Becoming Madeleine: A Biography of the Author of A Wrinkle in Time by Her Granddaughters

by Charlotte Jones Voiklis, Léna Roy

Overview

This middle-grade biography explores the life and works of Madeleine L'Engle —written by her granddaughters.

This elegant and insightful biography of Madeleine L’Engle (1918–2007) was written by her granddaughters, Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Léna Roy. Using never-before-seen archival materials that include photographs, poems, letters, and journal entries from when Madeleine was a child until just after the publication of her classic, A Wrinkle in Time, her granddaughters weave together an in-depth and unique view of the famous writer. It is a story of overcoming obstacles—a lonely childhood, financial insecurity, and countless rejections of her writing—and eventual triumph. Becoming Madeleine will speak not only to fans of the icon’s work, but also to anyone interested in writing.

This title has Common Core connections.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250870278
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Charlotte Jones Voiklis has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and manages Madeleine L'Engle's literary legacy. She lives in New York City.

Léna Roy works with young writers in Westchester and Connecticut as the Regional Manager for Writopia Lab. She is also the author of the young adult novel, Edges. She lives in New York.

Table of Contents

Prologue 3

Before Madeleine 7

A New York City Childhood 15

Trouble at School 23

Switzerland 29

From Child to Teen 41

The Eustace Affair 57

Senior Year 65

The College Years 75

The Best School for a Writer 85

Making a Living 101

Work and Love 109

Marriage and Children 117

Making the Leap 139

Epilogue 151

Authors' Note 161

Editorial Reviews

A publishing event. . .[Madeleine's granddaughters] do her proud, organizing the information well, presenting it clearly, and drawing on her journals for the lively excerpts that make this book so very readable. . .A fine tribute to a legendary writer, 100 years after her birth.” —Booklist, starred review

“The book will appeal to aspiring writers as well as L’Engle’s admirers. . .A personal prologue and a moving epilogue that succinctly touches on L’Engle’s later adulthood from her granddaughters’ perspective are additional highlights, as are the many photos of the writer and her family.” —Publishers Weekly

“This richly documented, intimate biography will give readers and writers of every age a deeper understanding of the beloved writer. In addition, readers will discover the pride, understanding, and bonds of kinship that emerge when generations within a family share life experiences.” —School Library Journal

“A sweet biography. . .nice insight into the artist as a young woman, particularly as demonstrated in her journal entries, generously shared here.” —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

12/04/2017
L’Engle’s granddaughters have produced a perceptive look at the prolific author’s solitary childhood, gawky adolescence, and early adulthood, concluding in 1961 with FSG acquiring the manuscript of the book that would become A Wrinkle in Time. Making generous use of L’Engle’s diary entries (starting when she was 14 and at a Swiss boarding school), correspondence, and memorabilia, the book will appeal to aspiring writers as well as L’Engle’s admirers. The liveliest and most engrossing sections focus on L’Engle’s young adulthood in New York City as she strove to make a career in the theater and as a novelist. Early successes in both arenas gave way to rejection and frustration, but L’Engle persisted, faithful to her need to write, regardless of publication. At 30, she reflected in her journal: “It is just a necessary function to me like breathing and eating and eliminating. And is one of my greatest joys. And one of my greatest agonies.” A personal prologue and a moving epilogue that succinctly touches on L’Engle’s later adulthood from her granddaughters’ perspective are additional highlights, as are the many photos of the writer and her family. Ages 9–12. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

03/01/2018
Gr 6 Up—Skillfully crafted by her two granddaughters, this fascinating biography of renowned author Madeleine L'Engle illuminates the key personality traits, relationships, experiences, and perspectives that shaped her life and writing. With warmth, candor, and insight, the authors draw on journals, letters, poems, family stories, and more to portray L'Engle's growth from a solitary, awkward child to a literary success. The narrative is filled with poignant and entertaining anecdotes that convey L'Engle's love for her imperfect but supportive parents, her insecurities and eagerness to be accepted by peers, her creative independence and determination, and her early, lifelong passion for writing. This richly documented, intimate biography will give readers and writers of every age a deeper understanding of the beloved writer. In addition, readers will discover the pride, understanding, and bonds of kinship that emerge when generations within a family share life experiences. VERDICT This tender biography of an iconic kid lit author is a top choice for most libraries.—Gerry Larson, formerly at Durham School of the Arts, NC

School Library Journal