A Wrinkle In Time

By: Madeleine L'Engle

Audiobook Reader: Barbara Caruso

          A Wrinkle in Time is a fantasy book that received the Newbery Medal in 1963.  The story follows three children (Meg Murry, Charles Wallace, and Calvin) whose lives are completely changed when they meet the strange, otherworldly Mrs. Whatsit.  Together with Mrs. Whatsit and her friends, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, the children travel to various other planets by "tessering," moving through fifth dimensional wrinkles in time or "tesseracts," to find Meg's father (who mysteriously disappeared a few years earlier).  The children also realize that they are working to save the earth from evil through impending shadowy Darkness, and must work together in many adventures.

          Madeleine L'Engle's book was very popular at my elementary and middle schools when I was a child.  I remember so many of my friends choosing reading and discussing the book, but I never got around to reading it myself- until now!  When I went to the library to pick up a copy of this book for myself, I was distressed to discover that there were no copies available.  Luckily for me, there was an audiobook version in stock, so A Wrinkle in Time became my first adventure with an audiobook, as well as my chance to finally read this book.

          One of the first things that grabbed my attention with this book was the rich characterization.  Barbara Caruso's voice rang through my car speakers in hilarious character voices, such as Mrs. Which depicted by Caruso's exaggerated, slow speech and Mrs. Who's rushed, breathy tone in her recitation of quotations.  Hearing the book read aloud gave me the unique opportunity to imagine characters in new ways and pick up on different nuances than I normally would have.  While I found myself losing focus occasionally, Caruso's voice found ways to draw me back into L'Engle's story, and made this book experience fun and different.  Also, it should be noted that this book ends abruptly without resolution for Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, but, as it is the first in a series, I imagine that this unanswered question is addressed in a later book.

          L'Engle highlighted the presence of individuality throughout the book through her characters.  For example, Meg Murry is an unpopular girl who struggles to find her place in life; she is incredibly intelligent in math, but cannot succeed at school.  I believe that Meg is a character that many readers, especially girls, can relate to and be inspired by through her heroic presence.  When first departing from the witches, each child receives a gift to help them in their adventures; Meg's gift from Mrs. Whatsit is her faults.  To this gift, Meg responds, "But I'm always trying to get rid of my faults!"  This moment encourages readers to note the anti-conformist push within the book, in that Meg's individuality is praised in contrast to the inhumanity of "IT" and evil.  Although the book was written over 50 years ago, these issues remain relevant to all readers today.

          Another key theme within the book is love, and the idea that love can conquer all, especially in the battle between good and evil.  One of the scenes that touched me the most was Meg's final battle against IT to save Charles Wallace, in which Meg felt the power of Mrs. Whatsit's love for her and professed her own love of her little brother.  This unceasing love contrasts the hatred that consumed "IT," and allowed Meg to become the heroine she was meant to be.

          The book focuses on many issues (including faith, dystopia, good vs. evil, fear, science, etc.) that are often dumbed down for kids.  Instead of being oversimplified, L'Engle uses eloquent, but difficult language and empowers children by presenting these issues in more complex ways.  For example, the Murry parents cannot fix everything, meaning that Meg (and children) are left to be the heroes.  I think this aspect makes this book especially exciting for readers, but makes it more appropriate for readers in late elementary or middle school and above.  The book also delves into scientific concepts (ex: the physics explanations of time travel with the tesseract), and, while I cannot comment on the validity of these explanations, readers do not need to understand them to enjoy the book.