It was a dark and stormy night. I was 12, recently moved 1200 miles from home, lonely, having a hard time making friends at my new junior high school. I was sick a lot that year and my mother, knowing what a hard time I was having, was patient with me, letting me stay home where in previous years she would have insisted I go.
We’d moved from a tiny town in the Canadian prairies to a town in Northern California’s high desert, and the one good thing that place had to offer was a library that would let me take as many books as I wanted at any given time. I thought they were crazy. I would stagger out of there with 20 or 30 books. My English teacher noticed me too. She invited me to be on the yearbook and the student newspaper.
The combination of these things—loneliness, sickness, access to lots of books—made this a year that I spent a lot of time snuggled under blankets, reading, escaping into the world of my imagination. I remember that English teacher (I don’t remember her name, sadly) giving me a copy of A Wrinkle in Time
I opened it and read, “It was a dark and stormy night. In her attic bedroom Margaret Murry, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of the bed and watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing of the wind,” and was already hooked. I didn’t have an attic bedroom–we lived in a depressingly-average 60s-era bungalow–but I wanted one. I did have a patchwork quilt. And I love storms. By the time Mrs. Whatsit showed up and announced wild nights were her glory, I knew I had found a book to keep and treasure. (I got my own copy, don’t worry.) And so, I was along for the ride as Meg and Charles Wallace and Calvin tesseract across the universe to save Meg’s father, in an adventure that mixes theology, science fiction, pure fantasy, and the realities of everyday life on planet Earth.
I think the feeling of being alone is universal. Every child can relate to crushing embarrassment at school, to feeling misunderstood by even loving parents and siblings, to cowering in a storm and wondering if anyone else out there will ever understand you. That’s part of what makes A Wrinkle in Time
I went on, of course, to read the companion books, then many of L’Engle’s other books. Now, as an adult, I especially love her non-fiction and poetry. All my copies are signed too, because she once visited Portland and I was able to hear her speak, and she was just as affirming and imaginative as you would expect. She was too tired to sign books afterwards, so we were encouraged to submit a list of up to 10 titles, and she sent us signed nameplates in the mail. That generosity is still stunning to me.
Once I had kids, I couldn’t wait to share my favorite books with them. They enjoyed A Wrinkle in Time
It’s hard for me to believe A Wrinkle in Time
The new commemorative edition is gorgeous, with all sorts of extras—a copy of L’Engle’s acceptance speech for the Newbery Awards, a copy of a chapter from the original manuscript with her own scribbled pencil marks, an introduction by Katherine Paterson and an afterword by L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Voiklis, telling a bit of her Gran’s story and the story of the book. There are family photos, including one I love of Madeleine reading to her two granddaughters, and more. There’s also a special facebook page for the 50th Anniversary commemorative copy, where you can keep up with different events that will be happening this year to celebrate the occasion.
This post is part of a special 50 blogs in 50 days celebration, so please read some of the other thoughts, with a different theme each week.
A Wrinkle in Time
One of you (U.S. only) will win a copy of the 50th anniversary edition of A Wrinkle in Time. Just leave a comment, and we’ll announce the winner in our giveaway column on February 8. This giveaway is now closed.
- The winner of the Lunatics giveaway is #20 Beth C.
- The winner of Crossed is #23 Shelly Burton.
- The winner of The Flight of Gemma Hardy is #26 Tennille.
- The winner of the Shadow of Your Smile giveaway is #29 June.
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Elizabeth is glad she never has to be 12 again, but she survived. Learn more at her blog Planet Nomad.
I’d love to win this!
I read this as a child, but I don’t remember much about it. I’d love to revisit it.
I’ve never read this book, but it certainly sounds interesting!!
I read this as a child and plan to read it again this year.
I’d love to win this one! I haven’t read it since I was a child and I’m embarrassed to admit that although I remember loving it, I don’t actually recall the story at all!
My beat-up paperback copy of A Wrinkle of Time has weathered many re-readings and remains one of my favorites. I didn’t know it was first published 50 years ago!
One of my favorites when I was little! Thanks for the opportunity.
I LOVED this book – I remember my teacher reading it out loud to the grade 7’s when I was in grade 6! But he only read a few chapters. . . .I finally read the whole thing about 2 years ago – 25 years later! I’d love to win this so my kids can read it!
How lucky we have been, those who had understanding librarians and teachers.
What a wonderful book to feature. Many thanks for this special story which I did read but would enjoy once again.
This was a favorite when I was a kid, and now it’s a favorite of my 12-year-old daughter’s, too. We also love When You Reach Me. We recently read both of these with the teen book club I co-lead at our neighborhood library. So nice to see it widely celebrated!
What fun! I so enjoyed this book as a kid!
What a delightful post and giveaway!
And this edition has a forward by Katherine Paterson who I met!
What a great copy of a delightful
classic book…
Many thanks, Cindi
You won! Congrats! Please reply with your address.
My girls would love this!
I would like to win.
Sounds like a nice book!
What a great book! Would love to win! Thanks!
I would enjoy this book and would like to read it along with my granddaughter!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
I loved this book as a kid, so I’d love to re-read it now! 🙂 Thanks!
What a good book.
Would really enjoy reading this one.
I absolutely love A Wrinkle in Time. It has been even more meaningful reading it as an adult, and I look forward to reading it again!
What a classic! This would be so fun to have to re-read and save for the kids!
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I would love to read this again. I loved it the first time!
Would like to read.
Such a special book for me, when I was young. Would love my own copy for my kids.
This book would be an added plus to my reading library.
Thanks for the giveaway.
A timeless classic that I read, and now my daughter will soon read.
I can’t believe this book is 50. Would love to read it again.
One of my all time FAVORITE books!
Great Book!
Another awesome book giveaway!
Awesome.
thanks for the great giveaway!
Great Giveaway.
One of my favorite books!
I remember reading this book as a youngster. Can’t wait to share it with my kids
thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to add this to my granddaughter’s book collection.
I’m 11 and I really love to read. I would really like to read this book. That would be really cool if I won this contest.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I read this as a kid and would love to share it with my young cousin.