When you think about “books on healing,” you might think of a book that will tell you how to heal (for instance, Breaking the Vicious Cycle). Or you might think of a book describing someone’s journey to healing (like Chris Beat Cancer). Or you might think about a book that describes an entire philosophy of healing, such as The Web That Has No Weaver, which is about Traditional Chinese Medicine.
A Wind in the Door is none of those. It’s fiction.
Specifically young-adult sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
And I want you to read it.
Why, you ask?
Because on a macro level—a STORY level— author Madeleine L’Engle describes the difference between “sick” and “well” in a way that will stick with you. This is a story of WHY it is important to take the time to discover the rhythms of life that will contribute to healthy, whole living.
A story that shows how LOVE is at the heart of healing
A Wind in the Door is told from the point of view of Meg Murry, a typical-yet-not teen girl who is afraid of snakes (relevant). She worries about her little brother, Charles Wallace, because:
1. He is getting beat up by the big kids at school, and
2. He claims to have seen dragons on their property. Um, what?
As a child of two PhDs in a small town, Meg is used to being the ‘weird’ kid at school. Charles Wallace takes weird to a new level. He’s six years old, and talking about mitochondria in his first-grade class.
Anyway, that’s a “little did he know” moment, because it turns out the dragons are real (spoiler: not an actual dragon), Charles Wallace gets sick, and Meg is thrown into an adventure that involves her nemesis (the crusty old principal of her high school, Mr Jenkins), and her soon-to-be crush, Calvin O’Keefe.
And a snake. Which she hates.
In the end, good defeats evil.
Reading this book is an exercise in imagination
A Wind in the Door is the second in a series of books about the the Murry family—you may be familiar with the first book, A Wrinkle in Time. Wind takes place after Wrinkle, but doesn’t depend on it—so you could read either one by itself, and you wouldn’t be lost.
One of the things I like most about the book is the scope: it’s at once hugely expansive—galaxies! the birth of stars!—and intensely tiny—mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell!—in a way that reminds me of Ms Frizzle on the Magic School Bus.
It’s fantastical enough to make you look at the universe (or yourself) in a new way, yet grounded in reality.
Who should read this book?
It’s a valid question. The types of people who might enjoy this book are:
- You, if you want to stretch your imagination and give it a good workout
- Teen girls (especially intuitive, intelligent ones) who are looking for a role model
- School principals (or other administrators) who want to stop being so by-the-book
- Anyone looking for a way to visualize self-love
Overall Recommendation: Insightful and Encouraging
100% worth a read. A Wind in the Door is a great book to read before bed, as you drift off to sleep. Who knows—you may have some adventurous dreams!
You can buy it here, or check out your local library.
Disclosure: A Wind in the Door is part of the pantheon of Books of My Life. I first read it when I was 10 years old, and it captivates me just as much now as it did then. So full warning, this review is biased. 😉
Also, I’m an Amazon Affiliate so I may earn money if you purchase a book from one of the links in this post.