SEASON 2, Episode 6
A WRINKLE IN TIME PODCAST EPISODE
MADELEINE L'ENGLE TRIVIA, FACTS & THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
Rejected by at least 26 publishers, banned in schools across the US, and eventually flown into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia - the story behind Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 Newbery Medal winner is as strange as anything that happens on Camazotz. Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or search "Book Trivia Podcast" in your preferred app.
What is this A WRINKLE IN TIME podcast episode about?
This episode covers Madeleine L'Engle's best-known novel — the book that was turned down by every major publisher before selling millions of copies, won the 1963 Newbery Medal, and became one of the most frequently banned books in America. Jess and Rach dig into the book, L'Engle's own complicated relationship with faith, the real mythology hiding behind the planet names, and the 2018 Disney film.
A WRINKLE IN TIME Podcast Episode Summary
A Wrinkle in Time arrived in 1962 after L'Engle's manuscript was rejected by at least 26 publishers, several of whom couldn't decide whether it was a children's book or a book for adults. It was eventually picked up by John Farrar of Farrar, Straus and Giroux - reportedly because his own religious faith connected with the book's spiritual themes, the very thing other publishers had been scared off by.
In this episode, Jess and Rach cover where L'Engle drew her inspiration (a road trip through the American wilderness where the names Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which came to her out of nowhere), why the book's supposedly invented planet names are all pulled from real Mayan and Hebrew mythology, and how L'Engle's unconventional Christian faith got the book banned by evangelical schools and criticized by secular critics in the same breath.
Behind A WRINKLE IN TIME & MADELEINE L'ENGLE
This episode goes beyond the story to cover the real life behind the book. We cover:
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Why at least 26 publishers rejected the manuscript — and the Christmas tea party that changed everything
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How Meg Murry was modelled directly on L'Engle herself, down to the poetry contest her own teachers refused to believe she'd won
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Why the book was banned by evangelical schools for its universalist themes, while secular critics attacked it for being too religious
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The real mythology behind Camazotz, Ixchel, and Uriel — none of the "invented" planet names in this book are actually invented
👉 A story that was rejected by 26 publishers and still ended up in orbit around the Earth.
What You'll Hear in This A WRINKLE IN TIME Podcast Episode
✔️ Madeleine L'Engle's life — the "stupid" kid whose teachers didn't believe she'd written her own prize-winning poem
✔️ Why the book's working title during rejection was literally "Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which"
✔️ The Newbery Medal acceptance speech where L'Engle compared conformity to muffins in a muffin tin
✔️ The 2018 Disney film: Oprah Winfrey's no-audition casting, the hidden Hamilton reference, and what got cut from the book
✔️ The NASA astronaut who read this book as a kid in 1966 — and took it into space herself in 1997
Whether you're searching for an A Wrinkle in Time podcast or a Madeleine L'Engle trivia podcast, this episode covers it all.
A WRINKLE IN TIME PODCAST FAQ
What is A Wrinkle in Time about?
A Wrinkle in Time is a 1962 science fantasy novel by Madeleine L'Engle following Meg Murry, her brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin as they travel across the universe to rescue Meg's missing scientist father. It won the 1963 Newbery Medal and has never been out of print.
Why was A Wrinkle in Time banned?
It's No. 22 on the American Library Association's list of the 100 most banned books. Some evangelical schools challenged it over its universalist religious themes — the idea that all belief systems could lead to the same truth — while secular critics separately criticised it for being too religious. L'Engle addressed the backlash directly in a 2001 New York Times interview.
Is A Wrinkle in Time based on a true story?
Not directly, but Meg Murry was closely modelled on L'Engle herself — including her own experience of being dismissed as a poor student by teachers who once refused to believe she'd written a prize-winning poem herself.
What did the 2018 movie change from the book?
Ava DuVernay's adaptation cast Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, and Storm Reid as Meg. Notable changes from the book include Charles Wallace's backstory and the removal of the character Aunt Beast entirely. This episode covers the full list of changes, plus a hidden Hamilton reference in the film's dialogue.
Is there an A Wrinkle in Time podcast?
Yes — the Book Trivia Podcast covers one book per episode, digging up facts other readers might not know about the book, the author, and the adaptations. This episode covers A Wrinkle in Time in full.
Where can I listen to this A Wrinkle in Time podcast episode?
You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major podcast platforms using the links on this page.