A Wrinkle in Time Audiobook By Madeleine L'Engle cover art

A Wrinkle in Time

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A Wrinkle in Time

By: Madeleine L'Engle
Narrated by: Hope Davis, Ava DuVernay, Madeleine L'Engle, Charlotte Jones Voiklis
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About this listen

Madeleine L’Engle’s ground-breaking science fiction and fantasy classic, now a major motion picture. This audiobook includes an introduction read by the film director Ava DuVernay, a foreword read by the author, and an afterword read by Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter Charlotte Jones Voiklis.

Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a “tesseract”, which, if you didn’t know, is a wrinkle in time. Meg’s father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?

In 1962, Madeleine L’Engle debuted her novel A Wrinkle in Time, which would go on to win the 1963 Newbery Medal. Bridging science and fantasy, darkness and light, fear and friendship, the story became a classic of children’s literature and is beloved around the world.

A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in The Time Quintet, which consists of A Wrinkle in Time, A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time.

© 2007 by Taeeun Yoo. Used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc.

©1962 Madeleine L'Engle (P)2011 Random House Audio
Classics Fantasy Fantasy & Magic Fantasy Essentials Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel Funny Young Adult Classics
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Editorial review


By Seth Hartman, Audible Editor

A WRINKLE IN TIME IS A BONA FIDE SPECULATIVE FICTION CLASSIC

Like many kids growing up in the Northeast suburbs, I spent my summers at a sleepaway camp in the forests of Maine. Whenever anyone in my bunk would get homesick, our counselor, Claire, would pick a book from the small camp library. One night she came back with A Wrinkle in Time, an innocent looking little paperback. Little did I know, I was in for a much more substantive experience than I could ever have expected.

Our story opens with Meg Murry, an intelligent but shy girl who is becoming increasingly worried about her father, a brilliant astrophysicist who mysteriously disappeared a year ago. Before long, she is visited by Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, a gaggle of extradimensional beings determined to help Meg find her father. These so called "cherubim" provide our call to adventure, sending Meg on a psychedelic odyssey along with her precocious little brother Charles Wallace and her good friend, Calvin O’Keefe.

Before the end of the first chapter, my 10-year-old mind was sufficiently blown, filled with foreign concepts like tesseracts, cherubim, and the fifth dimension. Despite the lofty terminology and subject matter, author Madeleine L’Engle dared me to continue on (or, at least, have my counselor continue reading to me). While revisiting this book as an adult, it became clear that this story was something much deeper and larger than a fairy tale. L’Engle was a true student of the world, drawing terms and imagery from a number of sources, from theoretical physics to religious mysticism straight out of the Kabbalah, and deftly melding themes of family, duty, freedom, friendship, and faith into this strange brew of influences.

The unique imagery and thematic layout of this book is not its only defining feature, however. A Wrinkle in Time was released in 1962, during a pretty iconic era of fantasy and science fiction. As one of the few women in the field at the time, L’Engle and her female protagonist Meg made a striking impact on the literary world. Looking back at my introduction to A Wrinkle in Time, I’m glad it was read to me in a female voice. Experiencing the audiobook as an adult was even more exciting, as a cast of narrators fully flesh out L’Engle’s assortment of characters.

While my deeply impressionable young mind worked hard to make sense of this exceptionally trippy novel, I can confidently say that this book has something for everyone. Not only a classic children's book, A Wrinkle in Time remains an essential entry among science fiction’s greatest works.

Continue reading Seth's review >

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What listeners say about A Wrinkle in Time

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not what I expected

This is a fresh take on life and the universe - especially being written back in the early 60's. I guess I was expecting better writing -- but as a children's book it can stand fine.
Kind of zany and good for kids. I had to see what all the hoopla was about, not having read the book in my childhood. I guess I am too old now - I thought the writing was mediocre and the main character of Meg a nervous, whining, emotional mess.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great book

Inspiring and thought provoking as well as entertaining. I love the way the story goes to the Truth about the battle between darkness and light. This has been the story from the beginning of time and is still going on today.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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classic book that is anything but

A wonder of a story that has revelance still today. this book is difficult to box in, but yet has a familiarity that anyone can understand.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Wonderful characters fascinating plot. Story moved & keeps you interested. The book is like no other I have read.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars

Its no Harry Potter

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I read this because I recently read the Harry Potter series, and was wishing I could indulge in that magical world again. This wasn't the book for that - it's a lot more simplistic. It actually seems more like a children's book than Harry Potter.

Has A Wrinkle in Time turned you off from other books in this genre?

No - I may try again sometime.

Which scene was your favorite?

When the children meet Mrs. Who for the first time.

Could you see A Wrinkle in Time being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No way - not enough content

Any additional comments?

I thought the performance was really good. It would also have been good if read by someone with a more child-like voice.

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2 people found this helpful

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TIMEless!

A beautifully crafted tale for young and old alike with themes that still resonate today.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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a magical journey for all ages

one of the best narrators I have ever had the pleasure of listening to perform hands-down

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1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Great story, not a fan of the narration

I have enjoyed every Madeleine L'Engle book I've ever read but I couldn't stand the narration on this one. When the narrator is using her normal voice it's very pleasant and I wish instead of performing the book she had just read it. The voices she does for the characters drove me crazy (specifically Meg, Calvin, and Mrs. (I think) Whatsit.

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A Wrinkle in Time 🕑

I love the book 📖 more than the movie📽 people say that the book 📚 says Christian words but the move doesn’t.i wear glasses 🤓 and they help me see and read I like my glasses 👓 like they say don’t judge 👩🏻‍⚖️ a book 📖 by Its cover 📕. Pls everyone needs a helping hand 🤚🏻 sometimes.

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Very Christian, goid character though

liked the lead character and the Mrs Whose-it and friends. thought some language was dated, very Christian message.

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1 person found this helpful