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 A Wrinkle in Time |
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Lilly: There's a reason why A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle has been a favorite for so many years. Who doesn't like a good old-fashioned struggle between good and evil? Actually, "old-fashioned" might not be the right word. The good guys aren't mighty-looking warriors but kids you could picture standing behind you in the lunch line or daydreaming and drooling in your math class. The bad guy is a bossy, cranky brain . . .without a body. I don't know about you, but I haven't seen many of these. However, such strange creatures are common in the world L'Engle has created. That's what is great about reading this book—you never know who or what you're going to meet next. The main characters—Meg Murry and her brilliant younger brother Charles Wallace—find themselves traveling through different dimensions of time and space. Their mission is to free their scientist father from the clutches of that nasty brain. Three peculiar beings whom the children meet one stormy evening push them along on this journey. The children are frightened and doubtful, but they love and miss their father and want to help him. How do they travel? Where do they go? Do they find their father? You will get the answers to these questions when you read this exciting book. Not only will you encounter colorful characters and hold your breath waiting to read what happens on every page—but you will also learn something about people and the power of love, friendship, and family. You'll look at yourself and others in new ways. You might even take a closer look at one of those drooling kids in math class. What special talents might this person have? Who are the people who love this kid? Better yet, you might look in the mirror, admire your own uniqueness, and imagine all that you can accomplish. Carmen: I am troubled. I thought A Wrinkle in Time was a scientific work. I hoped for something that would explore the nature of space and time. Instead, I found a book about kids on some kind of foolish journey. I'm not a person who likes silliness. My parents say reading materials should instruct, NOT entertain. Yet in this book ordinary kids zip all over the universe, people disappear into the thin air without reason, and ridiculous creatures appear on practically every page. The book also has wild ideas—that love is a powerful force and that imperfections are actually good. Imagine! It is really strange! I am willing, however, to give the book a chance. The writing is decent and the book provides some practical instruction in physics. The following changes will improve the book: • Change the title. Perhaps the title should be A Lesson in Understanding Time. This title is more serious. The word wrinkle calls forth thoughts of disorder, and there is order in the universe. • Add more practical instruction. We would have a stronger understanding of Albert Einstein's theories on space and time if the book gave more direct instruction. As it is now, the story interrupts the instruction. Perhaps most of the action of the novel can take place in a science classroom. Most discussions between characters will center around Einstein's theories on space and time. • Keep foolishness to a minimum. Perhaps the entire journey could be rewritten as a brief nightmare brought on by late-night snacking. In the original book the children make sandwiches and cocoa in the middle of the night, just before they go on the journey. Who wouldn't have outrageous nightmares after eating chocolate, tomatoes, and liverwurst in the middle of the night? • Involve Readers. The last chapter of the book could be a final exam that the main characters take in their class. Readers should be forced to take the test, too. |