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

The inspiring story of how Madeleine L’Engle grew up to become the beloved author of A Wrinkle in Time.

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 L’Engle will speak not only to fans of the icon’s work, but also to anyone interested in writing.

Genre: Middle grade / Biography


For interview and appearance requests, please contact:
Mary.VanAkin@ macmillan.com


Learn more about authors Charlotte Jones Voiklis and Lena Roy.

Becoming Madeleine by Lena Roy & Charlotte Jones Voiklis

Audio Excerpt

Teacher’s Guide

Teacher's Guide for Become Madeline

Articles

“For ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Fans, an Audiobook That Celebrates Madeleine L’Engle”
2018 / New York Times

Granddaughters to write a biography
Léna and Charlotte interview each other about the biography, the upcoming film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time, and more.

“Adult Books for Fans of A Wrinkle in Time”
2017 / Early Bird Books

Reviews

“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.” — Publishers’ Weekly

“It’s a publishing event when Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughters offer an account of her life as a writer. And they 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.” — Booklist, starred review