August has always brought to me a sense of excitement that autumn (my favourite season) is on its way, but also a sense of sadness that the long days of sunshine will soon end. Below are recommendations (which may include spoilers) of some of the books I’ve been reading this month, as well as a book of which to be wary:

Many Waters, by Madeline L’Engle – The fourth book in the Wrinkle in Time Quintet is the book I suggest being wary of reading. A plethora of themes are explored: the awakening of sexuality, terrorism, and questions of Biblical accuracy are just a few. Its edginess made me uncomfortable at times because I felt it to be almost too heavy-handed. I also think it tries to deal with too much at once. In a sense, it is almost a prequel to the series: Sandy and Dennys go back to Noahic times before Echthroi and the constant fight against darkness, and Charles Wallace and Meg are only tertiary characters. This story is much more an exploration of mythology and theology than an exploration of science. I recommend it because it is part of a series and expounds the Murray twins’ characters, but I would not recommend it as a read aloud.

A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeline L’Engle – The third book in the Wrinkle in Time Quintet builds upon its predecessors and is, in a sense, a larger story. Now a teenager, Charles Wallace is whisked off into an adventure through time and space with the unicorn Gaudior in order to try and save Earth. Meg and their new dog, Ananda, must kythe with Charles Wallace in order to help keep him safe. The Echthroi are still the enemy, and the reader is introduced to quite a number of characters. This is a great read aloud, but if you are planning on reading it aloud I suggest reading it alone first as there are some themes that could be confusing or too ‘adult’ for children.