Chapter 1 Summary

In this second of four science fiction novels that comprise her magical Time Quartet, author Madeleine L'Engle reintroduces the Murry family, which she first brought to life in A Wrinkle in Time. The novel begins with six-year-old Charles Wallace Murry informing his teenage sister, Meg Murry, that there are dragons in the vegetable garden. This bizarre statement alarms Meg from her usually level-headed and brilliant young brother. She surreptitiously eyes Charles Wallace. His clothes are torn, and he sports a fresh bruise under his left eye. Meg questions him about this latest beating. Charles Wallace has only been in school for two months, but every week he comes home with fresh injuries. Meg asks if he's been talking about dragons at school, which she fears would only encourage the kids to bully him more. He assures her he has learned to be careful...