By Madeleine L'Engle

What would happen if you took Lovecraft and made him believe in the power of love? That's the heart and soul of this book, traveling across the stars on the wings of math, facing horrible abominations and alien figures, and finding out the universe ain't so bad after all. While my first reaction as an adult is to reject the ending as too neat, too concise and optimistic in how easily little Meg defeats the monster and saves her family, I see how a young child would love it. Thinking back, I do not remember much about the story when I first read it in sixth grade, but the love of math and the ideas of science that it implanted in me has always stuck. A quick, fun read, this book holds up as a fun entry for children but lacks a strong narrative for adults. Kinda gotta love a big, furry, tentacled, blind creature named Aunt Beast, though.

Banned

#22 on the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000 from ALA, #90 for 2000-2009

Jerry Falwell Ministries claims it undermines faith and religious beliefs and contains offensive language

1985 - Florida - Challenged but retained at Polk City Elementary where a parent believed it promoted witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons

1990 - Alabama - Challenged at the Anniston schools for sending mix signals about good and evil, as well as a parent complaining the book listed Jesus Christ with other artists and thinkers.

1996 - North Carolina - Challenged but retained by the Catawba Count School Board in Newton after a parent requested for undermining religious beliefs.