Past tense of the verb to lean

Leaned is the more modern form, but leant is also correct. It's up to you.

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

I didn’t come across the book as a child, perhaps because I was schooled in England and Madeleine L’Engle was American, and this book had been languishing on a shelf in my daughter’s room for some time. It was a gift from my mother who worked as a librarian and knows books, so I should have known better. Prompted to pick it up when I saw the trailer for the newly released Disney movie that is based on the book, I’m glad that I did because what has been seen cannot be unseen. I’m a strong believer in reading the book before watching the movie.

The female protagonist, Meg, is the daughter of two scientists, and when Meg’s father goes missing, the family becomes the topic of small-town gossip. Meg’s younger brother, Charles Wallace, has a curious mind that attracts him to three old ladies, Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which who have taken up residence in an abandoned house not far from their home. Their arrival in town is no coincidence; sent to introduce Meg and Charles Wallace to Calvin and the guide the trio on a journey through wrinkles in time to galaxies that would otherwise have been unreachable in a lifetime, they take them to Meg and Charles’ father on a distant planet. The travel is made dangerous by the Black Thing that threatens to engulf them, and they must invest all of themselves to overcome the evil IT and release their father. Ultimately it is Meg who puts herself in harm’s way and reunites her family.

It is easy to relate to Meg. The sense of confusion that she feels as she struggles to understand where she fits in is arguably a rite of passage as is her realization that her father is fallible. Even so, the exploration of the relationships between the characters in the story ensures that there is a feeling of hope throughout despite the growing evil presence.

With a strong female protagonist, it is easy to see why this book is now being made into a movie, but it is Meg’s mother who is the real heroine. A beautiful woman. Her husband’s intellectual equal who balances the family’s needs, ensuring that they are well provided for while he is away, and continues to progress her own scientific research. I wonder if this was one of the reasons why the book was rejected 30 times before it was finally published in 1960, nearly ten years before women could access an Ivy League education.

At times this book didn’t just speak to me, it screamed at me. Not just because she uses the term swivet, but it is full of L’Engle’s philosophies on life that would serve any young reader and learner well. She even seems to include a philosophy for reading the story when she writes:

“For a brief, illuminating second Meg's face had the listening, proing expression that was so often seen on Charles's.

'I see!' she cried. 'I got it! For just a moment I got it! I can’t possibly explain it now, but there for a second I saw it!' She turned to excitedly to Calvin. 'Did you get it?'

He nodded. 'Enough. I don’t understand it the way Charles Wallace does, but enough to get the idea.' "

The straightforward use of language and the clear storyline make this a good option for younger readers. The Lexile Measure is 740L. A score below that given to most Roald Dahl books which are recommended for ages 8-12. In fact, it is 'The Witches' which has an equivalent score, 740L. This is interesting, because of all the Roald Dahl stories I searched it had the lowest score, but it was the one my own daughter found the most frightening when she was younger. We read it last. I would suggest that both books are suitable for capable readers as young as 8, and 'A Wrinkle in Time' is still being undersold. Whilst it is science fiction, the scientific principles are simply summarised, and readers could take just what they needed if they used L’Engle advised approach and let her words wash over them. For a few, it might spark an interest in astrophysics, and for older readers, there is plenty of scope for imagination and scientific inspiration. It could appeal to students 14 years or older at the high end.

Madeleine L’Engle was a storytelling master whose readable story is enjoyable and accessible.

What to Include in a Book Review

1. Summarise the beginning, middle and end of the story.

2. Can you write a one-sentence overview?

3. Did you have a favourite character or section of the book?

4. Why were they your favourite?

5. What was the setting for the story?

6. Can you define the theme or genre of the book?

7. Who would you recommend the book to?

Upper Middle Years Action Adventure. Harry Potter, The Hobbit, A Wrinkle in Time, Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief, The Hunger Games, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Raising RuZo.