Many Waters by Madeleine L'engle

I enjoyed this imaginative take on Noah's ark, and the twins were finally given an adventure of the their own, to show how clever and brave they are. Their personalities added a comical balance to the series events of Noah's task, and the people who will do anything to stop him. The seraphim and nephilim have their own conflict, while Noah's family, and his neighbors deal with the harsh environment of the desert and the cruel actions of Tiglah and her family, who want Noah's land fro their own. With the twins thrown, literally, in the middle of the conflict, they must learn why they were sent before Noah's Ark is complete, and how they will stay true to the original story. Yalith, Noah's daughter and the closest person to the stars, must decide how she can maintain the balance between seraphim and nephilim, as well as the family conflicts that threaten her way of life, and the power struggle of Tiglah's family versus Noah's task. 

This story was a philosophical adventure told in a familiar medium. The twins, who never have experienced anything strange, and never gone on an adventure before are put to the test in more ways than one, and must decide when and how they will get back home without changing history and the future of their world. 

I recommend this book to fans of the first three books, and history fans. Although the facts are not completely straight, the book delves into important questions about the origin of Noah's story and what life could have been like at the time of the story. 

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.