I first began reading "A Wrinkle In Time" when I was around 8 or 10 years old. I say started because, in fact, I never completed it back then. I can't recall precisely the reason, but I suspect it might have scared me quite a bit. Now, 15 or 17 years later, I've picked it up again and read the entire thing. Strangely enough, there's really nothing that terrifying about it at all. It's possible that, as a child, I somehow associated this book with the extremely scary Disney movie "Something Wicked This Way Comes". Again, I'm not sure why.

Whatever the cause of my childhood fears, I must say that the book is not particularly spectacular. Maybe, being older now and not reading with the eyes of a child, I can't quite see its charm. But I really can't fathom how it won the John Newberry Medal. The witches in the story seemed rather plastic and didn't seem to serve much of a purpose. The bad guy, represented by a shadow, had no clear motivation. (If you truly want to read about pure darkness for the sake of darkness or nothingness for the sake of nothingness, I would suggest picking up Michael Ende's "The Neverending Story".) And the father character, when it came to saving his son, seemed to lack backbone and a sense of decency. It has been argued that the father is an excellent device for showing children that parents don't always have the answers, that they are fallible and imperfect. But it goes beyond that. He comes across as weak, helpless, foolish, and at times even heartless. If you aim to write a story where a child discovers that his/her parents aren't perfect, you don't necessarily have to make the parental figure a cold, bumbling idiot. Unless, of course, that's your intention. And I highly doubt that was L'Engle's. But setting all that aside, why would you even want to tell such a story? Part of the beauty of being a child is the ability to hold onto the illusion that mom and dad are like Superman. Why ruin that? Granted, some kids come from difficult families, but there are far better ways to address those situations in literature. This just isn't it.

I initially wanted to rate this book 2 stars, but then I decided that, due to my jaded and critical age, I couldn't be too harsh in my judgment. Plus, I did like the character of Charles Wallace, the savant. He was rather cute. And the love between Meg and him was also nice. Calvin, on the other hand, seemed like a completely disposable character.

If I had children, would I encourage them to read this book? No. If they happened to pick it up from my bookshelf and start reading, I wouldn't stop them. But I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone, young or old. Unless, perhaps, I wanted to ask that person to help me understand what all the fuss is about.

I read this as a kid almost 40 years ago and just finished reading it to my 11-year-old son last night.

The characters of Meg, Calvin, and Charles Wallace were truly great. The concept of tesseracts once again captured my imagination, just as it did my son's. The action unfolds relatively smoothly, and the ominous man with the red eyes and the disembodied brain known as IT are both excellent antagonists in the plot.

However, upon this more mature (atheist) reading of "A Wrinkle in Time," I struggled with the Christian overtones that I had completely forgotten from my childhood reading as a (naive Christian) kid. I would have preferred if Mrs Who, Which, and Whatsit were multi-dimensional creatures rather than guardian angels, if there was more Shakespeare and less scripture quoted, and if the references to the Christian religion were less blatant towards the end.

In other words, I really enjoyed the story when it was a somewhat scary "where's dad" sci-fi thriller, but was disappointed with the morality play it evolved into. That being said, my kid really liked it, and the biblical references merely bored him rather than annoyed him (he has been raised without the imposition of religion and so far has chosen not to embrace one).

Perhaps a reader of this review can tell me whether the other four books in the series have the same heavy Christian moral aspect or not.

This was one of my very favorite books as a child. I remember vividly how much I loved it.

Every time I picked up this book, it was like entering a magical world. The stories within its pages captured my imagination and took me on countless adventures.

I would spend hours reading, completely engrossed in the tales. The characters became my friends, and I would share in their joys and sorrows.

This book had a special charm that drew me in and made me want to read it over and over again. It was a source of comfort and entertainment during my childhood years.

Even now, as an adult, I still have a soft spot for this book. It holds a special place in my heart and reminds me of the wonderful times I had as a child.

I am so grateful to have had this book in my life and will always cherish the memories it has given me.

This is a beautifully told story that is essentially about love. It contains important messages regarding family, friendship, being unique, and standing up for what is right. It is a work of sci-fi for kids. Although it is recommended for ages 12 and up, most 9 to 11-year-olds also enjoy it. L'Engle introduces concepts from science, philosophy, music, and more, with great imagination. It has been one of my favorite books ever since I was 9 and my 4th grade teacher read it to the class. Then, my 5th grade teacher also read it to us. After that, I bought the book for myself, and I still have that copy.

I am always astonished when people are not as passionate as I am about this book. I always shed tears of emotion at precisely the same place near the end of the book... I won't reveal anything here. I reread this book every few years, and it is a special experience each time.

Oh, and I truly love the original book cover art on the copy that I own. It leaves everything to the imagination, unlike the various newer covers.

What a fun weird little story!

It's truly captivating and full of unexpected twists and turns. The strange elements within the story add an air of mystery and excitement, making it a delight to read.

Despite its brevity, it manages to engage the reader's imagination and take them on a unique journey.

The characters are interesting and the plot is engaging, leaving the reader wanting more.

It's the kind of story that you can read again and again, discovering new details and enjoying the strange charm each time.

Overall, it's a great little story that is sure to bring a smile to your face and a sense of wonder to your heart.

Whether you're in the mood for a quick read or something a bit different, this story is definitely worth checking out.

So go ahead and give it a try – you won't be disappointed!

Doing a two-day buddy read with the magical Melanie!

I'm truly over the moon with excitement to embark on this literary journey with her.

The anticipation is palpable as I think about delving into the pages of this book together.

Melanie has such a wonderful presence and I know that our discussions will add an extra layer of depth and enjoyment to the reading experience.

I can't wait to share my thoughts and interpretations with her, and to hear her perspectives as well.

It's going to be an amazing two days filled with great conversations and a deeper appreciation for the written word.

I'm sure that by the end of this buddy read, I'll have a newfound love and understanding of the book.

Here's to a fantastic two days of reading with Melanie!

Supposedly, this is an award-winning children's book, considered a classic. Since I'd never read it and it had all those wonderful things going for it, I selected it for our next lunchtime read.

However, I hated this book.

The story is about three children. First, there's Meg, a cranky, bitchy, rebellious, and horrible middle school girl. She spends the entire book demanding attention, throwing temper tantrums, and clinging to people. She's supposed to be mildly 'gifted', but we never see anything more of that in the book, making it just ridiculous. There's not one good thing about this child, and I truly despised her.

Then there's her little brother, Charles Wallace, who is only four or five years old but acts 38. It's wrong. He has some sort of brainy superpower that is never fully revealed to the reader. We're just supposed to believe he's'special' and that when he's concentrating, something is happening (that never manifests to the reader). It's just stupid.

And last, there's Calvin, who shows up out of the blue several chapters into the book. He's the only actually gifted person in the bunch, but all he can do is be more eloquent than the siblings. So much for that gift. He's supposedly vaguely acquainted with Meg from school (he's a few years ahead of her), and based on that, they can hug and hold hands, and we're supposed to think the blossomless'relationship' between them is natural. It's not - it's too pat, too quick, and makes no sense, especially considering her 'ugliness' and crabbiness.

If that weren't enough, the government sends the siblings' father into time/space, and the family is left for two years to think he just disappeared on a business trip. The government would have a better story than that. It's just shoddy writing.

The kids meet three 'women' (who are actually stars, or angels, or... we're never sure). They can go to any planet but can't help the children in situations the author decides are taboo for no reason. They can give gifts but can't tell you what you need to do or give advice, and they can barely even talk. It's just wrong! The whole book was a mess, making no sense. It was preposterous and illogical, and no amount of shoddily thrown in verses is going to change that.

When we finally ((FINALLY)) get to the crux of the plot, we find out that there's a disembodied brain trying to destroy planets with 'darkness' and 'evil' (both vaguely referenced as 'cold' and 'horrible'), and that to defeat it, all you need is LUVVVV. You're kidding. All of that slop just to get to that?!

Read something else. Anything else. It was horrible.

What can one say about a book that is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of fiction in history? Truly, nothing comes to mind initially. I simply cannot bring myself to disrespect this literary gem by uttering anything negative about it.

Over the years, my perspective on this book may have evolved, but that in no way detracts from its value as a captivating read. Instead of being overly critical, I choose to celebrate it by sharing some of my favorite quotes from within its pages.

“Like and equal are not the same thing at all.” (It's no wonder this book is often seen as allegorical! There's definitely some political undertone there.)

“Have you ever tried to get to your feet with a sprained dignity?”

“A book, too, can be a star, “explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,” a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.

“If we knew ahead of time what was going to happen we’d be—we’d be like the people on Camazotz, with no lives of our own, with everything all planned and done for us.”

And my absolute favorite quote:

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself. - Mrs. Whatsit”

This book is indeed a masterpiece. However, it didn't quite resonate with my more mature self as strongly as it did with my younger self. Nevertheless, I can still appreciate it for what it is: a groundbreaking book that was highly controversial for its time. It has achieved great success and continues to be adored by fans around the world.

Wow! This is truly and utterly profound and beautiful. It is a book that contains a message that will remain with me forever. The message is to choose love over fear and always remember that I am loved. Love is indeed the greatest gift of all. It holds the power to save me and deliver me from the darkness that may surround me.

As I reached the end of the book, even Meg had an impact on me.

The images accompanying the text, such as the one at and added another dimension to the overall experience. They somehow enhanced the emotions and thoughts that the book was evoking in me. It was as if these images were like silent storytellers, complementing the written words and making the whole experience even more immersive and memorable.

This book has truly touched my heart and soul, and I know that its message will continue to resonate within me for a long time to come.

4.5 stars!!

“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself.”

This was my absolute favorite book during my childhood. In fact, throughout my rather awkward tween years, I devoured the entire quintet. I vividly remembered how much I had loved the book back then. However, aside from a few random details that managed to stick in my mind, I found to my dismay that I could barely recall what exactly had happened in the story. In fact, I had read it such a long time ago that this was my copy:



Okay, so I’m not THAT old. The truth is that my mom simply bought a large number of books from the local used book store. I used to read at such a rapid pace that she could hardly keep up with me. Normally, it was just library books that I read growing up. Anyways, I digress.

A Wrinkle in Time is centered around a young girl named Meg. She is extremely awkward and has many self-perceived faults. She often feels like an outcast, finding comfort only in her scientist mother and her rather odd brother, Charles Wallace. Meg’s father had gone missing approximately two years ago. While the townspeople suspect that he ran off with another woman, Meg and her family firmly know that this is not the case.

On a stormy evening, Meg and Charles Wallace receive a rather peculiar visitor, Mrs. Whatsit. From that moment on, Meg and Charles Wallace, along with a boy named Calvin, are whisked away on an extraordinary journey to rescue their father. But in order to do so, they must travel through the vast expanse of time and space and face a terrifying darkness that looms ahead.

“We can't take any credit for our talents. It's how we use them that counts.”

First off, I have to say that, with only a few exceptions, this book truly stands the test of time. It is not dated in the slightest. Except for the mention of a typewriter, this book could easily take place during any decade. It is incredibly rare to come across a book written in the 1960’s that has this kind of timeless quality. So, a solid kudos goes out to the author.

One thing that I have always adored about the story is Meg. The idea that she is not a perfect heroine is what makes her the true hero of the story. It portrays the message that even though we all have our faults, sometimes those very faults can turn out to be our advantage. And that fitting in with everyone else is not always the best thing for society as a whole. I love the fact that we have an “ordinary” heroine who is expected to do extraordinary things, despite not being the smartest of the bunch.

It is a bit obvious, given when this book was written, that there are some underlying subtexts about the dangers of communism. The evil IT and how it forces everyone and everything to be the same, or else. I think that with this subtext, it also beautifully portrays how crucial it is to be an individual and to make up one's own mind. In a way, this book is still very relevant even in the present day. It teaches us to fight against what is wrong and not succumb to forces that want to impose their own definition of perfection.

Once I was able to focus my mind on it, I was able to devour this book in just a matter of hours. It is a very fast-paced read and one that I firmly believe people of all ages can and will enjoy.

“Like and equal are not the same thing at all.”


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It was a dark and stormy night. After reading on a friend’s blog that she had recently read this book, I was tempted to do a re-read myself. I was sure I had read it at some point in my childhood, and remember finding it magical and engrossing. So when I came across the book in the thrift store for 99 cents, I couldn’t resist.

Once I started reading it, though, it became clear to me that I had probably never read this book before in my life. Not one thing about it seemed familiar to me, except maybe for the centaur-like creatures (but that could be because the book cover features this image). Even though I would have read this more than a decade ago, I still think I would have remembered something about it. For example, I remember aspects of Maniac Magee quite clearly, and I read that ages ago. So I’m not quite sure where I got the idea that this book was fantastical and wonderful, but those were my expectations going in.

I’ll admit I was a little let down. I did keep in mind while reading that it’s a children’s book first and foremost, but I couldn’t help but feel that it was a little disheveled in places. I loved that the protagonist is female, and quite ordinary (braces, mousy brown hair, glasses), even if she was slightly annoying at times. Time travel is always cool, and the unfamiliar planets were incredibly fun to imagine. The crazy Mrs Ws were very interesting, and if their stories are continued in further books in the quartet, I’d be all over that.

The story itself is great – the classic battle of good versus evil in a sci-fi / fantasy setting. The manifestation of evil as a dark cloud reminded me of The Nothing from The NeverEnding Story. The themes of individuality, love, and acceptance carried strongly throughout. Even though they were almost shoved in the reader’s face, I’m ok with that since it is a children’s story.

What I didn’t like, primarily, was the character of Charles Wallace. For some reason, he really creeped me out. I understand he is supposed to be “gifted,” but his words and actions seemed far too adult for a 5-year-old. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the religious references made in several places in the story. Too many mentions of “God” turn me off. However, I am willing to admit that it was quite daring of L’Engle to mix religion with some pretty heavy pagan aspects, like witches and crystal balls.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and definitely appreciate the themes and values, I was just turned off a little as an adult reader. I also spotted the aforementioned Maniac Magee in said thrift store, but I’m hesitant to re-read that book because I’m worried it might not be the same to me now as it was when I was young.

Meg Murry, our protagonist, struggles to fit in at school. It's hard to guess that her parents are scientists. Her father disappeared some time ago under strange circumstances, but her mother hasn't lost hope of seeing him again. Her younger brother, Charles, is a prodigy; his mind has an exceptional perception that allows him to look beyond appearances. It is this ability that will enable them to meet the ladies What, Which, and Who, and discover that behind them lies an incredible secret, "the wrinkle in time" that can take them to other worlds. Just what they need to embark on the search for their lost father, don't you think? In outer space, there is no air, so take a deep breath and get ready to travel with Meg, Charlie, and their friend Calvin to find out.

That book is an unclassifiable classic of juvenile literature. I loved it. It takes readers on an exciting adventure through different dimensions and challenges them to think about the power of love, friendship, and family. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is full of mystery and suspense. It's a book that can be enjoyed by readers of all ages and is sure to leave a lasting impression.