Comments on: Banned Books Week Spotlight – A Wrinkle in Time

By: Margot

Margot — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:01:35 +0000

I struggle very much when people say “ban this book!”. There are many books that I do not like; I will not even finish reading, but I do not agree with banning/burning books. Books give light and knowledge to people. There is much knowledge that I had preferred my children not have – but in order to understand the world in which we live and the world other people live in — we read and find understanding.
Concerning ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ –what a farce to consider that that book could do anything but encourage young readers to look at truth and light and desire it in their lives. Banning and burning books comes from FEAR. The scriptures in the New Testament states that fear is not of the Lord. Grow up, read some books. L’Engle, Hawthorne, Twain and Grisham and find understanding in our fellow beings!

By: steve jonas

steve jonas — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 03:19:25 +0000

I have just now discovered that ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ was banned in some schools. I knew about the difficulties getting it published and so on, due to a female lead protagonist and the pseudo science contained in the novel, etc. I read ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ and the Narnia series around roughly the same age. 12 or 13. Someone stated that Narnia was in your face, Christian themed, well I for one not being introduced to Christianity until around 16 years old, was not slapped in the face by it. Needless to say, on my own without outside influence, took very little from any biblical reference in either book. Back to ‘A Wrinkle in Time’. I enjoyed it as a child, and re read it about 3 years ago and still enjoyed it. What I was faced with the second time, was as an adult, it became utterly clear that there was an over tone of “New Age” philosophy contained in the story and frankly, I was baffled by the multiple influences contained within. What I was left with, was much like back when I was 12 or 13. It was a fantasy story about children teaming up with outer worldly beings, concurring an evil force. Science fiction. Any religious overture of ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ was mishandled and very irresponsible and this is why I have this opinion. What the story shows, is that every person, even the offbeat, somewhat eccentric person, like the protagonist has the “inner light” as well as famous historical figures to concur this outside evil force. The evil being an outside of our own persona and the good being an inside source only to be tapped if properly sought out by love. Inside we contain good and only by an outside force is there evil. This is a product of the human ego, to lay blame and create this outside evil force, to deny the very fact that the evil is also contained within. We all have the potential to do good and evil.

By: eva

eva — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 03:00:43 +0000

i also read this book when i was little, like around seven. i didn’t reALLY GET IT BUT I LIKED IT. when i went to 6th grade i reread it and got it and its still one of my favorite books alongside harry potter and the giver (also banned) I dont get why people ban such good books, Most kids don’t like to read but in my banned books class at high school i noticed some kids actually got into the books and kept on reading.

By: E.

E. — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:13:50 +0000

I received this book as a gift and I read it wondering if I had read it as a teen.
I loved recognising the Bible verses that are in it! BUT I am very offended to have Jesus listed with many artists and others who were lights to see by. The verse used is : and the light shineth in darkness and the darkness comprehended it not”. Jesus is THE light, He is THE way, THE TRUTH and THE LIGHT, no one can get to the Father except by HIM. To list Him with mere men and the god, Buddha, is impossible if you KNOW Him and who He is.
It goes to show that God’s Word is true as what the is verse is saying is exactly what has happened in this book.

By: Belle

Belle — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:32:36 +0000

This was one of my favorite books – I can’t tell you how many times I reread it. I was always searching the library in hopes of finding books similar to it. It has never occurred to me that it had anything to do with religion at all. And I simply don’t see how it can be seen as offensive that Jesus is named on a list of philosophers and others who bring light to the world.

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:47:06 +0000

This is one of my favorite books. I was raised in a Christian home although, admittedly, we were always more on the liberal side of Christianity) but I never even noticed the Christian themes. The fact that Jesus is mentioned with all those other great thinkers, artists, etc., never seemed objectionable to me, or to my parents apparently. Madeleine L’Engle is one of my mom’s favorite authors also.

One of my favorite stories about people objecting to this book comes from L’Engle’s journal A Circle of Quiet She said that she got a concerned letter from a teacher saying that students were passing around Wrinkle reading the “sex scenes”, and she included page numbers. L’Engle said she ran to the book in great excitement “to read my sex scenes” which she didn’t realize she’d written, and discovered that they were the descriptions of tessering.

By: KyleeJ

KyleeJ — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:49:40 +0000

I was kind of shocked when I saw the title for this post. “Banned? Really?”

Like you, I read A Wrinkle in Time when I was about 12 and didn’t really get into it. I’m not even sure if I finished it. I am not a Christian so it doesn’t really challenge my beliefs. If anything I’d have to say it reinforces them. I re-read A Wrinkle in Time earlier this year and I really got into it this time. I have 3 of the other 4 in the quintet and plan to read all 5 of them eventually. =)

By: Elizabeth M.

Elizabeth M. — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:49:15 +0000

I think I bought this for my kids but I don’t think they ever read it. I need to go into their rooms and find it again to read it myself.

By: Melody

Melody — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:37:02 +0000

ok, when i was in 6th grade we read this book as a class and we had to create a scene from the book…like a life-size diorama thing. it. was. awesome. i loved this book, i should read it again. i read the phantom tollbooth again as an adult and that was a fantastic experience, so perhaps i should try this one again..

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 04:35:22 +0000

I haven’t read this book yet and also read a few books from the banned book week. I’ll be adding this one to my list. I found this blog very interesting especially the information about why it was banned. Lately I’ve reread quite a few books that I read when I was younger and I realize that I pick up certain themes now that I never caught when I was in middle school or high school. I can see why adults would get upset about these issues but to many kids they never realize the bigger issues. They are sucked more into the story itself and don’t always realize the hidden meanings.