Meet the Austins (Austin Family, 1)

I read this book many years ago and now bought it for a rela

Madeleine L'Engle is my absolute favourite author, and I miss her terribly. She has written many, many wonderful books, both for mature and teenage audiences. She has a most unique and open view of religion and the world that is valuable to see her eyes - through her characters.Meet the Austins is Book One in the pentology The Austin Family Chronicles, introducing the reader to Vicky Austin, who tells the story, her siblings John, Suzy and Rob, and her parents, Victoria and Wallace. The book opens up with a death in the family, of Uncle Hal, who has left behind a ten-year-old girl, Maggie. The Austins are a beautifully loving family in the farmlands of Connecticut, who suddenly find themselves taking care of her, who is very close to Suzy's age, but a difficult, wilful, disruptive child who upsets the entire household. It becomes very clear that Maggie's upbringing was not with a close-knit, communicative family. While learning to respond to this change and how it affects every person, both in the family and out, it also allows the readers to see the changes it brings in Maggie as well.Being a part of the Austin family is wonderful; to see how each individual grows and lives with the others, how they love each other, how they sometimes have conflicts. It gives excellent insight into Vicky and the views, opinions and actions of a twelve-year-old girl. I was right around that age when I began reading this book, so it was all too easy for me to identify with Vicky. I have always loved all of Ms. L'Engle's books and still read every one I own even at age 48, to be part of the family again.The other four books are just as charming as this one, and I recommend it for any teenage reader as well as adult readers.

I read this decades ago and decided it was time to see if it were as good as I remembered. If anything, it was better. I think it is because I have experienced loss, making some of this more real. While death looms over the book (Maggie has been suddenly orphaned), it is far more about life. As L'Engle writes, "But being alive is a gift, the most wonderful and exciting gift in the world."As is true in many of L'Engle's books, faith is a cornerstone in the story. For that aspect, I think this quotation rang most true for me: "The search for knowledge and truth can be the most exciting thing there is as long as it takes you toward God instead of away from Him.”The book is a comfortable one. I liked the children who were far from perfect, but mostly tried to be good people. Sometimes in this world of social media and sometimes cruel memes, it helps to step away. This book was perfect for that. I will be reading the sequels.The book is perfect for thoughtful middle-school aged children and older. Adults can read it with new and deeper understanding. It is highly recommended.

I enjoyed Meet the Austins immensely. The cozy house out in the country appealed to me immediately and I found the Austins a believable and comfortable family. The misadventures make the story all the more realistic and Vicky's thoughts and feelings are bound to be relatable to any tween. On the whole, the story was very human and moving. I absolutely love Madeleine L'Engle and this is a good example of why. I remember reading this book when I was about nine years old and liking it a lot. I think it would be a wonderful read aloud. My only complaint might be that Austin family is a little too perfect. Not that this is an awful aspect or anything; it just occasionally made the story less relatable. But, as Vicky matures, so do the plot lines and the other books in the series become less innocent and seemingly utopian. I highly recommend The Austin Family Chronicles and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Despite the wonderful writing by Madeleine L'Engle, this book is a bit out-of-date for contemporary pre-teen readers. I bought this book for my 11-year-old granddaughter and decided to read it myself, before sending it to her. I chose not to gift her with the book, because she needs something that immediately grabs and keeps her attention, or she'll put the book aside. This wasn't the right book for her, but I enjoyed reading another book by one of my favorite authors.

This is a story about such a charming family and from the point of Vicky, a teenager with many questions about the world around her. The family is Timeless as are all of Madeleine L’Engle’s books.

I ordered this book because this edition contains the "missing chapter", the Anti-Muffins, that was taken out of the original publication. This is a great novel by my favorite author!

I originally downloaded this for my daughter, on the recommendation of her teacher. It went to her Kindle and I added it to my iPad using the Kindle app. I was genuinely surprised at how much I enjoyed it, it inspired me to download A Wrinkle in Time, which I am also really getting into right now.A great read for precocious readers who are not yet mature enough for today's tween books. The kids in the Austin family are growing up in the Early sixties, but their adventures and issues are timeless.

Meet the Austins is the first of Madeleine L'Engle's Austin family series (as the title implies!) We are introduced to a close-knit, lively household of parents, aunts and uncles, children, dogs and cats, and follow them as they deal with bereavement, the adoption of an orphan, bullying, and a traumatic bicyle accident. I'm not sure the deep thoughtfulness of the children, particularly John and Vicky, is realistic of children at their age, but regardless, they are engaging characters, full of questions, hopes, dreams and fears. Despite the troubles faced by the family, this is a warm, optimistic book, with love and tolerance at its heart. This edition, published by Square Fish, contains the chapter "The Anti-Muffins", which was omitted by the publishers in all previous paperback editions. (It was published separately by a private press.)

this will be a great read when I get round to reading and it will be a interesting story

Think this is the first in a series about the Austin family in America. Meant for young teenagers - good family values about friendships and change. Enjoyable read for any adults convalescing from burn out!

Good quality and quick delivery

This product was a gift and was very much appreciated as it finished of the set that the person wanted.