A Wrinkle in Time
by Madeleine L'Engle
- Lexile
- 740L
- Grade range
- Grades 5–7
- Age range
- Ages 10–13
- Pages
- 232
- First published
- 1962
- Genre
- Children's Science Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780312367541
About this book
Twelve-year-old Meg Murry, her gifted brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin travel by tesseract across dimensions to rescue Meg's missing scientist father from a controlling cosmic force. L'Engle's Newbery-winning novel is a common 5th-6th grade science-fiction introduction.
Themes
- good vs evil
- scientific imagination
- individuality
- family love
- conformity
Content notes
- frightening imagery
- mind control
Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 5th grade · Massachusettssource: MA ELA Framework grade 5 aligned text
- recommended· 6th gradesource: Common Core aligned summer-reading list — rising 6th grade
- recommended· 6th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is A Wrinkle in Time?
- A Wrinkle in Time is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 5–7, with a Lexile measure of 740L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of A Wrinkle in Time?
- A Wrinkle in Time has a Lexile measure of 740L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign A Wrinkle in Time?
- A Wrinkle in Time appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is A Wrinkle in Time banned in schools?
- A Wrinkle in Time does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does A Wrinkle in Time explore?
- Central themes in A Wrinkle in Time include good vs evil, scientific imagination, individuality, family love, conformity. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.