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A Wrinkle in Time (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, #1)

Madeleine L'Engle

Start date: September 1, 2017

Finish date: September 30, 2017

Discussion: Classics Discussion

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A Rose by Another Name...Disguised Classics
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What Members Thought

Sep 15, 2011 Cary rated it it was ok

Shelves: owned

Before anything else, I'd like to remind myself why I've been really meaning to read this book. This a Newberry medal award winner in 1963, and since most of the Newberry Medal books that I've read were really good, i assumed I will also find this one entertaining.

However, contrary to my assumption, I did not find it as entertaining although I really appreciate how it was written in such a way that you will really have to pay attention it and exercise your imagination to the highest level while ...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Terri Lynn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, children

I read this for the first time in the 1960's as a child and then again as a teen in the 1970's. I thought I might give it another whirl as a 53 year old to see it from adult eyes.

The author wrote this when our country was in the throes of fearing communists and communism and you can feel that theme as if it is an extra character. The evil that is trying to take over the world in this book is communism itself. The characters face intense brainwashing efforts that seek to make them find comfort i I read this for the first time in the 1960's as a child and then again as a teen in the 1970's. I thought I might give it another whirl as a 53 year old to see it from adult eyes.

The author wrote this when our country was in the throes of fearing communists and communism and you can feel that theme as if it is an extra character. The evil that is trying to take over the world in this book is communism itself. The characters face intense brainwashing efforts that seek to make them find comfort in everyone being exactly the same right now to kids playing in a certain rhythm. The evil IT is a nasty brain who wants to do all of your thinking and decision making for you so you can become a zombie-like robotic human who obeys orders and asks no questions. The whole set up is like a futuristic communism.

Meg Murry is a high school student with a lot of problems. She is a math genius who learned a lot of math shortcuts from her dad and the teachers want her to take the long road and do things their official way. She does poorly in her other subjects and has a bad attitude. Her biggest problem though is that her scientist dad disappeared a while back and while her gorgeous scientist mom insists he will return, Meg is not so sure and she is angry when the postmistress, kids, and even the principal of her school made crude remarks about him running off with another woman when Meg knows he did no such thing.

She has twin brothers who are 10 and really don't understand her. They are good at sports, do well in school, and have friends, none of which Meg does. Most special and dear to her is her youngest brother Charles Wallace, a 5 year old who didn't talk until recently and now sounds like a college professor! There is something unique about the boy and he seems able to read both Meg's mind and that of their mother.

One dark and stormy night, a strange woman dressed in outrageous clothing shows up. Charles Wallace knows her and calls her Mrs. Whatsit and the family is astonished by her. It turns out that she is living in an abandoned house near them with two other equally unusual women. They actually used to be stars and now are... well I don't know exactly what they are but one thing is obvious- Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs Which are forces for good. Mrs. Whatsit can transform herself in to a centaur with wings. They are mysterious yet you feel kindness and love from them.

Meg and Charles Wallace go to visit them the next day and meet Calvin O'Keefe, a junior in high school, athlete, very intelligent boy, and one who has Charles' power of going into minds. He had felt drawn there and soon the three are very good friends. Calvin has a horrible home life and is delighted with Meg and Charles' family and home.

Soon Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs Which take them off on a sudden trip to another planet using a tesseract. They get a chance to see the evil clown over their planet and learn that it threatens the universe. This is also the first point when I get ticked off with the author for heavy handed proselytizing. I am an Atheist and prefer my sci-fi without christian mythology tacked on. The author is a christian and apparently thought to proselytize to the children who read the book which is inappropriate since this is not listed as a christian book.

In fact, I took off a star for the unwanted proselytizing. She included the mythical Jesus as one of the list of people who were forces of light. People like Einstein (an Atheist), Shakespeare, Gandhi, Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci, Madame Curie, etc were real people but as an historian, I know that there was no historical Jesus (was made up from much older myths) and resent seeing this presented to kids who tend to believe what they read as if it was an actual historical person.

Also in the end, the gift one of the ladies gave Meg was just a long bible verse. Maybe she would like to explain why an all-knowing and all powerful god would need to send children to be abused to get rid of evil.

Still, if you tell children to overlook that garbage, the book is really wonderful. I love the way the kids have their imperfections as well as their dad and the love among all of the characters. A gentle friendship that could bud into a romance between Meg and Calvin begins and is just lovely. Meg shows so much growth and maturity here. She overcomes fears and faces harsh reality out of love for her family. I like the comforting presence of the three ladies and of the blind creatures that save Meg once she has gone through the dark zone.

This is really a fantastic story but it would bear discussing with kids that just loving or saying you love someone would NOT overcome true wickedness and evil. If that were true, we could rid ourselves of murderers, rapist, animal abusers, wife beaters, child molestation and abuse, and war. It is not as simple as that unfortunately though I wish it could be true.

Middle grade kids and up would like this and it is just fine for adults too. ...more

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