A Wrinkle in Time is one of the first science fiction books I remember reading. Can I just say that I love this book? I have no idea why I haven't read the entire series--it's a quintet!--but I aim to remedy that immediately. One of the wonderful things about Madeleine L'Engle is that she doesn't write down to her readers. Sophisticated concepts about space and time travel are explained clearly and with respect, and the young heros of the story are smart, capable, and willing to make sacrifices for those they love. And there are puns!
This month has been all about young heroines, and although A Wrinkle in Time is thoroughly modern (most of the book is set on other planets!) compared to The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Meg is every bit as smart and selfless as Kit and Charlotte. Plus, not only is Meg committed to saving her family, she's also ready to battle the forces of universal darkness. Get it, girl.
The first sign of returning consciousness was cold. Then sound. She was aware of voices that seemed to be traveling through her across an arctic waste. Slowly the icy sounds cleared and she realized that the voices belonged to her father and Calvin. She did not hear Charles Wallace. She tried to open her eyes but the lids would not move. She tried to sit up, but she could not stir. She struggled to turn over, to move her hands, her feet, but nothing happened. She knew that she had a body, but it was as lifeless as marble. -- Madeline L'Engle
You may also enjoy The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (isn't that an excellent name?), The BFG by Roald Dahl, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and anything by Kelly Link. There was also a book about a boy and girl in the fourth dimension that I remember reading in middle school, but I can't remember the title. I can, however, picture the cover quite clearly. What is it?! Does anyone have any suggestions? I might just have to revisit my middle school library. Perish the thought.
1. Girl with glasses, via Curated by Laura Emelie; 2. Milky Way, by Luke Gram via Man & Camera; 3. Gate, by Andrew Newson via The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Story!; 4. Paper tape from the Colossus, by David Barrington via Flickr; 5. Lotus Dome, via Physics Buzz; 6. Men working, via The Homme Depot; 7. Shirt and sweater, via Children of the Bad Revolution; 8. Loafers, by Lady Moriarty; 9. Holding hands, via The Messes of Men; 10. Orbits, via Kavanah; 11. Crystal ball, via Orion; 12. Chongqing Grand Theater, by Jordi A via Flickr.
Is it The Boy who Reversed Himself by William Sleator?
ReplyDeletePer Wikipedia:
A high school girl named Laura grows suspicious when a report of hers appears in mirror writing, and Omar, the weird boy next door, makes it go back to normal. Furthermore, he seems to be parting his hair on a different side than usual. He first refuses to explain what's going on, but after she repeatedly coaxes him, he reveals that he has access to the fourth dimension, where he accidentally "reversed" himself. He eventually allows her to visit it under his supervision, but he warns her that it is extremely dangerous and that he is violating some agreement by letting her in on the secret. She tries to use her access to the higher dimension to impress Pete, a popular boy she wants to go to the school dance with, but after she seems to disappear into thin air and unlock a door from the other side, Pete realizes something funny is going on, and she feels pressured to show him the truth, without Omar's knowledge. When she brings Pete into four-space, they lose their way and end up as the captives of four-dimensional creatures. Unfortunately, she determines that escaping might threaten the very existence of her own world by making the powerful 4-D creatures aware of it. With Omar's help, she finds a safe way out and learns the truth about how he came to know about other dimensions.
Oh my gosh, it could be! You may have just solved the mystery, Aleta!!!!
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