Fortunately for my view of this book, I have a deep passion for Native American and Welsh lore. In fact, I even penned an epic that incorporated Welsh and Native American elements. I guess you could say I'm a bit strange in that regard.

And this book is almost as strange as I am.

What else redeemed it for me? Well, Calvin and Meg are MARRIED! Yes, and she's going to have a baby. If only the book had focused a little more on them (alas, my beloved Calvin doesn't even make an appearance!), I might have awarded it four stars and had my shipping desires satisfied for the year. But as it stands, the lack of attention to their relationship left me a bit disappointed.

Part sci-fi, part fantasy, part adventure, part fun and all literary masterpiece! It is truly difficult to accurately describe these books.

However, once you start reading them, it's an absolute delight. They have the power to make your kids (and you too!) reach for the dictionary, as they are filled with rich and unique vocabulary.

Although L'Engle was a devout Christian and was influenced by George MacDonald, who was also one of the strongest influences on C.S. Lewis, these books are not preachy or overly moralistic.

Instead, they are simply 'good reads' that can transport you to different worlds and engage your imagination.

Started on 16 Oct 2001 and finished on 23 Oct 2001, this reading experience was truly unforgettable.

It left me with a sense of wonder and a desire to explore more of L'Engle's works.

These books are not just for kids; they can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

So, if you're looking for something that combines elements of science fiction, fantasy, adventure, and fun, while also being a literary masterpiece, then these books are definitely worth checking out.

***This is the review of a sequel. Therefore it may contain spoilers for the two books that came before it. If this is your first step into the time quintet, I suggest you start with those. My review for book one can be found here and for the second book, here ***

Ten years have passed since our last encounter with the Murray and O'Keefe children. Meg and Calvin are blissfully married and eagerly anticipating the arrival of a new family member. Young Charles Wallace has grown out of his toddling days and is now a young man. The twins have gone off to medical school. The family gathers for a happy Thanksgiving dinner when suddenly, the telephone rings. To their surprise, it is the President of the United States himself on the other end. Threats of nuclear war are being made against the country. In the midst of the fear, Mrs. O'Keefe, Meg's mother-in-law, shouts an odd rune and charges Charles Wallace with the task of saving the world. With the help of a silver unicorn, Charles Wallace decides to give it a try.

This book reads very similar to the others in the series. So, why did it disappoint me so much? I believe the lack of an age gap among the characters played a significant role. They have grown up so much that some of them seem like completely different people. I simply didn't feel the same connection to them anymore.

Another issue I had was with Charles Wallace. Throughout the book, he came across as rather dense. The unicorn corrected him on the same ideas over and over again, but it was like he wasn't listening. It was frustrating to see a character act this way, especially when he was constantly bragging about his high IQ. It was almost as if he had become less intelligent as the series progressed.

Madeleine L'Engle's storytelling abilities may have also taken a hit. I understand that these are children's books and should have some level of predictability for their intended audience. However, the mystery in this book was so obvious that I was able to figure it out within the first chapter or so. I tried to overlook this and enjoy the story anyway, but I just couldn't. The mystery was mediocre at best, and each mini plot within the story was dull and clichéd. Nothing about this book kept me on the edge of my seat or elicited any emotional response from me.

That being said, I would still recommend this book for the appropriate age group. Madeleine L'Engle does a great job of writing stories that children will enjoy while also helping to develop their minds. But if you are an adult interested in reading this series for the first time, you might want to skip this one and leave it for the kids.
I bought the boxed set, so I still plan to finish the Time Quintet. Maybe this particular book was just a dud, and the remaining two will make up for it.