve the mystery of who's writing them in order to save a friend's life. 

When You Reach Me intersperses ordinary friendships and changes with larger, broader topics. What is time? How does it change people? How can people change it? Through all these changing elements, Miranda begins to see her life and surroundings in a new way. 

This book contains a well-drawn mystery, but it also appeals to those with prefer realistic-fiction or even science-fiction. The true mark of a good book is how well readers can relate to it. Although When You Reach Me is a story based on the premise of time travel, something that does not currently exist, its analysis of everyday life will allow readers to relate to the characters and world, keeping readers interested.