Module 4: A Wrinkle In Time

Book Summary:

This book follows a family that is trying to stay positive while the dad is missing. The town has begun whispering about the dad and the Meg, the daughter, takes it the hardest. The youngest son, Charles Wallace is very strange, even to his family but they love him and protect him anyway. Meg and Charles Wallace befriend Calvin and with the help of three supernatural beings, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, they travel through space to save Mr. Murray.

APA Reference:

L'Engle, M. (1973). A wrinkle in time. New york, NY: A Yearling Book.

My Impressions:

I was very excited to read this book but had trouble liking it. I felt let down that the mom played such an inactive role in helping her children. To me it seemed the solution was too predictable. Maybe it is because the book has been around so long that other books are too similar. I connected with Meg's anger at her father for disappearing and found that realistic. Many kids feel that way about their parents when they do not understand why their parents spend so much time away from home. I also found the relationship between Meg and Charles Wallace realistic. Many siblings protect one another.  The content and language is very age appropriate but I did not enjoy this book as much as a wanted.    

Professional Review:

Reading about the life of a famous author usually deflates the notion that writing is fun, easy, and filled with instant rewards. Only after decades of work and more than 30 rejection letters did L’Engle’s Newbery-winning A Wrinkle in Time find its place in libraries and in the hearts of readers. Gonzales follows L’Engle’s life--an only child raised by a devoted nanny, boarding school (here and in Europe), college years at Smith, marriage to actor Hugh Franklin, and the growth of their family. L’Engle’s stressful childhood--exacerbated by distant parents, a penchant for daydreaming, a lack of friends, and low self-esteem--has colored her perspectives. But it is her passion for writing daily--the discipline, the demands, the determination to continue in spite of discouragement--that steers this biography. Aspiring writers will see the impact that family, music, spirituality, and the desire to open up new worlds to children have had on L’Engle. Unfortunately, gaps in the information will frustrate the astute reader (Who were her grandparents? What was her mother’s illness? What is the current status of L’Engle’s eye problem?), and many of the black-and-white photos are of poor quality. However, L’Engle is a well-loved figure, and this biography in the People in Focus series will intrigue both her fans and those who have yet to discover her genius. Selected bibliography; no notes. (Reviewed Feb. 15, 1992)— Deborah Abbott


Abbott, D. (1992, February 15). [Review of the book A Wrinkle In Time, by Madeleine L'Engle]. Booklist. Retrieved from: http://booklistonline.com/Madeleine-L-Engle-Author-of-A-Wrinkle-in-Time-Doreen-Gonzales/pid=925631


Library Uses:

I would use this book in a display for Honor books.