Throwback Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by The Housework Can Wait and Never Too Fond of Books! It’s the nature of book blogging to focus mainly on new releases, but there are thousands of great books out there that haven’t seen the “New Releases” shelf in years. Through Throwback Thursdays THCW and NTFB hope to be able to bring attention to some older titles that may not be at the top of the current bestseller list, but still deserve a spot in your To-Be-Read pile.
This week’s Throwback Thursday book is Troubling A Star by Madeline L’Engle.
Summary from Amazon: 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.
Why You Should Read This Book: I read this book for the first time in fifth grade and I’ve read it yearly since then. As a child I was enthralled by the mystery and intrigue that surrounded Vicky’s trip to Antartica. It held my attention and never lost it’s appeal or the delicious tension upon numerous re-reads. Although as I’ve gotten older there are some plot points I find a bit unrealistic (like parents allowing a 16 year old to go off on a month long trip with a older male chaperone), but that doesn’t affect me enough to challenge my love for the book.
As I got a bit older I became profoundly jealous of Vicky for both Adam and her fantastic trip to the Antarctic. I’ve always dreamed of traveling and it would be an incredible experience to get to take trip to visit Antarctica and see the penguins and seals! The cast of characters that surrounds Vicky are charming and engaging enough that you remember them and connect with them almost as well as you do the main characters.
if you enjoy Madeline L’Engle’s writing or if you are a fan of mystery and intrigue this book is worth taking a look at!
Breaking the Binding 