“”Rain don’t fall on a witch if she doesn’t want it to, although personally I prefer to get wet and be thankful.” “Thankful for what?” said Tiffany. “That I’ll get dry later.””

A young woman named Tiffany is changing my life. The power in these novels, set in whimsical fantasy, is moving, bone deep, and thoughtful in a way that can only have written in a spirit of joy and contented acceptance of the world.

Terry Pratchett challenges readers not to be anything but themselves, which forces you to realize, your true self is your strongest self.

“It was great. I loved it. My favorite part was crossing the river and it was awesome. I liked the ninjas. They were hiding from the Samurai. Ninjas followed nature. I liked it.” Review by Max Age 5

Kickstarted with the Wrinkle In Time novels I’ve been on a “70s/80s Young Adult Science Fiction” streak. Most of these books were part of my parent’s collection that I read over and over as a 9-14 year old. It was great fun to visit some of Asimov’s robots again, particularly on Jeff and Norby’s mixed up wacky adventures. The attempts at Star Trek-esque equality ideals juxtaposed with some ridiculously inappropriate comments on women’s bodies is so purely 70s that while jarring was almost charming.

“I wish I could give it 10 Stars! The pictures are great.” Review by Max, age 5

Is A Wrinkle In Time the best novel of all time? Nah. Is it the young feminist manifesto I remember it to be? Not particularly. Is it near and dear to my heart and fundamentally important to who I am as an adult woman today? You betcha. In light of the movie coming out shortly I recently re-read the entire quintet and now have finished the Hope Larson adaptation of the first book in graphic novel form (one of my favorite mediums). This version, an obvious labor of love, only reaffirmed my deep connection to the story’s main character, Meg. Being in junior high sucks. Being smart (at least in your own way) and weird in junior high sucks even more. I wasn’t a traditional “smart nerd” in school. I was my own weird brand of overthinking/constantly reminded of “my potential” nerd - just like Meg. Desperate for approval and yet rejecting so many people. This story very obviously also spoke to Hope Larson as it did to me. Meg feels everything so deeply, so emotionally, and her insight is her biggest downfall and asset - to the point that her faults are given to her as a gift. This story is powerful, thoughtful, exciting, and beautifully retold in the graphic novel medium. I do wish the illustrations were in color, but the blue/black ink version is still lovely. The dialogue is spot on to the novel but the illustrations catch nuances I always felt as a reader. Upon finishing this I don’t know that I feel any closer or stronger to the story, so much as I feel admiration for Hope Larson for having the same love and passion for science fiction is a young woman that I did. The love and inspiration is clear here, and I thank her for that.

This I choose to do. If there is a price, this I choose to pay. If it is my death, then I choose to die. Where this takes me, there I choose to go. I choose. This I choose to do.
Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith (Discworld, #35; Tiffany Aching, #3)

Oh Tiffany. How you’ve reached me and moved me.

I enjoy jumping in time and place, but I miss a more cohesive overall story. A friend passed this on to me to read with my oldest (5) and while I certainly enjoyed it, it’s not quite right for him just yet. In three or four years though a time traveling robot who hangs out with dinosaurs will be the hook, and the violence and snideness will be the line and sinker - ha!