ParentsPick

A Wrinkle in Time — Content Guide for Parents

By Madeleine L'EngleFarrar, Straus, and Giroux1990ISBN 9780440220398203 pages
A Wrinkle in Time

Themes present

Scary content
Religious themes
Gender roles
LGBTQ+ themes

Not found

ViolenceRacial/cultural contentProfanityClimate changeSexual identity

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

Violence

Not foundhigh

No explicit violence is mentioned in the book. The narrative involves a journey through space and time to confront a dark force, but it does not depict physical violence or harm between characters.

Scary content

PRESENTmedium

The story includes elements of peril and a dark force that poses a threat to the characters, which may be intense for younger readers. However, the overall tone is not overwhelmingly frightening.

Religious themes

PRESENThigh

The narrative reflects Madeleine L'Engle's Christian faith, addressing themes of good versus evil and the importance of individuality and love. The book has been described as a 'handbook for a strange, fantastical approach to Christian faith', indicating its religious undertones.

Racial/cultural content

Not foundhigh

While the book features a diverse cast of characters, race is not a central theme or plot point. The narrative focuses on universal themes rather than racial issues.

Profanity

Not foundhigh

The book is described as clean, without any profanity or inappropriate language. It is suitable for children and does not include any offensive terms.

Climate change

Not foundhigh

There are no explicit themes related to climate change or environmentalism in the book. The narrative focuses more on personal and cosmic struggles rather than ecological issues.

Sexual identity

Not foundhigh

The book does not contain explicit sexual content. It presents themes of love and relationships but does not delve into sexual themes or discussions.

Gender roles

PRESENThigh

The book challenges traditional gender roles by centering a young female protagonist, Meg Murry, who exhibits emotional strengths and intelligence. It promotes a progressive view of gender by showcasing female characters in significant roles.

LGBTQ+ themes

PRESENTmedium

The book includes themes of individuality and nonconformity, which resonate with LGBTQ+ experiences. Some reviews mention positive representations of gay characters, suggesting a progressive view of gender and sexuality. However, specific LGBTQ+ content in the narrative is not detailed in the search results.

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About this book

It was a dark and stormy night Meg Murry, her small brother Charles Wallace, and her mother had come down to the kitchen for a midnight snack when they were upset by the arrival of a most disturbing stranger. "Wild nights are my glory," the unearthly stranger told them. "I just got caught in a downdraft and blown off course. Let me sit down for a moment, and then I'll be on my way. Speaking of ways, by the way, there is such a thing as a tesseract." A tesseract (in case the reader doesn't know) is a wrinkle in time. To tell more would rob the reader of the enjoyment of Miss L'Engle's unusual book. A Wrinkle in Time, winner of the Newbery Medal in 1963, is the story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin O'Keefe (athlete, student, and one of the most popular boys in high school). They are in search of Meg's father, a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government on the tesseract problem.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is A Wrinkle in Time appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    No explicit violence is mentioned in the book. The narrative involves a journey through space and time to confront a dark force, but it does not depict physical violence or harm between characters. The story includes elements of peril and a dark force that poses a threat to the characters, which may be intense for younger readers. However, the overall tone is not overwhelmingly frightening.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have violence?

    No explicit violence is mentioned in the book. The narrative involves a journey through space and time to confront a dark force, but it does not depict physical violence or harm between characters.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have scary content?

    The story includes elements of peril and a dark force that poses a threat to the characters, which may be intense for younger readers. However, the overall tone is not overwhelmingly frightening.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have religious themes?

    The narrative reflects Madeleine L'Engle's Christian faith, addressing themes of good versus evil and the importance of individuality and love. The book has been described as a 'handbook for a strange, fantastical approach to Christian faith', indicating its religious undertones.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have racial/cultural content?

    While the book features a diverse cast of characters, race is not a central theme or plot point. The narrative focuses on universal themes rather than racial issues.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have profanity?

    The book is described as clean, without any profanity or inappropriate language. It is suitable for children and does not include any offensive terms.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have climate change?

    There are no explicit themes related to climate change or environmentalism in the book. The narrative focuses more on personal and cosmic struggles rather than ecological issues.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have sexual identity?

    The book does not contain explicit sexual content. It presents themes of love and relationships but does not delve into sexual themes or discussions.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have gender roles?

    The book challenges traditional gender roles by centering a young female protagonist, Meg Murry, who exhibits emotional strengths and intelligence. It promotes a progressive view of gender by showcasing female characters in significant roles.

  • Does A Wrinkle in Time have lgbtq+ themes?

    The book includes themes of individuality and nonconformity, which resonate with LGBTQ+ experiences. Some reviews mention positive representations of gay characters, suggesting a progressive view of gender and sexuality. However, specific LGBTQ+ content in the narrative is not detailed in the search results.