Read This Book: Becoming Madeleine

Madeleine L’Engle is best known for her groundbreaking children’s novel, A Wrinkle in Time, which was the Newbery Medal winner in 1963. Unlike other biographies and accounts of the famous writer, this biography is lovingly told by her granddaughters, the keepers of her literary estate.

They begin the story before Madeleine is born, setting the scene of her birth by revealing interesting details about her family life. They have the advantage of access to family history, photographs, and never-before-seen letters and documents that add wonderful depth and dimension to their book. The authors don’t shy away from aspects about their grandmother’s life that might reflect poorly on her, telling how Madeleine was a part of a group that bullied another girl in school, and the regret she felt following the event. They also tell of her loneliness, her friendships that came and went, and of her early romance with her husband. They follow Madeleine’s life up until the publication and success of her most famous novel, which was hardly her last, but saw Madeleine’s vision come to fruition after a very tough period in her life, and succeed beyond her wildest dreams.

The best thing about this biography, in my opinion, is that the authors are able to show their grandmother’s emotional journey alongside her growth as a person and an artist. They draw clear connections between her work in theater and experiences as a young woman, wife, and mother with her later works, making this a great read for fans of L’Engle’s books and for writers looking for inspiration. The intended audience is L’Engle’s young readers, but any adult will enjoy this too.

Bonus: This book is great on audio, which both authors narrate!