Forget-Me-Nots: A Ring of Endless Light & Troubling a Star

I thought I'd start a regular feature on my blog for looking back at books I enjoyed in childhood and the teenage years. There are so many fabulous YA books being released all the time these days, and that's absolutely awesome - but I wanted to show a bit of love for some oldies that I never hear being talked about anymore! I'm sometimes amazed when I realize that kids and teens nowadays aren't familiar with some of the books I really enjoyed at that age.

So, without further ado, my first picks:

A Ring of Endless Light and Troubling a Star by Madeleine L'Engle

A Ring of Endless Light is part of a series about the Austin family, focusing on Vicky Austin in particular. The first two are Meet the Austins and The Moon by Night, but A Ring of Endless Light and its follow-up Troubling a Star were my favorites.

(It's been published with many different covers but this was the cover of our copy!)

Amazon's description:

"After a tumultuous year in New York City, the Austins are spending the summer on the small island where their grandfather lives. He’s very sick, and watching his condition deteriorate as the summer passes is almost more than Vicky can bear. To complicate matters, she finds herself as the center of attention for three very different boys.

     Zachary Grey, the troubled and reckless boy Vicky met last summer, wants her all to himself as he grieves the loss of his mother. Leo Rodney has been just a friend for years, but the tragic loss of his father causes him to turn to Vicky for comfort—and romance. And then there’s Adam Eddington. Adam is only asking Vicky to help with his research on dolphins. But Adam—and the dolphins—may just be what Vicky needs to get through this heartbreaking summer."

A Ring of Endless Light is sweet and simple, but touches on death, grief, love, friendship, and meaning.

In contrast, the next book about Vicky, Troubling a Star, has a far more complex plot, involving a journey to Antarctica and an intricate mystery.

Amazon's description:

"The Austins have settled back into their beloved home in the country after more than a year away. Though they had all missed the predictability and security of life in Thornhill, Vicky Austin is discovering that slipping back into her old life isn’t easy. She’s been changed by life in New York City and her travels around the country while her old friends seem to have stayed the same. So Vicky finds herself spending time with a new friend, Serena Eddington—the great-aunt of a boy Vicky met over the summer.

     Aunt Serena gives Vicky an incredible birthday gift—a month-long trip to Antarctica. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime. But Vicky is nervous. She’s never been away from her family before. Once she sets off though, she finds that’s the least of her worries. She receives threatening letters. She’s surrounded by suspicious characters. Vicky no longer knows who to trust. And she may not make it home alive."

Were these favorites for anyone else? Are they still being read?