A Wind in the Door

Rating:
Summary: A Great book
Review: One of those books where you scan it from cover to cover and then discover that you still don't know what the title means. Following up the massive success of her phenomenal "A Wrinkle in Time", authoress extraordinaire L'Engle decided to stretch her literary muscles a little further with the sequel "A Wind in the Door". Drawing more heavily on Christian imagery and themes than its predecessor, "A Wind in the Door" is a remarkable effort. Combining metaphysics, Old Testament creations, and the microcosmic building blocks of life, in this book we learn that sometimes growing up and getting older is necessary. Think of this story as the anti-Peter Pan, if you will.

Making zippo references to any of the plot points in "A Wrinkle In Time" (with the exception of an oblique mention of Earth as a shadowed planet and some brief background on Meg's relationship with Calvin), we once again meet our oh-so normal protagonist Meg Murry. She dotes on her little brother Charles Wallace quite a bit, but when he suddenly makes an announcement one day that there are dragons in the garden she's reasonably confused. Meg's had a lot on her mind lately too. There's the fact that Charles has been getting beaten up regularly at school and he's been strangely ill as well. As it turns out, Charles Wallace's condition is cause for concern on a particularly cosmic scale. Before she knows it, Meg has joined forces with a cherubim (a particularly Revelation-like creature made of all eyes and wings), a snake, a man from another world, her beloved boyfriend Calvin, and (most strangely) her former elementary school principal Mr. Jenkins. Together, this motley crew must do battle in the cells of Charles Wallace's very mitochondria, fighting against the evil Echthroi (a kind of fallen angels).

What I've always liked about Madeleine L'Engle's Christian infused tales is that they don't bop you over the head with didacticism. I mean, compare this book with (oh, say) C.S. Lewis's "The Last Battle". In both cases adept writers have conjured up magical worlds and creatures for young readers. Yet while Lewis ends up sending kids messages like "use make-up and you won't get into heaven" (paraphrased but definitely a message in the final Narnia tale), L'Engle sends the message "love is the saving grace". Which would you rather read? Better yet, which would you prefer for your children?

I did find it a little odd that Meg was continually astounded by fantastical events in this tale. I mean, doesn't she remember the oddities that occurred to her in "A Wrinkle In Time"? After you've faced down a gigantic evil pulsating brain, I'd think ANYTHING would strike you as possible. Still, this is a great book to introduce to those readers who never got around to "A Wrinkle". It doesn't really require any explanation or backstory. I also particularly enjoyed the science introduced in this book. If you've a kid that loves science but is also into fantasy, this book is a perfect match. From it I've just learned that mitochondria have their own DNA. Who knew? L'Engle. That's who.

Looking back on it, when I was a kid I tended to skim through books that bored me, and this tale certainly fit the bill. Still, reading it again today I think that if I'd just stuck with it, I could have really enjoyed it. And I truly believe that some kids reading it today will love it through and through. I mean, in what other tale are you going to come to the undeniable conclusion that partying is in our genes? If you'd like a good book with a strong (but human and flawed) female protagonist that I think almost every kid can identify with, this book's for you. Keep it close to your heart at all times.