“Meg looked. The dark shadow was still there. It had not lessened or dispersed with the coming of night. And where the shadow was, the stars were not visible.What could there be about a shadow that was so terrible that she knew that there had never been before or ever would be again, anything that would chill her with a fear that was beyond shuddering, beyond crying or screaming, beyond the possibility of comfort?”

American writer and poet of the mid-to-late 20th century, Madeleine L'Engle is best known for her groundbreaking science fiction and fantasy novels for young readers, particularly *A Wrinkle in Time*, which blends cosmic adventure with deep philosophical questions about faith and identity. Her work often explored the intersections of science, spirituality, and human experience, earning her a devoted following among both children and adults.