Love · sci-fi · Newbery Medal
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
1962212 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 3.9 (174)
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What is A Wrinkle in Time about?
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction fantasy novel by American writer Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. It is about Meg And Charles Walence. Their father, who was working on a interesting project called a tesseract, goes missing! Then they meet a boy and some strange women. This story won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award For this amazing story! It also has a movie! I Hope you all enjoy!
A glimpse inside
The Triumph of Love Over Darkness
At its core, the novel is a battle between forces of light and darkness, both literally and metaphorically. Meg Murry’s journey to rescue her father is not just a physical quest but a test of emotional strength. The story insists that love—especially the fierce, imperfect love of family—is the most potent weapon against evil and despair. L’Engle suggests that darkness thrives on fear, conformity, and apathy, but love breaks through these barriers, offering hope and redemption.
Celebrating Individuality and Flaws
Meg, the protagonist, is awkward, stubborn, and often feels out of place. Rather than being a liability, her flaws become her greatest strengths. The book champions the idea that being different is not just acceptable but essential. Each main character’s uniqueness is vital to the quest’s success, and Meg’s journey is about learning to accept and even embrace her own quirks. L’Engle’s message is clear: individuality is a source of power, not shame.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 3.9 / 5
174 ratings
✦
Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1The Triumph of Love Over Darkness
- 2Celebrating Individuality and Flaws
- 3The Dangers of Conformity
- 4Science and Spirituality Intertwined
- 5Courage in the Face of the Unknown
Popular quotes from A Wrinkle in Time
“Life, with its rules, its obligations, and its freedoms, is like a sonnet: You're given the form, but you have to write the sonnet yourself.”
“Like and equal are not the same thing at all!”
“Love. That was what she had that IT did not have.”
Frequently asked
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction fantasy novel by American writer Madeleine L'Engle, first published in 1962. It is about Meg And Charles Walence. Their father, who was working on a interesting project called a tesseract, goes missing! Then they meet a boy and some strange women. This story won a Newbery Medal, Sequoyah Book Award and Lewis Carroll Shelf Award For this amazing story! It also