A Ring of Endless Light (1980) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters/People edit see section history

• Vicky: Protagonist, oldest daughter in the Austin family, works with Adam on his dolphin project
• Adam Eddington: A friend of John's, and then Vicky's, working at the marine biology center on a dolphin project
• Zachary Gray: An old friend/love interest of Vicky's from The Moon by Night who seeks Vicky out after a near-death experience
• Leo Rodney: Son of Commander Rodney, a young man in love with Vicky and seeking comfort after his father's death
• John Austin: Vicky's older brother, the oldest Austin, working at the marine biology center with Adam
• Suzy Austin: Vicky's younger sister who is good friends with Jacky Rodney, Leo's younger brother
• Grandfather: Vicky's mother's dad; the summer preacher on the island the Austin's are staying at, who is dying of leukemia
• Commander Rodney: Leo and Jacky's father, who dies trying to save a boy out in a sailboat before the book starts
• Rob Austin: Vicky's youngest sibling, who is very close to his grandfather and Vicky
• Basil: Add a description of this character.
• Ynid
• Binnie
• Thornhill
• Jacky
• Dr. Nutteley
• Nini
• Caro: Grandfather's wife who died before the book starts.
• Joshua
• Daphne
• Dr. O'keefe
• Cornelius Codd
• Suze
• Mr. Hanchett
• Ned
• Grace
• Nancy Rodney

Quotes edit see section history

• “It doesn't matter, does it? Whether you're frozen ot buried or cremated or what. God can manage, can't he?”

  Rob Austin

• “If someone kills a butterfly, it could cause an earthquake in a galaxy a trillion light years away.”

• “If we knew each morning that there was going to be another morning, and on and on and on, we'd tend not to notice the sunrise, or hear the birds, or the waves rolling into shore. We'd tend not to treasure our time with the people we love. Simply the awareness that our mortal lives had a beginning and wil have an end enhances the quality of our living. Perhaps it's even more intense when we know that the termination of the body is near, but it shouldn't be.”

  Grandfather

• “The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make His face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up His countenance upon him, and give him peace.”

• “...empty of all the horrid things, and filled with gentleness and strength.”

• “...if I can go out and look at the stars I'll almost always get back a sense of proportion. It's not that they make me feel insignificant; it's the very opposite; they make me feel that everything matters, be it ever so small, and that there's meaning to life even when it seems most meaningless.”

• “...poets are born knowing the language of the angels.”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Norberta
• Island
• New York
• Una
• Mr. Rochester
• California
• Columbia
• Alfa Romeo

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by The Young Unicorns, and followed by Troubling a Star.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Madeleine L'Engle (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Newbery Honor Book (1981)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This book is good for older children up through young adults.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Children's Books › Literature › Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror › Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
• Books › Children's Books › Authors & Illustrators, A-Z › ( L ) › L'Engle, Madeleine
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Being a Teen
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

More Books Like This edit see section history