Chapter 1 Summary

Meg Murry, a thirteen-year-old girl, wakes up in her room during a "dark and stormy night." She feels that this scary night is just another link in the chain of bad things that are happening to her. Meg constantly gets in trouble at school, doesn't get along with other girls her age and gets into fights with boys when they make fun of her brother, Charles Wallace. Meg hates being an oddball, and wants to be normal like everyone else.

Not able to sleep, Meg goes downstairs to the kitchen. On the way, she takes stock of herself and her life. She looks at her reflection in the mirror, and sees her mousy brown hair, braces, and large thick glasses, all things she hates.

When she reaches the kitchen, Meg meets her youngest brother, Charles Wallace. Charles is only five, but he is...