Excellent read with one instance of worrisome spiritual content.
Plot
Meg's father has been missing for years, and everyone believes him to be dead. Traveling by tesseract - the fifth dimension - she, her little brother, and a friend go in search of her father to bring him back home from Space.
Morality
Meg has trouble controlling her anger, a flaw in her character that develops through the story and which she has to work on. The three women at the beginning of the story steal sheets, but Charles Wallace, Meg's little brother, is against it and wants them to be returned. Basically the story is a 'good against evil' tale, but it includes some pretty deep philosophical things concerning the good and the bad.
Spiritual Content
Scriptures, especially from the Psalms, are quoted and various creatures sing praises to God; Buddha and Muhammad are mentioned alongside of Christ as ones who fought against the forces of Darkness. Three women disguise themselves as witches. One good character is called the 'Happy Medium,' and the children go to see her as if she were a real medium.
Violence
Meg gets in a fight with her school bullies when they insult Charles Wallace; her bruises and scrapes are mentioned briefly. Charles Wallace, Meg, and Calvin (their friend) get flattened for a moment when they travel through a 2-D planet.
Drug and Alcohol Content
Meg is given a sweet, nectar kind of drink by another species.
Sexual Content
One kiss, nothing more.
Crude or Profane Language or Content
None.
Conclusion
'A Wrinkle in Time' is an excellent tale of good versus evil. The antagonist was well-imagined, the characters had good development, and the science believable. Though written for 11-12 yr. olds, the story has a plot that allows it to be read by young adults and beyond. The only worrisome content was the mention of Muhammad and Buddha alongside Christ, but otherwise the book is a good read.
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