A Wrinkle in Time
A Wrinkle in Time is a science fantasy novel written by American author Madeleine L'Engle and first published in 1962 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.[1] The story centers on Meg Murry, an adolescent girl dissatisfied with her life, who embarks on an interstellar quest with her precocious younger brother Charles Wallace and schoolmate Calvin O'Keefe to locate her physicist father, who has vanished while researching tesseracts—a method of faster-than-light travel involving folding space-time.[2] Guided by three enigmatic celestial beings known as Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which, the protagonists confront the malevolent force called the Dark Thing that threatens multiple worlds, including a conformist planet named Camazotz where free will is suppressed.[3] The novel blends elements of quantum physics, Christian theology, and moral philosophy, portraying good and evil as cosmic forces in a struggle that emphasizes individual differences, love as a weapon against darkness, and resistance to totalitarianism.[4] It received the 1963 Newbery Medal from the American Library Association for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.[5] Despite its acclaim, A Wrinkle in Time has faced frequent challenges and bans in schools and libraries since publication, often due to objections over its portrayal of supernatural elements, perceived occult themes, or divergence from orthodox Christian doctrine—criticisms that paradoxically arise from both fundamentalist groups viewing it as too secular or New Age and others decrying its explicit religious undertones.[4][6] As the inaugural volume of L'Engle's Time Quintet series, the book has influenced young adult literature by pioneering complex narratives for juvenile audiences, incorporating scientific concepts alongside spiritual inquiries, and has been adapted into a 2003 television film and a 2018 theatrical release directed by Ava DuVernay.[1] Its enduring popularity stems from themes of self-acceptance and familial bonds amid existential threats, though adaptations have varied in fidelity to the source material's metaphysical depth.[2]