A Wrinkle in Time

Madeleine L'Engle

Cover of A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide

by Madeleine L'Engle

Reading Level 4-5 Intense (Lvl 4) Ages 9-12 Heads Up
Newbery Medal

The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is intense and may include graphic or distressing scenes.

We may earn a commission from these links. Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores with every purchase.

About This Book

The wind howls and rain taps against the window as Meg and Charles Wallace sneak a midnight snack. Suddenly, a strange visitor arrives with whispers of a secret called the tesseract — a wrinkle in time itself. What will it take to find their missing father and face the darkness waiting beyond the stars?

Themes

Science FictionFantasyMagicFamilyAdventureFriendshipGood vs EvilComing of Age

Quick Assessment

A Wrinkle in Time follows Meg Murray, her brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin as they embark on a cosmic adventure to rescue Meg’s father, who vanished during a mysterious experiment involving time travel. This middle-grade fantasy blends science fiction with magical elements and explores themes such as family, bravery, and good versus evil. Parents should note the presence of intense scenes including child abuse, kidnapping, possession, gaslighting, and moments of fear and distress, making it suitable for readers aged 9-12 who can handle complex emotional content.

For Parents

Content Intensity

Level 4 — Intense
Gentle Mild Moderate Intense Very Intense

Heavy themes explored in depth. War, death, abuse addressed directly.

Content Flags

Child Abuse Kidnapping Possession Gaslighting Claustrophobic Scene Emotional Distress Fear & Anxiety Abusive Parents Someone Becomes Unconscious Someone Struggles to Breathe Sad Animal Someone Leaves Without Saying Goodbye
Data confidence: standard

Was our "Intense" content intensity rating accurate for this book?

Reading Insights

Hook Factor

2/10

A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.

Discussion Potential

4/10

Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.

Book DNA

Multi-dimensional content fingerprint

Vocabulary Level
4
Emotional Weight
8
Theme Richness
10
World Scope
1
Data Confidence
7

Similar Books

Based on content and theme analysis

See all books like this →

Details

Book Length

154 pages
ISBN
9780307246301
Pages
154
Publisher
Listening Library
Published
January 2006
Type
Fiction

Genres

Subjects

Science Fiction, Fantasy, & MagicChildren's Audio9-12