Wrinkle in Time, A

Reach for this book when your child feels like their intensity, stubbornness, or social awkwardness is a failure rather than a strength. It is an essential read for the pre-teen who feels like a misfit or is struggling with the pressure to conform. The story follows Meg Murry, a girl who believes she is 'plain' and 'stupid,' as she travels through space with her genius brother and a popular classmate to rescue her father from a cosmic darkness. At its heart, this is a masterpiece about the power of love and the necessity of individuality. It introduces complex scientific concepts like the tesseract alongside profound emotional truths about overcoming fear and the dangers of blind obedience. Ideal for ages 10 to 14, it offers a hopeful yet sophisticated lens through which children can view their own unique traits as potential superpowers in a world that often demands they fit in.