Madeleine L’Engle
1918–2007
Today, Madeleine L’Engle’s book “A Wrinkle in Time” is considered a masterpiece, but the story was rejected by at least 26 publishers before Farrar, Straus & Giroux accepted it in 1962. L’Engle has speculated on possible reasons for the rejections, saying the book was “too different” and that it featured a female lead in a science fiction story. L’Engle’s work often reflected her strong religious beliefs and love of science, though “A Wrinkle in Time” is one of the country’s most banned books, with conservative religious factions claiming it inaccurately portrays Christianity. The book went on to win the John Newbery Medal as the best children’s book of 1963, and to date has sold eight million copies.
“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.”
–Madeleine L’Engle