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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As seen on Stranger Things, discover the ground-breaking, bestselling science fiction and fantasy classic that has delighted readers for over 60 years!

NEWBERY MEDAL WINNER • TIME MAGAZINE’S 100 BEST FANTASY BOOKS OF ALL TIME • NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE FROM DISNEY

"A Wrinkle in Time is one of my favorite books of all time. I've read it so often, I know it by heart." —Meg Cabot

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.

Late one night, three otherworldly creatures appear and sweep Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin O'Keefe away on a mission to save Mr. Murry, who has gone missing while doing top-secret work for the government. They travel via tesseract--a wrinkle that transports one across space and time--to the planet Camazotz, where Mr. Murry is being held captive. There they discover a dark force that threatens not only Mr. Murry but the safety of the whole universe.

A Wrinkle in Time is the first book in Madeleine L’Engle’s Time Quintet, followed by A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time.

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

Accolades & Awards

Fantasy Essentials
Newbery Medal
1963
Classics Fantasy Fantasy & Magic Fantasy Essentials Fiction Literature & Fiction Newbery Medal Science Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Time Travel Witty 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 >

Critic reviews

1998 marks is the 35th anniversary of A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. To celebrate, Bantam Doubleday Dell is publishing two wonderful new editions of L'Engle's Time Quartet, including A Wrinkle in Time; A Wind in The Door; A Swiftly Tilting Planet; and Many Waters.

In both the new digest and the mass market editions, each title includes a new introduction by the author. Covers of the digest editions are illustrated by Caldecott Honor illustrator Peter SÝs, and the mass market edition covers are illustrated by renowned science fiction and fantasy illustrator Cliff Nielsen.

Featured Article: The Best Young Adult Audiobooks to Listen to as a Grown Woman


For some reason, a lot of people equate "growing up" with "growing serious." But while interests may change over time, age does not have to be the deciding factor in what games you play, what movies you watch, or what books you enjoy. The young adult audiobooks on this list are truly timeless: grownup listeners can relate to YA classics in a whole new way or find new favorites among more recent offerings.

Featured Article The Best Young Adult Audiobooks to Listen to as a Grown Woman
Imaginative Adventure • Philosophical Undertones • Distinct Character Voices • Timeless Themes • Dimensional Travel

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The characters (especially Meg) sounded too whiny with this narrator. I would have like more strength in her voice.

Not a fan of narration

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This story speaks for itself. It was a pleasant read.
However, I'd like to point out that the narrator of this book did such a fine job changing her voice to fit the different characters of the book. This is particularly one aspect of an audio book that I pay attention to, so to find that someone could switch their voice back and forth to fit every character so well was really nice!

Great narration!

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I loved this book when I was younger. Since I am older, the book is still good, but definitely written for a younger audience. The biggest problem was with the narration. The 3 W's were the worst with their odd voices and Mrs. Witch being the worst of them all. Meg came in second. Her whiny voice made her character more annoying and less heroic than I remembered. I sort of wish I had actually re-read the book as opposed to listening to it.

Naration took away from the story

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I really enjoyed listening to the book as I rode on the bus. It relieved the irritation of the casting of the movie. It was like coming back & visiting with an old friend.

Still as good as when I was young!

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Such a great story. I loved talking with my kids how this books is like our journey with God and the fight between good and evil. Very well written.

LOVE

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