A Ring of Endless Light

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Summary: A superb writing of life, death, and dolphins
Review: This is probably the best book I have ever read. I have tried to find books to meet up to it's high standards, but have failed miserably. All books for this age category seem to focus on boys, dating, and other irrelevent activities. I would recomend it to anyone willing to indulge in thought, and I hope that Madeline L'Engle puts out another one like this.

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Summary: A must read
Review: Wonderful! I am a 9th grade student and have just compleated this book in my English class. This book deals with just about everything. Death, dolphins, mixed emotions, relationships, and some science fiction (like ESP). This book is about Vicky (the main character), and mainly her relationships with three boys, and it mentions death frequently. Vicky is an "almost 16" year old that has to deal with her grandfather slowly dying, her siblings growing up, 3 relationships with 3 different people, and lots of other things. I can't really describe it. Let's just say it's one of those "read it to belive it" kind of books. This book will amaze you. A must read!

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Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: Vicky Austin comes fully into being in this story. L'Engle has created a timeless character, who deals with the problems that we face today; loss of loved one, conflict about one's self, and love issues. Although surrounded by the dark at times, Vicky always pulls herself through.

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Summary: Just a good book to read when there is nothing to do.
Review: This book is sad, starting at the first sentance. There is a lot of talk about death, and hard decisions. A girl named Vicky, who is the main character, is spending time with three different boys. She is also having a hard time watching her grandfather die- he has lukemia. By Katie Brown, Age 11 :-)

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Summary: love this book
Review: This is probably my favorite book by one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed it when I first read it at 15, and I enjoy it now that I am 25. I love the part about the girl who can communicate with dophins--I also love the romance and the true-to-life problems of a coming of age girl

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Summary: Book enjoyable for all ages
Review: This is one of my two all time favorite L'Engle books (A Swiftly Tilting Plant is the other.) It's an enjoyable book with complex characters that are easy to identify with. It's the type of story you can read over and over and at different ages and everytime you can take out something new

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Summary: A book with many levels that teenagers can identify with.
Review: This book is a love story between a boy who was hurt and a girl looking for love in a world gone bad, with death surrounding her. It is also the story of faith in God, and learning to let go of things we love so that they may have a better life. The main character, Vicky, has to learn to accept her grandfather's death

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Summary: An inspiring book -- death and dolphins, poetry and pathos
Review: Madeleine L'Engle has done it again. The saga of the Austin family (begun in "Meet the Austins") continues, with the focus this time on Vicky Austin. Vicky's family moves in with her grandfather, who is dying of leukemia. L'Engle does not turn away from the eventuality of death and its slow painful approach, but focuses on the different ways the family members deal with death. The grandfather is a paragon of men, which makes watching his demise by parts even more upsetting. L'Engle counterbalances this landscape of grief with poetry (from whence the title), dolphin encounters, and the deepening of friendships. This book will speak strongly both to teens and adults who are fascinated by the paradox of pain and beauty in the same world. Highly recommended!

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Summary: One of her best
Review: I've always enjoyed Madeleine L'Engle's books, but I think that this one has to be one of her very best, the other one being "A Wrinkle In Time." Like the two previous books in the Austin series, this one centers around the struggles and triumphs of a teenager named Vicky Austin. She and her family have moved in with her grandfather, who is dying of leukemia. In addition to that trial, Vicky has to choose between three young men: Leo, whom she's known all her life and who can identify with the struggle she's going through with her beloved grandfather; Zachary, the poor little rich boy whom Vicky can't quite figure out; and Adam, the gentle, caring--and yet confusing marine biologist. Join Vicky as she travels the path to adulthood--complete with its disappointments and successes--and learns more about herself and the people around her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes Madelien L'Engle, and enjoys a good read. It was realistic, and yet had that mysterious element of fantasy that L'Engle is so good at inserting. By all means--read it! You won't regret it.

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Summary: I checked this out 25 times in a row before I bought it...
Review: And that should tell you what I thought right there. "A Ring of Endless Light" is basically, and we're talking extremely basic here, about one girl (Vicky Austin) and her struggle over one summer to understand death and other people. Her grandfather is dying, one of her family's friends just died, a little girl dies in her arms. Plus she has three guys vying (sp?) for her attention, one the guy who is basically responsible for the death of the family friend, one who is the son of the family friend, and one who worked with the family friend. Little bit complicated here, but read the book and you'll understand. I would suggest that you read a few other books first--it's not necessary, I didn't read them first, but you'll understand it better--they will give you a better idea of who the characters are and why they act the way they do, especially Adam. "A Wrinkle in Time," (all these are by Madeleine L'Engle, incidentally)"Meet the Austins," &q! uot;The Arm of the Starfish," "The Moon by Night," "The Young Unicorns," "A Swiftly Tilting Planet," and "A Wind in the Door." The great thing about L'Engle's books are that they almost all are tied together by one or more characters. Start with "A Wrinkle..", then go to "Swiftly Tilting..", then "A Wind..", then "Meet the Austins.." then either"Moon by Night.." or "Arm of the Starfish" (they take place at the same time) then "Young Unicorns" THEN read "A Ring of Endless Light". It will make so much more sense to you. And if you liked all of those, read "Troubling a Star" after "A Ring.." It's a definite sequel about Adam and Vicky the fall after "A Ring.." takes place. If you followed all of the that, I hope you enjoy this book--it's totally awesome.