A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle
Bibliography:
L'Engle, Madeline. A Wrinkle in Time. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. (1962).
Summary:
Meg Murray, an awkward, misunderstood teenager, finds herself swept up in the adventure of a lifetime as she embarks on a trip through time and space to find her father, who disappeared a year ago while attempting time travel himself. Assisted by three time-traveling, unearthly beings and accompanied by her brother Charles and a friend named Calvin, Meg and her team discover that there is an epic battle being undertaken between the light and the dark, good and evil. Meg learns that she must overcome her fears and insecurities to help free her father and brother from the hold of IT, the evil controller of mind and will, and keep IT from taking over the universe with its dark power. This is a story of family, courage, and the triumph of love.
Thoughts:
My introduction to A Wrinkle in Time came through a colleague, who upon seeing my reading list, exclaimed, "A Wrinkle in Time! I LOVED that book!" Needless to say, I was excited to read this book that I have heard about for years but never had the opportunity to read. Initially turned off by its classification in the library as "science fiction," I was pleasantly surprised to find in this story tales of love, courage, and family ties that happened to be centered around a "scientific" theme. The concept of "a wrinkle in time" was explained so well that I never worried with technical questions that deterred from the focus of the plot; rather, the concepts of travel through time and space ultimately took a backseat to the ultimate story of the conquering of evil with love.
One of the most admirable qualities of this book, in my opinion, is the unlikely heroine. Meg Murray is an awkward, geeky, insecure teenager who misses her father and does not fit in with the rest of her family or community. Yet it is Meg, through her weaknesses, that is able to fight a winning battle against the powers of evil when all around her are unable to do so. I can see how children and teenagers are drawn to this story, identifying with Meg and her stage in life, and finding inspiration to embrace their "weaknesses" and use their unique gifts to face their own trials.
Reviews:
"A coming of age fantasy story that sympathizes with typical teen girl awkwardness and insecurity, highlighting courage, resourcefulness, and the importance of family ties as key to overcoming them." - New York Post
"Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. With their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe, young Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace embark on a cosmic journey to find their lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Assisted by three eccentric women-- Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which-- the children travel to planet Camaztoz where they encounter a repressed society controlled by IT, a disembodied brain that represents evil. Among the themes of the work are the dangers of unthinking conformity and scientific irresponsibility and the saving power of love." - The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature
Ideas for Use:
This book is filled with interesting characters, places, and visually stimulating experiences for Meg, Charles, and Calvin. Art projects are a fun extension of this book. Students can find descriptions of either a place or creature and use art materials (paint, glitter, material, etc.) to recreate their versions of these things.
A theme in the book is Meg's ordinary, awkward, somewhat skewed self-image. With older children, discuss what Meg thought she looked like and acted like, and how we sometimes feel just like Meg. Ask the students to draw or paint a self-portrait based on what they think they look like or act like- not using a mirror. Talk about the results- some people do not have an accurate idea of what the people around them see. Take time to point out the positive and unique qualities highlighted in the portraits.
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