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Quick answer: If your child loved A Wrinkle in Time, try The Phantom Tollbooth, A Wind in the Door, The Giver, A Wizard of Earthsea, Tuck Everlasting and The Mysterious Benedict Society. They share big ideas, brave kids and a mix of science and magic.
Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 Newbery winner follows Meg Murry as she travels through space to rescue her father, guided by three odd women. It blends physics, love and the fight against darkness. Readers who finish it want more thoughtful science fantasy with strong young heroes. These 15 books suit ages 8 to 14 and many make good read-alouds.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Wind in the Door | Madeleine L'Engle | 9-13 | the direct sequel |
| A Swiftly Tilting Planet | Madeleine L'Engle | 10-14 | series readers |
| The Phantom Tollbooth | Norton Juster | 8-12 | readers who like wordplay |
| The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | C.S. Lewis | 7-12 | readers who want a classic |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | 10-14 | older readers |
| The Giver | Lois Lowry | 12+ | readers who like dystopia |
| Tuck Everlasting | Natalie Babbitt | 9-12 | readers who like gentle stories |
| The Dark Is Rising | Susan Cooper | 10-14 | readers who like British folklore |
| The Book of Three | Lloyd Alexander | 9-13 | readers who want a quest |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | puzzle fans |
| Howl's Moving Castle | Diana Wynne Jones | 10-14 | readers who like humor |
| Gregor the Overlander | Suzanne Collins | 9-13 | readers who like quests |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | L. Frank Baum | 7-12 | readers who want the original |
| Ender's Game | Orson Scott Card | 12+ | strong readers |
| The Girl Who Drank the Moon | Kelly Barnhill | 9-13 | readers who like lyrical fantasy |
1. A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle
The sequel, in which Meg and Charles Wallace travel inside a cell to fight a threat. Odd and wonderful.
Best for: the direct sequel.
2. A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle
Charles Wallace travels through time to prevent a nuclear war. Deeper and more complex.
Best for: series readers.
3. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Milo drives through a magic tollbooth and visits lands of words and numbers. Witty and full of puns.
Best for: readers who like wordplay.
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Four children enter Narnia through a wardrobe. A short classic of good against evil.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
5. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Ged, a young wizard, unleashes a shadow and must face it. A thoughtful fantasy.
Best for: older readers.
6. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Jonas lives in a society without pain and learns its secrets. Short and thought-provoking.
Best for: readers who like dystopia.
7. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Winnie meets a family who drink from a spring and never age. Short, quiet and reflective.
Best for: readers who like gentle stories.
8. The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
Will Stanton learns he is the last of the Old Ones. Atmospheric and mythic.
Best for: readers who like British folklore.
9. The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
Taran, a pig-keeper, becomes a hero in the land of Prydain. The first of a classic fantasy series.
Best for: readers who want a quest.
10. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids go on a secret mission. Puzzles and teamwork.
Best for: puzzle fans.
11. Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Sophie is cursed to be old and moves in with the wizard Howl. Funny and sweet.
Best for: readers who like humor.
12. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
Gregor falls into the Underland beneath New York. Adventure and prophecy.
Best for: readers who like quests.
13. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Dorothy is swept away to Oz and seeks the Wizard. A classic of friendship and courage.
Best for: readers who want the original.
14. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Ender is trained to fight an alien war in space. A classic of young genius and pressure.
Best for: strong readers.
15. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A witch accidentally feeds a baby moonlight and raises her. A gentle fairy tale.
Best for: readers who like lyrical fantasy.
How to Choose
For younger readers, begin with The Phantom Tollbooth, Narnia or Tuck Everlasting. For the L'Engle series, read A Wind in the Door next. For big ideas, try The Giver or Ender's Game. For fantasy epics, choose Earthsea or The Book of Three. A simple plan is to alternate a science-flavored book with a magic-flavored one. Some books here have scary moments, so check them for younger children. Reading aloud works well with these books: one chapter a night for The Phantom Tollbooth or Narnia, and discuss the ideas afterward. If your child likes science, add books about space or physics to the stack.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is A Wrinkle in Time for?
It is usually recommended for ages 10 to 12, though younger readers can enjoy it as a read-aloud.
Is it science fiction or fantasy?
It is both, a science fantasy that mixes physics with moral themes.
Is there a series?
Yes, the Time Quintet includes A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet.
Is the movie faithful?
The 2018 film changes parts of the story, so many readers prefer the book.
Why is A Wrinkle in Time a classic?
It treats science and love seriously, has a brave girl hero and won the Newbery Medal in 1963.
Is it religious?
It has some themes of good and evil, and quotes from many sources, but it is read as a science-fantasy adventure.