A Wrinkle In Time

With a foot in both Science Fiction and Fantasy, A Wrinkle in Time is a bridge between reality and fantasy, a meeting place for adult and child readers alike.  Meg leads the adventure with her younger, gifted brother and her secret High School crush on her heels. Though she is your typical insecure, average-looking teen she is clearly gifted, but grappling with her identity as anything effectual let alone valuable to anyone. Surrounded by her brilliant parents; her father recently disappeared while experimenting, her mother is the beautiful scientist slash stay at home mom; and her little brother the certified genius status and brainier than them all, she feels completely ordinary and unexceptional. While her little brother may "have all the answers" he is very much in need of her protection, and Meg isn't afraid to take a punch or swing one. The three mysterious, powerful guides through this fantastical journey are all female, Mrs. Who, Mrs. Which, and Mrs. Whatsit, though we also run into the "Happy Medium" who is genderless. With clear, humorous narrative and believable characters this series, which also includes A Wind in the Door, and A Swiftly Tilted Planet, are great examples of lit featuring strong female lead characters without it feeling contrived or like the author is making a "statement." They just are who they are and drive the story forward. It's no wonder it's a classic.