Customer Reviews

Troubling a Star: The Austin Family Chronicles, Book 5

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Returning to tiny Thornhill, Connecticut after living for a year in New York City, Vicky Austin discovers that she no longer fits in there. After she gets an unexpected call from Adam Eddington, a marine biology student whom she met during the eventful summer just past, Vicky finds herself developing a warm friendship with Adam's great-aunt in a nearby village. The whole Austin family reaches out to this wealthy but lonely old lady, who astonishes everyone by giving Vicky an extraordinary sixteenth birthday gift: a trip to Antarctica.

Adam will be there already, working at a research station named for his uncle - an explorer who disappeared in that area. Vicky's excitement is tempered by a series of apparent warnings, as she prepares to leave for Vespugia (a small South American country in turmoil), the Falkland Islands, and finally Eddington Station. She remembers those warnings, and wishes she hadn't kept them from her parents, as her trip unfolds and one mysterious event follows after another.

I was a bit disappointed that Vicky's extraordinary experiences in A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT, the book before this one in the Austin Series, play no part in TROUBLING A STAR. We hear about her beloved grandfather's death and her budding romance with Adam Eddington when Vicky thinks of last summer, but the dolphins with whom she communicated so remarkably seem forgotten. However, this book is clearly intended to stand on its own. It does so, very well indeed, as a mystery/thriller for a young adult audience. It generates suspense and then maintains it, with L'Engle's memorable heroine Vicky Austin taking more steps toward maturity while remaining solidly in character.

I've just finished reading this a second time, so that should be some evidence of how good this book is. Although, I think "Ring of Endless Light" was better, though not too much, and that's also saying something because I think AROEL is one of the best books I've ever read. Okay, okay, I'm biased because I'm a huge L'Engle fan.

But this is really a good book. It is a bit long, compared to other L'engle books and other YA books, but it's worth the length. I loved reading more about Vicky, and I really hope there'll be more books written about her. The other smaller characters are equally good, and I loved the new characters that were introduced almost as much as I loved seeing my old favorites again. Aunt Serena is awesome, and she seems to be exactly the kind of person who would be related to Adam. Ah yes, Adam. That's one wish I have; that we could've seen more of Adam. Maybe next book.

I loved the wonderful descriptions of Antarica, and even though I had no remote interest about the southern-most continent before, this book has sparked something.

One more thing I love about this book (or rather, all of L'Engle's work) is the way all her books are inter-connected in ways, sometimes such little things, but I noticed them at the second reading. For instance, the mention of "El Zarco" and the part Vespugia plays. (both from Swiftly Tilting Planet, which is, BTW, a great book) And, (this is a really minor thing) but I loved the mention that Esteban was descended from Welsh immigrants (remember all the welsh people in STP?) and that the Vespugian dictator is named Guedder. (remember gudder from STP?)

That wasn't even everything. But it just shows that this book is deep, much deeper than it first appears.

This book is one of my favorite L'Engle novels. I remember as a child loving L'Engle's books in the Time series. I am currently working on my PhD and realized several years ago that the most refreshing books to relax with (after reading hundreds of pages of expository text) were those classified as "young-adult" books. And L'Engle is one of my favorite "young-adult" authors!

This book is set in the school year immediately following the conclusion of "A Ring of Endless Light." And for those of you who loved that book as I did, you will be happy to know that in "Troubling a Star" you will get to see what happens to Vicky and Adam. Adam has the opportunity to go study in Antarctica and Vicky soon learns she has been given a gift of her very own study abroad trip. While the two don't travel together, their experiences and the dangers they both face tie their two trips together in a wonderful way. Buy this book to find out more...

This was one of her best books yet. I had it for a couple of years before I read it, because I didn't know how great her books were.

Most of my favorite books by her are fantasy books, so I wasn't too sure about this book, it not being fantasy. I was wrong, though, because it was really good. It has a lot of suspense, and I was able to escape into it so much that I didn't do almost anything until I was finished.

YOU should get this book if you like Madeleine L'Engle's books.

P.S. Please take the time to write in complete sentences, use correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization. It doesn't take that much extra time, and people will read your review if you do that. When you don't it is very hard to read your review.

I'd always been a huge fan of the Wrinkle in Time series, but I was always bored with the books about the Austins until I read Troubling a Star. The Vespugia stuff always goes over my head, but besides that it's a fabulous book with great characters and tons of suspense. When I first read this book in seventh grade I became obsessed with going to Antarctica. This January, three years later, I actually went there, and it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life, and I know I'm going to go back someday because it was so, so wonderful. One of the first things I did when I got hom was to search through my bookshelves and read Troubling a Star again- after all it had largely been what had inspired my trip in the first place, although I had only read it that one time three years ago. As I read it again (and all in one night) it was far more meaningful than before. I'll stop rambling now, but please please read this book because it's just awesome.

I'm a college student, which I suppose means I should be reading college-type books. I do, of course, but every so often I will indulge myself in an old favorite from my adolescence. One of those is 'Ring of Endless Light,' and when I found that L'Engle had written a sequel I snapped it up eagerly. I simply HAD to know the fate of Adam (whom *I* have a crush on and am actively seeking at my school <grin>) and the pensive Vicki.

I admit, it took me *three* reads to "get" the plot of this book. I'm not scientifically-minded and, to be honest, it bores me, so really, I didn't pay much attention to the nitty-gritty bits of the plot. Instead I focused on Vicki, who reminds me of myself at that age, when everything was simply *fraught* with meaning, whether it be a sidelong glance or a mysterious trunk thrown overoboard. I enjoy L'Engles writing style, which occasionally seems a bit posh, but that's coming from a fellow writer with minimalist leanings. <grin>

I highly recommend Ring of Endless Light in conjunction with Troubling A Star as required reading for any teenager and/or adult looking for something a little different from the mundane soft-serve fiction offered in recent times. I especially urge all young women to read these books, because I believe it encourages logical thinking, emotional strength and curiousity in the people who need it most: girls.

Thanks, L'Engle.

When we last left Vicky Austin in "A Ring of Endless Light", her grandfather had just died, and she was slowly falling for Adam Eddington. When we meet up with her again in "Troubling A Star", she is just about to celebrate her sixteenth birthday, and has just met Adam's eccentric great-aunt Serena. Serena gives Vicky the chance of a lifetime, when she gives Vicky tickets to travel to Antarctica, where she will meet up with Adam, who is working in one of the research stations there. But as Vicky slowly begins meeting her fellow travelers, she realizes that she's being led into more and more dangerous waters as the trip continues. And soon she's thinking if she will ever see Adam or her family again.

This was a very exciting continuation of "A Ring of Endless Light", that was a bit different from L'Engle's previous work. "Troubling A Star" follows Vicky as she's growing up, but also features, mystery, suspense, and danger. A very interesting read if you ask me. A must for all L'Engle fans.

Erika Sorocco

As other reviewers have said, 'Troubling a Star' was such a dissapointment after 'A Ring of Endless Light'. While the previous Vicky Austin novel was about the meaning of life and death, 'Troubling a Star' seems to be about an adventure in Antarctica. While that makes an interesting plot for a book, the story is out of place when compared to the other books about Vicky. While 'A Ring of Endless Light' has a relatable plot, 'Troubling a Star' seems unrealistic. Why would Vicky, a girl who loves poetry and music, travel to Antarctica? Certainly she's intelligent, but that seems more like something scientific Suzy would want to do.
Most of the familiar characters--the Austin family, Adam, etc--do not appear throughout the majority of the book. It seems odd that Madeleine L'Engle would step away from so many of her beloved characters and create a new cast that people don't care about as much. I missed the interactions between Vicky and her family.
One problem that I found in 'A Ring of Endless Light' was that Vicky seems too perfect. While she says that she's not as attractive as Suzy, there's always someone to contradict her. In 'Troubling a Star', this problem escalates out of all proportion. Why does every male have to find Vicky attractive and intelligent? It makes Vicky hard to relate to, particularly in this book while she's taken out of her usual element (writing) and succeeds in something she's never expressed a real interest in (scientific exploration).
Don't get me wrong, I love Madeleine L'Engle's work. I was just so dissapointed by the conclusion to the Austin series. It feels like L'Engle wanted to write about a girl traveling to Antarctica and didn't have time to think of a new main character. It would have worked much better as a solo novel, instead of the continuation of a series.

Vicky is the main character in Madeleine L'Engle's 'Troubling A Star.'Surprised by her borfriends Aunt Serena for a trip to Antarctica aboard the 'Argosy,' Vicky receives mysterious letters telling her not to go. Along with other people (including a prince from Zlatovica) aboard the 'Argosy' Vicky uncovers the hidden truths about them while someone keeps sabotaging the group. Along with Adam (her boyfriend) she receives letters and more messages while writting her opinions in her journal. The mysterious Vespugian second lieutenant, Estaban and the Zlactovican Prince seem to be giving her secret messages. Vicky tries to solve the puzzle of the links between the characters while trying to survive threats from anonymous people.

Madeleine L'Engle has written a magnificent and riveting novel for young adult readers in 'Troubling A Star.' Her brilliant writing abilities allow the reader to imagine Antarctica, its climate and the actual characteers. This thriller has an intriguing plot combining adventure, creative conflicts, well developed characters and every essential quality to keep it suspenseful. It includes several letters, messages and journal entries that gave opinions of the supporting characters. Secret messages with clever codes gave a mysterious quality to the book as well as the betrayal of some characters and purported deaths. The plot may also leave the readers puzzled because of the extra details, the confusion and the numerous characters included in each scene. Seldom used words (to most people) such as 'miching mallecho' and 'fo'c's'le, were included, causing confusion because the meaning seemed anonymous and these words were used constantly throughout the book. The ending was ratheer predictable and the characters just exposed the hidden truths, ending it too fast. Furthermore, the beginning and middle rambled on too long. Despite these few flaws, 'Troubling a Star' was a very interesting read. I would highly recommend it to people of all ages.

Being a huge L'Engle fan, I was very excited to read her most recent book, but was disapointed by it's quality. The story was excellent -- a cross between mystery, romance, and adventure on the high seas. The writing itself, however, seemed to be lacking. Unlike her other novels, Troubling a Star seemed to be written in a much simpler style, yet with the same young adult content. The dialogue was trite and made the protagonist, Vicky, seem like a very foolish child. I would recomend it only to the most avid L'Engle fans. To everyone else -- try Ring of Endless Light or Moon By Night.