Book One of the Time Quartet: A Wrinkle in Time

I’m on a bit of a kick. Recently I went to the library with my 3 year old boy and while there, I saw a boy about 10 years old. He was in the middle reader section holding a stack of books so high he was in real danger of dropping it. The expression on his face was one of such great excitement. I knew this was a kid who really loved to read, and he reminded me very much of myself when I was that age and reading was this incredible adventure.

The next thing I knew, I had a stack of books of my own. All books I’d read and loved when I was that boys age.

One such book was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I remember that as a child, this book was one of those that I just sunk into and lost myself, and never wanted it to end.

The Story
This is the first book in L’Engle’s award winning Time Quartet, which is about the adventures of the Murry family. The Murry family is made up of mother and father, who are brilliant scientists, Sandy and Dennys who are intelligent but normal children, Meg, who excels at math but is a sort of social reject, and 5-year-old Charles Wallace, the baby of the family who is so super-intelligent as to be thought a moron. More than anything else, this is Meg’s story.

When we first meet the Murry family, father is sort of missing in action. He’s off on a government mission of some sort, and the family has not heard from him in over a year. The local rumors are that he has left his family for another woman and is not coming back, but the Murrys do not believe this. One day, 3 mysterious women come into their lives, and the next thing they know Meg, Charles Wallace, and their new friend Calvin O’Keefe are off on an adventure to fight evil and bring back Mr. Murry.

Reading Level
Madeleine L’Engle writes books that are of interest to children and adults, but the reading level is such that you don’t want to give these books to a new or struggling reader. If your child is reading at a young adult or adult level, these are fine, but if your child is still sounding out a lot of words, these make better listening books.

Will You Like it? Is it Right for Your Child?
Originally published in 1962, this is a science fiction novel about the battle between good and evil, and it does have some Christian overtones, including an occasional quote from the Bible. Many parents will like this, but if you’re not raising a Christian child, you may wish to avoid this book and others by L’Engle. However, I am not Christian myself, and I still enjoy L’Engle’s books a great deal and would have no problem reading them to my child when he’s a bit older. Beyond the religious aspect, this book emphasizes tolerance, independent thinking, and respect for individuals. The heroes are also pretty nerdy, which helps children see that it is cool to be smart.

Out of Date?
L’Engle’s Time Quartet is one of the best children’s series still in print today. Although this book was written more than 40 years ago, the book doesn’t feel dated and today’s children aren’t likely to have any idea when they read it that it was written long ago.

Final Thoughts
Rereading this book as an adult reminded me of how thrilling reading was for me as a child. If you're trying to get your child excited about reading, or looking for a great book to read together as a family, this might be it.