A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'engle

"In this fateful hour

I place all Heaven with its power

And the sun with its brightness,

And the snow with its whiteness

And the fire with all the strength it hath,

And the lightning with its rapid wrath,

And the winds with their swiftness along their path,

And the sea with its deepness,

And the rocks with their steepness,

And the earth with its starkness,

All these I place

By God's almighty help and grace,

Between myself and the powers of darkness!"

- Patrick's Rune

As Meg's mother in law, Mrs. O' Keefe uses this rune one cold Thanksgiving night, the powers of darkness surround the Murry family. There is a threat of nuclear war by the dangerous Madog Branzillo, and Mrs. O'Keefe tells fifteen year old Charles Wallace that he must find a way to stop Branzillo by using the rune. Charles takes her very seriously, even though she calls him Chuck, and begins a journey through space and time, using this rune as a guide to find the Might Have Been that created the threat of nuclear war. Although he goes alone, his older sister Meg, goes with him by kything, being with Charles in spirit, helping him if she can and watching over his dangerous task, to change and restore balance in time. Charle's companion is the unicorn Gaudior who can ride the wind to different times in the same place. He guides Charles to learn through time by kything or becoming different people over the course of history, until he can find the answer to the past and change the future. But they are not alone, the evil Echthroi are trying to prevent them from changing history, and they will stop at nothing to destroy Charles Wallace and Gaudior as they question human nature and discover the event that caused Madog Branzillo to be. 

This was my favorite book out of the trilogy when I was a kid. Charles Wallace is an amazing character, and his purpose in the story is always great. It was fascinating to watch Charles and Gaudior slip in and out of time, and learn how humans evolved throughout the years, and how the rune was passed from generation to generation. I recommend this book to anyone that loves A Wrinkle in Time, and epic adventures that can change the course of the future. 

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'engle

This book was very philosophical, and it was a different type of adventure than A Wrinkle in Time. Instead of a physical adventure, Meg Murry, Calvin O Keefe, and Mr. Jenkins go on a spiritual journey to save Charles Wallace's life. One of their companions is a cherubim, a creature made of  many wings and eyes, named Proginoskes. Their other companion is the stubborn, naive and indifferent farandole named Sporos. As Meg learns to cooperate with Mr. Jenkins, a teacher who doesn't enjoy her or Charles Wallace's company, she learns about the connection of the world, and with the guidance of Teacher Blajeny, she must pass three test in order to save Charles Wallace and prevent a terrible evil from throwing the world out of balance.

This story went deeper into the theories of science and spirituality. It uses the idea that every living being is important and connected no matter how near or far. This is an interesting way to view the world and how it works. Meg, always worried and questioning everything, has a hard time adapting to the sudden changes in Charles Wallace, and the trials that she must face. But each step is important, and each being is important, so Meg must once again face the dangers of evil and save the world, her wold from being thrown off balance into chaos. 

When I was a kid, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I loved A Wrinkle in Time, but now that I've grown, I understand the story and the journey the Meg goes through to adapt and change her surroundings. THe power of connection, communication and acknowledgment goes a long way when one is faced with adversity, no matter what kind of adversity. I recommend this book to children, teens, and philosophical adults. Like A Wrinkle in Time, this story is layered.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'engle

I first read this book at ten years old. It was one of those powerful stories that stuck with me, and it inspired me to start creating stories of my own. This book is not only an epic adventure or a story about a young girl finding courage to replace self doubt, it is a detailed fable of what it means to be human. Meg and Charles Wallace are different than most of their peers. Charles Wallace is extremely smart for his age. Meg is also very clever, and has a rebellious streak, but she looks down on herself all the time, and she is convinced that she is plain, painfully different and alone. These extraordinary kids, one a teenager and one a four year old, embark on a journey to save their father from the clutches of evil and darkness. Joining them on this epic quest is Calvin Hobbs, a fifteen year old boy who pretends to fit in, but he is very intelligent, friendly and loyal. The role of the mentor in this tale is played by three strange women: Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which who have stories of their own, and their assignment is to help The Murry family. 

What I love about this story, is that it's layered. On the surface, it is about a lonely girl, discovering true strength. The next layer is a story about humanity, and what it means to live. The third layer is the ultimate battle of good versus evil. The fourth layer is a conflict between many different beings, crafted in a world you can only imagine. 

Even reading this years after I first read it, I still couldn't put it down and I learned something new. 

A Wrinkle in Time is not just a Newberry Winner, it is a tale that grows with you, and you can enjoy it at any age, any time. 

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

I was first recommended this book at work, and then Ashley Clements mentioned it as a book she would like to see made into a movie. I finally looked up the synopsis and finally bought it. I'm so glad I did! This book is a gem! A real treat for those who love and appreciate the layers and significance of stories. The mystery of Nell's identity and the quest her grandaughter goes on to discover it is also a mystery involving beautiful and haunting fairytales. With the shocking revalation that she was adopted, Nell ventures to the past and is determined to learn who her parents are. Her quest is cut short by cruel fate, and her grandaughter Cassandra is left to pick up the pieces and put them together. The book switches points of view and goes back in time as the reader slowly discovers the answers to Nell's questions and Cassandra's own personal riddle. Alongside Nell's quest and Cassandra's journey are bits and pieces of the past, the story of Eliza Makepeace and the strange Mountrachet family. As each layer unfolds, the fairytales themselves become very important to the novel's plot, and the mystery of Nell's past.

I haven't read a layered book like this in a long time. In the style of Jane Eyre, or a Jane Austen novel,  this story is similar to the Secret Garden but more complicated with flashbacks, powerful reveals and personal histories that Cassandra, Nell, Chrisitian and Eliza Makepeace all experience. It is a powerful tale told in a beautiful and well thought out manner. I recommend this book to anyone who loves fairytales, mysteries, The Secret Garden and Life of Pi. With its characters, fairytales and history, this story weaves its own magic.

20 Something 20 Everything by Christine Hassler

This is more than a book. It's a process. During the time in your life where you're trying to figure everything out, and trying to learn what career you want to pursue and how to get there, you can get overwhelmed with the expectations of yourself from yourself and other people around you. You'll compare yourself to other people your age, and feel left out from the career world and all that "time of your life" that your relatives or friends say is the definition of the twenty something years. 

Each chapter of this book helps you dive into what you already know, about your goals, dreams and how you view yourself. Each chapter begins with a few stories of women who go through a similar obstacle or challenge. After each in depth explanation, a list of questions based on your experiences and expectations follows the stories, and a small conclusion to the chapter. 

I recommend reading this book with a blank journal to answer the questions and record your thoughts on each chapter. It's also important to answer each question truthfully, or you won't really know what you want and how you view your life. 

This book is work, but it's also a revelation. With building blocks to pursue your goals, and advice to enjoy this time in your life, Christine Hassler encourages you to really look at your life. How you view  it. How you view yourself. These are more important and influencial than you realize. 

The only way for this book to work, is for you to work. But there are fun projects and tasks to do today to help you clarify what you want and who your are. 

I highly recommend this book to any woman in her twenties, no matter what her situation is. If your lost in the whirlwind of career, relationship status and self image criticism, this book helps you understand that you are not alone. All you have to do is learn the answers to three questions- in depth.

Who are you? What do you want? And, ow do you get there?

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

I have to admit something, before I start the book review. This is one of those rare occasions where I saw the movie first. So I actually read the book long after the movie came out. I loved the movie, and I didn't know that the story was based off a novel until I encountered it for the first time, shortly after I finished high school. I love both the movie and the book in their different ways.

The first thing to note about this story is the way it is told. Landon Carter, the narrator does not sugar coat anything, and his honesty makes him a reliable narrator for the story. We see the world through a very interesting lens. A small town, with history after history. Everyone knows each other, and Landon has known Jamie since he first started gong to school.  But he doesn't really know her, at all. This story is a powerful one because it goes beyond just a love story, or a high school sweetheart tale. It is about discovering who you are, in the sense of learning who someone else really is. It's also about overcoming adversity. Adversity of the most shocking kind. Another important layer of the tale is what it means to truly live. Landon thinks, especially at the beginning of the book, that his life is difficult, and painful. He also thinks that Jamie lives on cloud nine and is apparently the perfect saint. As he gets to know Jamie, what she actually does, and the deep secret she's hidden, he begins to understand that life is not as simple or straightforward as he makes it out to be. Beyond the first impression or the everyday judgements is another story, one you can't even imagine that makes up the person you believe you know.
he first time I read this book, I fell in love with Landon. His voice was so different from anything I had ever read. His constant opinion throughout the book evolves and changes once he starts getting closer to Jamie. He grows up, as he constantly says in the book, and it's Jamie and her story that helped him learn who he is. The second time I read this book, I discovered something powerful about the way people connect. Their paths cross, sometimes by coincidence, but other times both were drawn to the other without an awareness of it. On my third reading, I discovered an interesting coping mechanism that Jamie uses, that I never noticed before.
I recommend this book to teenagers especially, but really anyone, especially someone who faces a lot of adversity, regardless of its shape or form. This book has a lot to offer about love, trust and faith in others and yourself.