Meg Murry can't help but be worried when her six-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, announces there are dragons in the vegetable garden. He's so bright, and so different from other kids, he's getting bullied at school, and he is also strangely, seriously ill. But Charles Wallace is right about the dragons--actually a friendly entity who has come to help Charles Wallace fight his sickness, and to take Meg and her friend Calvin O'Keefe on a terrifying, wonderful journey into galactic space--where they must battle the force ...
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Meg Murry can't help but be worried when her six-year-old brother, Charles Wallace, announces there are dragons in the vegetable garden. He's so bright, and so different from other kids, he's getting bullied at school, and he is also strangely, seriously ill. But Charles Wallace is right about the dragons--actually a friendly entity who has come to help Charles Wallace fight his sickness, and to take Meg and her friend Calvin O'Keefe on a terrifying, wonderful journey into galactic space--where they must battle the force of evil to save Charles Wallace, and themselves.
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Thus rages the battle of the Echthroe to "X out" or un-name all parts of the universe. In this second of Madeleine L'Engle's "science fiction" trilogy Meg Wallace is sent on a quest in order to save her little brother and - ultimately - everything and everyone else as well. L'Engle spent much time researching the science behind what she wrote, making interesting connections between science and philosophy. This book may look like it's written for children, but it holds the interest of any curious adult.
Ellyb
Nov 1, 2009
To save all of Creation we must love it
While "A Wind in the Door" is nowhere nearly as well-known or iconic as its predecessor, "A Wrinkle in Time," this book holds just as dear a place in my heart. In it, Meg must learn to feel love where she does not wish to feel it, and to recognize the inherent interconnectedness of every living thing in the Universe. It is only in this way that she can save her young brother, Charles Wallace, who is dying because fantastical denizens of his mitochondria, the "farandolae," refuse to understand the importance of the universe beyond themselves, thus allowing their home to wither and be extinguished.
This, of course, is L'Engles way of saying that self-centeredness and inability to see how our actions affect others is something that puts the world at terrible risk.
It is a worthwhile and, indeed, a vital message for children, packaged in a well-written, captivating story.
I also have a special place in my heart for this book as that which introduced me to mitochondria and Lynn Margulis's theory of endosymbiosis, which had only been published seven years previous to the writing of this book and was by no means immediately accepted by the scientific community. While much of the "science" surrounding Charles Wallace's health is pure fantasy, L'Engle was clearly on top of the breakthroughs being made.
"A Wind in the Door" is a worthy continuation of the Murray family's adventures that easily stands on its own. Highly recommended.
