Being an avid reader as a kid and now a reading teacher, I don’t know how I missed A Wrinkle in Time. I was introduced to this exceptional Newbery Medal winner last spring when one of my students insisted I read it. I ‘m so glad I took his advice, and I just finished reading it a second time with my current students.
Madeleine L'Engle published this science fiction fantasy in 1962. It’s about Meg Murry, her exceptional younger brother Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin O’Keefe, and the adventurous journey they make through time and space to rescue Meg’s father. The title refers to wrinkling, or tessering, which is a way of traveling through different dimensions.
There are many wonderful themes throughout the story, such as love for family, accepting differences, learning self-control and self-confidence. It is a beautifully written story full of Christian imagery, with subtle scriptural references though out.
Between 1990-2000, this book was on the American Library Association’s list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books. One protest referred to the witches in the story, but there are none. Another reason cited is "the listing of Jesus with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders". I must admit this bothered me at first, but I realized it was not equating Christ with these notable people. Despite these objections, it has been a popular read-aloud in school and a favorite of teachers across the country. To get a good perspective on this issue, check out the blog by Cathy Smith HERE.
As with many great pieces of literature, this story has been remade in several formats. A movie adaptation was made in 2003, which received mixed reviews. This can be purchased in DVD format. Just this past October, Hope Larson published A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel.
For those who want to read more, there are there four other books in the Time Quintet, ending with An Acceptable Time, written in 1989.
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