PENGUIN A Wrinkle in Time

This was the pivotal book of my early adolescence and is still a touchstone for me as an adult. No other book has had such a profound effect on my thinking, personality, spirituality, and character. I should clarify that I didn't then and don't now share her Christian interpretation of the universe which many people consider to be the essence of this book and much of her writing. For me, this book reminded me to say yes to life, to accept responsibility, to be brave even when frightened, not to make decisions based on fear, and to accept people as they are. The lessons that I learned from this book have seen me through some very difficult episodes. She gave me the strength to do what was right even when that action was dangerous. I found this book when I was 12. I will be 59 next month and I still read it once or twice a year. I am convinced that it is partly responsible for my still be here.

Meg and her little brother, Charles, wonder what happened to their father, a scientist working for the government who has been missing for several years. When a strange old lady shows up at their door, the adventure to find him begins. The old lady and two more of her odd friends lead them out of the universe into the worlds of some strange planets that are under the influence of the horrible, shadowy IT.A Wrinkle in Time is both a sci-fi story and a coming of age story. Meg, an awkward and insecure girl finds the courage and resourcefulness to overcome IT and save her father and brother. She also learns about the importance of family and love. While the character growth of Meg is nice, at times it seems a little contrived. One minute she's on the brink of death under the grip of IT, and the next, she's ready to face IT because she knows that it's something only she can do. It's also not very clear why little Charles, who has the vocabulary of a Harvard graduate, is so special. Some of the characters could have benefited from more development. Throughout the story there are references to Christianity: quotes from scripture, mention of guardian angels, and the idea that God is in charge of everything. This gives the story a "Chronicles of Narnia" kind of feel.Overall, the story is very good, and one that would appeal to middle grade readers who enjoy sci-fi/fantasy books.

This is a great book for middle schoolers. I am reading it with my child. Great imagery. Excellent book to teach figurative language and a fun read. My child asks for our reading time together. If you start reading early with your child, they never get to old for it. He loves, even at 12, for you read a chapter, I read a chapter every night time. This has led to some deep conversations and has increased his ability to read dramatically and fluently. I encourage all parents to do this. One way or another, this is a great book for 5-7 graders.

Incredibly superficial. The entire book has a preachy tone that pushes nonconformity and religion/blind faith.As for the plot, there effectively is none. The first three quarters of the book is setup for a climax that never happens.The aspect that bothers me most is how outdated it feels socially. The story pushes the tired "ugly duckling" motif and generally emphasizes the importance of good looks and traditional social standing and relationships, while confusingly claiming that nonconformity is the pinnacle of life and meaning. I understand that this is colored by the Cold War Communist scare, but the book gives a very strange and dated message.

I was reading this at night as I recovered from total knee joint replacement surgery.The reason I bought the book was because I want to see the movie when it's available. When I started reading it, I really didn't know what to expect, but I stuck with it to the very end, because the story line and characters were very intriguing. Now I'm even more curious to see how the movie version of it turned out, which usually doesn't turn out as well. However, the premis of the book and how it all came together in the end was delightful. This is one I'm keeping on my shelf for a later re-read.