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Madeleine L'Engle

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Reviewed

Read Time

5 min read

Our age bandAges 12+ · Young adult
Reader rating
4.5 · 1,830 Amazon ratings, as of Nov 2026
reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
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A Swiftly Tilting Planet: (National Book Award Winner) (A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, 3) by Madeleine L'Engle front cover

Our review

A Swiftly Tilting Planet

A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle Review: A Time-Spinning Quest

by Madeleine L'Engle

This third installment in the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet follows fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and a unicorn across centuries to prevent a global catastrophe. Designed for established series readers and fans of science fantasy, it rewards those with ample time to navigate its complex historical timeline.

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Our age band: Ages 12+

LuvemBooks Verdict

Best for

Best for devoted fans of the A Wrinkle in Time series who want to explore how a single person's choices ripple across history through a blend of science fantasy and telepathy.

Worth it if

Worth reading if you enjoy intricate time-travel narratives where historical figures and mythical creatures intersect to prevent global catastrophe.

Skip if

Skip it if you are looking for a quick, standalone adventure and prefer straightforward pacing over dense historical jumps and serialized storytelling.

Where reviewers agree and split

Readers rate it 4.5 on Amazon. The reviews we read that discuss it in depth agree:

  • Positive

    Geoff Whaley · Book blog: enjoys time travel themes despite a rushed denouement

  • Positive

    YA Books Central · Book blog: considers the book the best in the series (from its headline)

Overall verdicts are our summary of each review we read, from its headline, rating and conclusion.

Geoff Whaley praises the time-travel themes but finds the resolution frustratingly brief, while YA Books Central considers it the strongest entry in the series for its complex writing. Meanwhile, Kirkus Reviews highlights the return of the Murry family and their psychic journey through history.

“L'Engle's irksomely superior Murry family reassembles here for Thanksgiving dinner”

— Kirkus Reviews
Sources: Geoff Whaley, Kirkus Reviews, YA Books Central
4.5from 1,830 Amazon ratings, as of Nov 2026— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score

Ask LuvemBooks

Was this helpful?

A Swiftly Tilting Planet serves as the third volume in the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet, following fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and a unicorn named Gaudior across centuries to prevent a global catastrophe orchestrated by a dictator. The narrative expands the series' mythological scope through telepathy, rewarding established fans with a dense exploration of how individual choices ripple. Readers may find the serialized format challenging.
Is it worth reading?
It is a strong recommendation for devoted fans of the A Wrinkle in Time series who enjoy narratives. Geoff Whaley notes the enjoyment of the time travel themes despite a rushed denouement, while YA Books Central considers it the best in the series. However, Booklist, as quoted on madeleinelengle.com, frames it as a continuation of the Murry saga best suited for readers with ample time to navigate its complex timeline.
Similar books
For readers who enjoy this blend of time travel, telepathy, and historical fantasy, consider A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle, which continues the Murry family saga. The Wicked King by Holly Black offers a mythological fantasy with intricate world-building, while Legendborn by Tracy Deonn explores telepathic connections and historical ripples. The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss provides a fast-paced, puzzle-driven adventure that appeals to fans of strategic problem-solving.
Who should read this?
This book is tailored for established fans of the A Wrinkle in Time series and enthusiasts who enjoy exploring how choices can alter history. Goodreads contributor Kerri notes that the blend of telepathy appeals to those invested in the Murry family saga. It may be challenging for readers.
What age is it for?
Best for ages 12 and up. The novel targets young adult readers with its teenage protagonist and themes of cosmic responsibility, though its complex time-travel mechanics and dense historical timelines suit confident teen readers.
About Madeleine L'Engle
Madeleine L'Engle was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
What's the reading level?
The book features a protagonist and themes of cosmic responsibility. Its dense historical timelines and serialized structure align with confident teen readers who can navigate complex narrative jumps.
What are the main themes?
The narrative centers on how individual actions affect events. It explores the consequences of political dictatorship and the power of mythological forces in averting tragedy.
Summarize this book

Summarize this book

The novel follows fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior as they traverse time to stop the dictator Madog Branzillo. Accompanied by his sister Meg via telepathy, Charles Wallace must navigate the minds of others to avert a tragedy, weaving science fiction and fantasy to examine the interconnectedness of history.

Follow up

What historical periods does he visit?
Where does this fit in the series?
How does the story conclude?

Synthesized from verified book data & published reviews · How we review

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Our Review

We review the evidence: reader verdicts, gathered and weighed with AI assistance and edited by LuvemBooks, rather than one reader's first-hand take.

What It Is

A Swiftly Tilting Planet operates as the third volume in Madeleine L'Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time Quintet. According to the publisher's description, the narrative centers on fifteen-year-old Charles Wallace and the unicorn Gaudior, who embark on a perilous journey through time to stop the mad dictator Madog Branzillo.
Charles Wallace's sister, Meg, now grown and expecting her first child, accompanies him in spirit through a telepathic connection known as "kything." The novel functions as a companion to the Newbery Award-winning original, expanding the series' mythological scope.

What Happens

The narrative begins in the Murry household where Charles Wallace shouts an ancient rune to summon Gaudior. Their mission requires Charles Wallace to enter the minds of four different people from various historical periods to find a way to avert a tragedy.
The plot explores how individual actions ripple across time, weaving together science fiction and fantasy elements to examine the interconnectedness of history. Charles Wallace must navigate these temporal shifts to search for a way to avert the tragedy threatening his world and the historical figures he encounters.

Who It Is For

The book is tailored for readers of the existing A Wrinkle in Time series and enthusiasts of science fantasy. Goodreads contributor Kerri notes that the blend of "Charles Wallace, unicorns, telepathy and time travel" appeals to those who enjoy exploring how a single person's choices can alter history.
Readers seeking a quick, standalone adventure may find the dense historical jumps and serialized format less accessible.
Back cover with synopsis, other titles in series, and publisher information.
Back cover with synopsis, other titles in series, and publisher information.

Where It Sits

This volume follows A Wrinkle in Time and A Wind in the Door within the A Wrinkle in Time Quintet. Booklist, as quoted on madeleinelengle.com, frames it as a continuation of the Murry family's saga, describing it as "an intricately woven fantasy" in which the boy time-spins through history.
The story continues the series' exploration of telepathy and cosmic connections, maintaining the foundational themes established in the earlier volumes.

Sources & Further Reading

The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.

  1. Cited in this review
  2. 1
    A Swiftly Tilting Planet - WikipediaHigh-authority source

    en.wikipedia.org

  3. Further reading
  4. 2
    Madeleine L'Engle — author profile

    Madeleine L'Engle, LuvemBooks

  5. 3
    A Swiftly Tilting Planet - The Time Quintet by Madeleine L'Engle

    madeleinelengle.com

  6. 4
    Book 425: A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Time Quintet #3) – Madeleine L’Engle – geoffwhaley.com

    geoffwhaley.com

  7. 5
    A Swiftly Tilting Planet: (National Book Award Winner) - Madeleine L'Engle - Google Books

    books.google.com

  8. 6
    Kirkus Reviews

    Kirkus Reviews

  9. 7
    YA Books Central

    YA Books Central

Age & Reading Level

Our age band

Ages 12+

Reading level

Young adult

Amazon listing

Ages 10–14 · Grade 6–9

Our age band groups books for browsing; it isn't an age a review gave.

Browse all teen (12–18) books

Best for: Ages 12+ — complex time-travel mechanics and serialized plot suit confident teen readers.

Skip if you are looking for a quick, standalone adventure and prefer straightforward pacing over dense historical jumps

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Books like A Swiftly Tilting Planet

Curated picks for readers who enjoyed A Swiftly Tilting Planet, with our reasoning for each match.

More by Madeleine L'Engle

In our catalogue

A Wind in the Door

Madeleine L'Engle

The direct narrative follow-up to A Wrinkle in Time, continuing Charles Wallace's metaphysical adventures across time and space. Essential for readers wanting the next chapter in the series.

This book picks up immediately where A Wrinkle in Time left off, plunging Charles Wallace and his companions into a microscopic journey inside a dying man's body. The narrative retains the complex, time-bending structure that rewards patient readers while raising the stakes of the ongoing cosmic conflict. Fans who enjoyed the time-traveling scope of A Swiftly Tilting Planet by Madeleine L'Engle will find the intimate, sci-fi horror elements here to be a compelling evolution of the same themes.

If you liked A Swiftly Tilting Planet

In our catalogue

The Wicked King

Holly Black

Features a young protagonist navigating a high-stakes political fantasy world where ancient rules and magic dictate survival. Offers a fast-paced, character-driven plot with a distinct magical system.

In our catalogue

Legendborn

Tracy Deonn

Blends modern urban settings with Arthurian legend and secret magical societies, creating a rich world of hidden history and time-bound secrets. Strong focus on protagonist growth within a complex mythos.

In our catalogue

The Escape Game

Marissa Meyer, Tamara Moss

Pits teenagers against high-tech puzzles and traps in a race against time, emphasizing quick thinking and logic over physical strength. A thrilling puzzle-box narrative with a sci-fi edge.

Not your thing?

In our catalogue

We Were Liars

E. Lockhart

Offers a concise, tightly plotted mystery with a shocking twist, avoiding the dense historical timelines and slow pacing that may have caused frustration. A quicker, more accessible read with similar emotional intensity.

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