A Wrinkle in Time

Story

Two children, Meg and her brother Charles Wallace, along with their friend Calvin, travel through 'a wrinkle in time' to find their missing father. They are helped along the way by three mysterious characters Mrs Who, Mrs Whatsit and Mrs Which. But in order to rescue their father, the children must travel to the planet of Camazotz in order to overcome the mysterious and powerful IT.

Why we chose it

The novel was rejected by at least 26 publishers before John C Farrar met L'Engle and accepted the book for publication. The book is often seen as an early example of the 'young adult' genre, dealing with sophisticated themes of free will, evil and the redeeming power of love. A year after its publication it was awarded the prestigious Newbury Medal and has been continuously in print ever since its first publication.

Where it came from

The author, Madeleine L'Engle combined her storytelling skills with her interest in the works of physicists such as Einstein and Max Planck. The book blends science fiction with spirituality. The planet of Camazotz reflects contemporary concerns about communism and totalitarian states.

Where it went next

A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in L'Engle's Time Quintet which follows the lives of Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin as they grow up. Disney has twice adapted the book for film in 2003 and in 2018. The 2018 film starred Storm Reid as Meg, with Oprah Winfrey as Mrs Which and Reece Witherspoon as Mrs Whatsit.

Associated stories

The other books in the quintet are A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time.