L'Engle's books always seem to have such poetic names. Troubling a Star, isn't that fantastic? Unfortunately the book wasn't quite as wondrous as the book title, but it was still pretty good. After all, L'Engle is a terrific writer.Vickie (from the Austins series of which this is book 5) is still trying to find herself in the world. She recognizes that she loves to write, and more specifically loves to write poetry and is taking steps to improve this talent. She also has started visiting with her somewhat boyfriend Adam Eddington's Aunt, who is an interesting lady herself. Aunt Serena once had a child also named Adam who explored the Antarctic before disappearing and being declared dead. Now, Vicky's Adam is also headed to Antarctica to do research. After spending more time with Aunt Serena, Vicky is surprised when her birthday gift from her is to take a trip to see Adam there. But it will be much more dangerous than she thinks as there are people there that think she knows too much information.Vicky is always a great character. She is so real that I think just about any teenage girl could identify with her. While she may not be "modern" because of the time this book was written, her thoughts are timeless. And she's a nice person. She has her faults but she just tries to be good and enjoy the world around her. Adam confuses me a bit more. I like him, but he's very changeable in his demeanor and thoughts and it can be unsettling. All the other characters are great as well though. Aunt Serena is charming and her cook Cookie is mysterious but kind. They each fill their own role quite well.I wasn't as amazed by this plot though. Sure it was exciting what with the trip to Antarctica and the side-plot about Vicky in danger. But as well as those two things meshed I just didn't feel engaged in the book and it was a slower read because of it. I guess there was a lot of description I had trouble with, including the two countries that L'Engle made up for the purposes of the story. I can understand why she did make them up, but it made it harder to read as everything else was based in reality. Some of the plot ideas seemed to be resolved too easy too and the ending seemed rushed. It just wasn't the well paced story I've come to expect from L'Engle. But it still is highly appropriate for young adults and it's hard to find any fault with the language of this book.A nice book and I do like L'Engle. Just not the best of this series or her work as a whole.Troubling a StarCopyright 1994296 pagesReview by M. Reynard 2012 More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
L'Engle weaves themes of the politics of developing countries, dictatorships, emerging democracies, the environment, war, science, young love, and trust in a thriller that takes place on a scientific tour of Antarctica. When trapped alone on an iceberg (and this is the plot element that made me want to read the book), Vickie mulls over what brought her to this dangerous state. Issues are complicated and entangled, and are not solved by the end of the novel. This novel is far less heavy handed in the way it expresses spirituality and faith than in her earlier novels. There is some reference to angels, but Vickie herself must decide what that means. Religion isn't imposed on Vickie. She is thrust into a morality tale that is too complex for easy certainties. By the end of the novel, Vickie has been tested, but the miracles that save her are small ones of honor, kindness, and finding faith for the struggle internally. I always enjoy L'Engle's young adult novels because she is the master of presenting youth respectfully. She is wonderful at showing the tensions between siblings and their strong influence on each other. Another gift she has is presenting young adult intellectual development accurately. Vickie in the novel is relatively unschooled in the larger setting she encounters on her trip to Antarctica, which makes her more vulnerable than anyone expects while on the trip. Not quite as lyric as some of her other novels, Troubling a Star relies on its characters and plot to carry its themes, but this is done well. I enjoyed spending time with Vickie Austin and her friends and enemies.
What do You think about Troubling A Star (1995)?
I've lost count of how many times I've read this book, but hearing about the research ship trapped in the ice in Antarctica sent me to my shelf for the only book I own that is even vaguely related.I have always loved Vicky's internal conflict of trying to figure out what is going on, who to trust, and if she is indeed just being paranoid. When I was younger I felt as if this book helped solve that slight temptation that was always there to check the end of a book first to see what happened - Vicky revealing from the get-go where she was at the end of the book so that you can spend the whole story trying to figure out how she got there was definitely a novel experience for me the first time I read this book.I have never been sure which Vicky Austin-centric book I preferred as a teen, this or A Ring of Endless Light. Ring may be closer to the experiences I had reading the Murray/O'Keefe books (A Wrinkle in Time, et. al.), but I think as a teen I identified more closely with the more mature, slightly more aware Vicky of this book.
—Jennifer
Madeleine L'Engle is my favorite author of all time. I first read her `Wrinkle in Time" series then found one of her Adult novels, "A Severed Wasp"-my all time favorite book.In this Young Adult book, part of a series following the Austin Family, she creates a loving, close-knit group of people, both in and out of the family. The characters are fully realized, the parents somewhat two-dimensional but Aunt Serena, Vicky and the ensuing cast are fleshed out for the duration of a mystifying trip that almost claims young Vicky's life.
—Brick ONeil
the last of the austin family novels- perhaps not as good as i remembered it, or as good as the others in the series. adam's rich aunt serena, who lives conveniently near the austin's home, takes a shining to vicky and send her on an educational antarctic cruise. a highlight of the cruise, for vicky, will be visiting adam, who is doing some marine biology work or other on the ice. but lo! there is a foul plot afoot.i found all the other characters on the ship incredibly annoying. they are constantly bringing up fun facts about antarctica in casual conversation. it seems l'engle is trying to subtly educate her readers by working these tidbits into conversation, but the effect is not natural, no matter how interesting the facts. it also makes it seem like all the other characters are preaching down to vicky because she is the youngest person on the cruise. blech. finally, the end is completely unsatisfying. i don't know if l'engle intended to write more about the austins and give adam and vicky a little closure- it's possible. but after the miles vicky has traveled and the danger she's been in, i would have liked a juicier reunion with adam. i'm just saying.
—Kricket
