A Wrinkle in Time Review
What does a book expert think: Get a comprehensive overview of the reception and review of A Wrinkle in Time.
Article written by Victor Onuorah
Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Written to illustrate the power of love and the superiority of good over evil, the story of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ explores a rescue adventure of the Murry kids, Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, as they set out to find their father, Mr. Murry, who’s been missing for several years.
Key Facts about A Wrinkle in Time
- Book Title: ‘A Wrinkle in Time’
- Author: Madeleine L’Engle
- Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (FSG)
- Publication Date: January 1st, 1962.
- Language: English
- Setting: New England. Uriel, Orien, and Camazotz (Fictional planets)
- Genre: Children’s Literature, young adult fiction. Sci-fi
- Pagination: 256
- Climax: Meg saves her father from the captivity of the minions of the ‘Black Thing.’
Madeleine L’Engle and A Wrinkle in Time
All great books have great stories of struggles behind them, and for Madeleine L’Engle’s best-known work ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ the story is the same but even more interesting.
L’Engle first delved into writing from a very young age but took it seriously after her college degree, following her move to New York City, where she fervently chased her writing dream.
One of her first writing roles was churning out screenplays for theatres, a task which she did so well and became quite known for it – although she would still spend her free time writing and publishing her first novels.
Her first real indie work came in 1945 with the release of ‘The Small Rain,’ a book that had a minute taste of success. Although other decent works followed in the next few years, the author never really found her creative mojo until 1949 when she delved into children’s books with ‘And Both Were Young’ release.
L’Engle found she was a natural fit for this genre given the way her storyline seamlessly mirror her interesting personal experiences growing up, and when she started exploiting these areas and adding scientific fiction angle to them, her ideas were boundless.
The author published a couple of children’s and young adult fantasy fiction in the years leading to 1962 – when she would eventually release her most famed work, but this almost didn’t happen, and here is why.
In the last decade before 1962, L’Engle was working so hard and became quite prolific in her genre. And although she put out a lot of books, she didn’t see the kind of success that she wanted. This made her think about quitting, but she had been addicted to the art so much that even when she wanted to quit she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
The author pushed on and got her ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ manuscript ready for the publishing house. However, her career was dealt a devastating blow again after more than 26 publishers rejected a list of her works – including ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’ But once the Farrar, Straus, and Giroux group agreed to publish the work, it has gone on to win no shortage of accolades and awards – including the prestigious Newbery Medal and continues to inspire generations of television directors and book authors and their audiences.
Books Related to A Wrinkle in Time
As has been the norm with books that fall within the genre of children’s literature, a sense of conscious regulation of the book’s plot line, the character structure, themes, and language, among other things.
Having control over these key aspects of a book is certainly what makes such a book pass as being suitable for children and young people. With ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’ L’Engle was exceptionally brilliant with her management of these aspects – particularly given that the book also incorporates a dystopian planet where difficult, aggravating, and horror themes play out and are driven by dark, sinister characters.
Because of the morals hidden in every adventure Meg embarks on, the book becomes incredibly readable – and enjoyable – by children as it was made for them, but it also is mature enough for adults to appreciate.
There are a few children’s books in the science fiction genre which possess the bravery and spunk that Madeleine L’Engle’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ has. One such book is Neil Gaiman’s ‘Caroline.’ These books have proven to stand out and won prestigious awards for the way that they impact real-world lessons by gracefully marrying science fiction and dystopian narrative into children’s books.
The Lasting Impact of A Wrinkle in Time
‘A Wrinkle in Time’ is a very important book that talks about the triumphant power of love and the clash between good and evil. From the book’s plot, the reader finds out how Meg Murry and her team of good guys tesser through a portal into an evil planet of Camazotz to rescue her scientist father, who tries to fight the evil.
It is understood from a reader’s point of view that this evil planet is preparing for an earth takeover, and though the aliens start by abducting Meg’s genius father, apparently for his immediate threat to them, the long-term goal is to arrest every single individual on earth.
The ensuing battle sees a hateful Camazotz’s minions collide with Meg and company, who, in the end, narrowly win the battle because of the virtue of love which Meg (and humility at large) possess – as it is the only thing the mind-warping, superior being of Camazotz (called IT) just can’t understand or control.
This book has a lasting moral impact on young readers. For one thing, it analyzes the themes of love and positive thinking and contrasts them with that of hate and negativity in a way that the lesson is clear for the reader. It is by love that Meg is able to save her brother Charles Wallace from the control of the evil IT, and through her positive, persevering mentality that she doesn’t give up on finding her father.
The book also takes on the subject of family, how to stick out for one another and handle the challenges that might erupt – with the Murrys serving as a good example of a tightly-bond family. Friendship is another firm message passed on by the book. Calvin O’Keefe and the strange Mrs. Whatsit – and later her two other friends Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which – are all pivotal to the success of Meg’s quest.
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About Victor Onuorah
Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.