false 219408 0440999197 9780440999195 1146 34 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172803622m/219408.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219408.The_Young_Unicorns 106 Madeleine L'Engle 121059 7272 5 0 false Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1980 Sun May 27 13:13:48 -0700 2007 Sun Sep 02 10:32:46 -0700 2007
L'Engle explores the topic of a powerful gang in New York City (not your typical shoot-out gang, but more psychological and sinister), which meets in an abandoned subway station. The leader has come into the possession of a powerful laser, which he uses to control his subjects. He obtained the laser by breaking into the apartment of the scientist who developed it, blinding the scientist's musically talented daughter, Emily, in the process.

The gang is working to control New York City, and travels through a series of subway tunnels. The workings of the Alphabats (as they call themselves) intersect with the lives of Emily and the Austin family (from another L'Engle series), who are on a year's sabbatical in New York.

I don't have the words to describe how gripping this book is. The point of the novel is not to terrify the reader, but to explore issues of morality, and to a lesser extent, religion, and how good can triumph over evil.]]>