Here’s my first book review! I found this gem at a thrift store a month ago and picked it up without hesitation. I’ve been enjoying Madeleine L’Engle books since I read A Wrinkle in Time as a kid, and I was surprised to see a book by her that I hadn’t heard of before.
The Arm of the Starfish, written in 1965, is a completely worthwhile read. The author’s ability to vision a world where morality is clearly a driving force is both intriguing and refreshing. Her characters are quite compelling and believable, to the point I found myself emotionally involved with their adventures. Despite her clear and compelling use of foreshadowing, I found myself stunned along with the characters at plot twists.
While this book carries on the story of two characters from A Wrinkle in Time, the only real science fiction themes are merely subtexts to move the plot forward. I found myself wondering if this book would become an allegory because of the names of some of the characters, and while it approaches, the story rises above allegory by use of originality and manages to make a morality tale that is both intriguing and thought-provoking.
I would recommend this book to anyone who’s enjoyed books by authors such as CS Lewis, George MacDonald, or JRR Tolkien.
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