I know I read this book because I went back and read the summary of it. I can remember the cover of the book, but even after reading the summary, I cannot remember reading the book itself. The plot is completely familiar to me, but the details are very hazy. Still, I can remember loving all the Austin and Murray-O'Keefe books, so I must have enjoyed it. All the Austin books are great for young girls, IMO.

L'Engle's other books may be better-known, but this is the one that has stayed with me over the years. Such a dark, creepy atmosphere, such memorable characters! ( )

The author's note in the front makes it plain that this takes place in the near future. (Thus Meet the Austins also takes place later than written (1960), because this is only a few years after that in story-time.) There's nothing particularly futuristic about the setting, however; the only technological change seems to be a specific laser technology that still doesn't exist in that exact form. Still, I guess you'd have to call it science fiction.

This can be dated in story-time to approximately a year before Dragons in the Waters, which means that, if you wanted to, you could figure out exactly how the Austins intersect with the Murrys and the O'Keefes. I wonder if there are internal inconsistencies in the timeline? ( )

More Austins! Not my favorite of hers, but an excellent book for the sci-fi geek middle schooler in your life. ( )