Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
A Ring of Endless Light: The Austin Family Chronicles, Book 4 (Newbery Honor Book)
A Ring of Endless Light is a 1980 novel by Madeleine L'Engle. The book tells of teenager Vicky Austin and her struggle to understand life and significance in the universe as she deals with her dying grandfather, while at the same time finding true romantic love. The title originates from a phrase in the seventeenth-century Welsh poet Henry Vaughan's poem "The World".
Work Information
A Ring of Endless Light is a 1980 novel by Madeleine L'Engle.
A Ring of Endless Light is a 1980 novel by Madeleine L'Engle. The book tells of teenager Vicky Austin and her struggle to understand life and significance in the universe as she deals with her dying grandfather, while at the same time finding true romantic love. The title originates from a phrase in the seventeenth-century Welsh poet Henry Vaughan's poem "The World".
Book Information
- Publisher
- Farrar, Straus and Giroux
- Published
- 1980-05-01
- Pages
- 336 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.97 x 2.21 x 21.59 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780374362997
- ISBN-10
- 0374362998
- Price
- 6166 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Children's Books/Growing Up & Facts of Life/Difficult Discussions/Death & Dying
In this award-winning young adult series from Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time , Vicky Austin experiences the difficulties and joys of growing up. "This wasn't the first tie that I'd come close to death, but it was the first time I'd been involved in this part of it, this strange, terrible saying goodbye to someone you've loved." These are Vicky Austin's thoughts as she stands near Commander Rodney's grave while her grandfather, who himself is dying of cancer, recites the funeral service. Watching his condition deteriorate over that long summer is almost more than she can bear. Then, in the midst of her struggle, she finds herself the center of attention for three young men. Leo, Commander Rodney's son, turns to her as an old friend seeki comfort but longing for romance. Zachary, whose attempted suicide inadvertently cauesd Commander Rodney's death, sees her as the one sane and normal person who can give some meaning ot his life. And Adam, a serious young student working at the nearby marine-biology station, discovers Vicky, his friend's little sister, incipient telepathic powers that can help him with his experiments in dolphin communications. Vicky finds solace and brief moments of peace in her poetry, but life goes on around her, and the strain intensifies as she confromts matters of love and of death, of dependence and of responsibility, universal concerns that we all must face. The inevitable crisis comes and Vicky must rely on openness, sensitivity, and the love of others to overcome her private grief. Once again, Madeleine L'Engle has written a story that reveals in the drama of vividly portrayed characters and events the spiritual and moral dimensions of common human experiences. A Ring of Endless Light is a 1981 Newbery Honor Book. The Austin Family Chronicles Meet the Austins (Volume 1) The Moon by Night (Volume 2) The Young Unicorns (Volume 3) A Ring of Endless Light (Volume 4) A Newbery Honor book! Troubling a Star (Volume 5)
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) was the Newbery Medal-winning author of more than 60 books, including the much-loved A Wrinkle in Time . Born in 1918, L'Engle grew up in New York City, Switzerland, South Carolina and Massachusetts. Her father was a reporter and her mother had studied to be a pianist, and their house was always full of musicians and theater people. L'Engle graduated cum laude from Smith College, then returned to New York to work in the theater. While touring with a play, she wrote her first book, The Small Rain , originally published in 1945. She met her future husband, Hugh Franklin, when they both appeared in The Cherry Orchard . Upon becoming Mrs. Franklin, L'Engle gave up the stage in favor of the typewriter. In the years her three children were growing up, she wrote four more novels. Hugh Franklin temporarily retired from the theater, and the family moved to western Connecticut and for ten years ran a general store. Her book Meet the Austins , an American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 1960, was based on this experience. Her science fantasy classic A Wrinkle in Time was awarded the 1963 Newbery Medal. Two companion novels, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (a Newbery Honor book), complete what has come to be known as The Time Trilogy, a series that continues to grow in popularity with a new generation of readers. Her 1980 book A Ring of Endless Light won the Newbery Honor. L'Engle passed away in 2007 in Litchfield, Connecticut.
Reviews
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... for youngsters but adults in need of therapy will enjoy too!
Part of any enjoyable series with heartwarming family spiritual values - really for youngsters but adults in need of therapy will enjoy too!
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Great Novel For The Moon By Night Fans
In this novel, two characters from past Austin novels are reintroduced. Three boys are fighting for Vicky's affection through their different attempts at love, and are all in some way or another associated with death as Vicky struggles with her own battles with the emotions that come with the passing of loved ones. Zachary, irresponsible and unpredictable as ever, is grieving the loss of his mother as he turns to Vicky for emotional support. His attempt to end his life leaves him thinking constantly about what he has to live for and who the loving mother figure in his life will be even if they are unwilling. Leo, the boy that Vicky grew up with, has made a comeback. The passing of his father leaves him groping for friendship as he notices the wealth gap between him and his competitor, Zachary. Adam, John's friend from MIT, comes to visit often and involves Vicky on his experiment with dolphins. But he shys away from relationships because of a secret from Portugal that he wishes not to reveal. Vicky meets dolphins that she never would have if it weren't for Adam, and learns that she understands wildlife. As Vicky learns about sickness and sometimes having to let people work out their problems on their own, she grows up a lot in just one summer.
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Book
I like the story, like so many reading books it really takes you into a world of your own imagination.
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One of the best and most underrated YA novels
When most people hear Madeleine L'Engle they think of A Wrinkle in Time. And while that is an exceptionally great novel, A Ring of Endless Light (a Newberry Honor book) is, in my opinion, far superior. The writing is exquisite, the themes subtle yet powerful, and the characters are wonderfully real. It steps delicately to the edge of the fantastic, yet maintains a very realistic sense of the narrator - 15 year old Vicky Austin - with all the trials and tribulations of being a hormonal 15 year old poet navigating her way in the world through life, death, and love. I highly recommend this book to any young girl who is experiencing the death of a loved one. When I read it for the first time I was about 13 and had just lost my mother. This book definitely changed my life, for the better. I don't think you will be disappointed if you give this novel a try.
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Could have loved it!
There is so much to love in this book, but I wish the ending had wrapped things up a bit more. You never find out (in this book) what happens to the characters you've come to love. It's a shame to have such well developed characters that makes you want to find out what happens, and you don't.