SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

September 11, 2012 by Travis Jonker

Review: A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Madeleine L’Engle, Hope Larson

September 11, 2012 by Travis Jonker   1 comments

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel
By Madeleine L’Engle
Adapted and Illustrated by Hope Larson

Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan)

ISBN: 9780374386153
$19.99
Grades 4-7
In Stores October 2, 2012

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Find it at:
Schuler Books | Your Library

Reviewing a graphic novel adaptation of another book can be a bit tricky. Should I focus on the success of the adaptation? The quality of the book as a stand-alone? A combination of the two? Thankfully, A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel makes it easy – it’s successful through and through. In skillfully adapting a Newbery-winning classic (albeit, a fairly divisive one), Hope Larson takes well-known, well-respected material and treats it with care and creativity.

Chances are, you know the story. One dark and stormy night, Meg Murray’s family is visited by three strangers, taking Meg, her little brother Charles Wallace, and new friend Calvin O’Keefe on a trip through time and space to save Meg’s father, Mr. Murray, from an evil force that is threatening to take over the universe.

Since I was rusty on the original A Wrinkle in Time when I picked up the graphic novel, I decided to read both books in unison for the sake of comparison. It looked like this:

 Because of this, I can say with confidence the Larson’s adaptation is as faithful as they come. To call the differences nominal would almost be an understatement. It’s pretty simple – L’Engle’s descriptions have become illustrations, and the dialog is presented with only the tiniest of adjustments. This graphic novel is no synopsis, folks – it’s A Wrinkle in Time.

The illustrations are black and white with blue accents. Staying this faithful to the story means that the text often leaves little room for backgrounds, giving more focus to the characters. Larson has a talent for expression, bringing the emotion of the text to life. When the artwork does break free of small panels, it’s a beautiful sight.

Some might call it heresy to add visuals to a book that so successfully creates them in readers minds. I think you know what my opinion on that is: give me a break. This book will bring new readers into the fold and make them curious about the other books in L’Engles Time Quintet.

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel will generate interest. Kids who have read the original story will likely be interested in how the graphic novel looks, and those who have never read L’Engle’s classic may see this as a good opportunity to give it a shot. Win-win, I say.

Review copy from the publisher.

Watch the A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel book trailer:

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Farrar Straus GirouxMacmillanreview

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Review of the Day: This is Orange by Rachel Poliquin, ill. Julie Morstad

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Betty & Veronica: Summer Fun in the Sun | Preview

by Brigid Alverson

Heavy Medal

Heavy Medal Suggestions: 73 Titles and Counting

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Like This, Try That: K-Pop Demon Hunters

by Riley Jensen

The Yarn

How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Counting the Stars (So Far) | The 2025 Stars Issue

35 Impressive Nonfiction Elementary Titles | SLJ 2025 Stars So Far

In Praise of Curation: The practice of advising readers holds something dear—trust | From the Editor

8 Merry Picture Books and Board Books to Celebrate Christmas in July

19 Standout Nonfiction Books for Middle and High School | SLJ 2025 Stars So Far

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jen says

    September 23, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    I’m curious how Larson depicts the more internal/emotional elements of Wrinkle, especially how Meg frees CW from IT…

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025