Book Review: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a science fantasy book which focuses on Meg Murray and her brothers on an adventure to find their missing dad with three weird characters, naming Mrs.Whatsit, Mrs.Who and Mrs.Which.

In “A Wrinkle in Time”, Meg Murray is the protagonist and her family is made up of her mum, her missing day, her two twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys and her youngest brother Charles. One night, one of the three immortal characters, Mrs. Whatsit pays a visit to Meg’s family, claiming that there is a tesseract, which indicates to Meg that there could be a chance to find her missing father. Then, Meg’s classmate, Calvin O’Keefe appears in the story and he mixes into the lives of the Murrays due to him being neglected by his family. Soon afterwards, two more immortal characters, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which appear, both whom are related to Mrs. Whatsit. The three of them are seen as “immortals” having no physical form, but having the ability to use the tesseract, as mentioned at the start of the novel.

The adventure then starts, with Clavin O’Keefe, Meg and her brother Charles following the three immortal characters. The group travels to two planets, first Uriel, and then Camazotz. At Uriel, it is basically a jumping point (rising action) for the readers to know more about the theme and relates this place to Camazotz, where the climax is seen. Uriel is described as a place where people stay in a state of light and love. After being transported to Camazotz, they are introduced to the enemies that have imprisoned Mr. Murray, called IT, who controls the whole planet. Having met a man with red eyes (name not mentioned), Charles is being hypnotised and tricks the whole group into meeting IT, where their minds were almost taken control of but Mr. Murray, with the use of tesseracts, brings them away to an unnamed planet. However, Charles is left behind.

At the unnamed planet, Aunt Beast, a beast that takes care of Meg, tells her that she possess something that can defeat IT. After going back to Camazotz through the tesseract, Meg realises that love is the power to defeat it. After defeating IT, they are transported back home, however, there is no mention of Dr. Murray.

Since this story is part of a time quintet, it will definitely feature Dr. Murray in one of the stories which include An Acceptable Time, A Wind in the Doors, A Swiftly Tilting Planet and Many Waters.

The major theme is the use of certain elements related to Christianity in the novel. One such example would be “The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness if God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how many that not wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called, but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are.”

From the above mentioned theme, we move into a minor theme in the story: love. This is only a theme that is mentioned at the end of the story when Meg had love to save her brother, Charles. In Christianity, love is important and the author has linked both together in this novel.

I personally feel that this novel has highlighted one of the important aspects in life, love. Love is a virtue of representing human kindness, compassion and affection, which many of us at a young tender age should understand. Besides, its mention of Christianity in the story allows readers to think much deeper, into their own lives about what they can do for themselves and their loved ones.
A Wrinkle in Time has won many prestigious awards, which includes a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award and Lewis Carrol Shelf Award, as such; it is a highly recommended book, especially to teenagers and those growing up.