The Tesseract:
A Madeleine L'Engle Bibliography

The Austin Family Novels


[Dr. Wallace Austin, wife Victoria, children John, Vicky, Suzy and Rob, sometimes with temporary ward Maggy Hamilton. Vicky is usually the primary protagonist and narrative voice.]

THE TWENTY-FOUR DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS

<>Seven-year-old Vicky's major role in a Christmas pageant is threatened by winter weather and the imminent delivery of her baby brother in this short fiction prequel to Meet the Austins, written for younger readers.


           
FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
? pages
unknown
Harold Shaw Publishers 1964 out of print listed in Carole F Chase's book Madeleine L'Engle, Suncatcher
hardcover
48 pages
0877888434 $11.99 Harold Shaw Publishers Aug 1984 available 9.34" x 7.32" x .40"
illustrated by Joe De Velasco
turtleback edition 0606040595 $9.30 Demco Media Nov 1988 available

"Turtleback" is probably a hardcover library binding with no dust jacket.

trade
paperback

0440401054 $3.99 Dell Young Yearling Dec 1988 available 7.62" x 5.13" x .23" illustrated by Carl Cassler
in Miracle on 10th Street, hardback, pp 126-142 0877885311 $16.99 Harold Shaw Publishers Nov 1998 available collection of fiction, poetry & essays

*current list price; only given for books that are still in print

 

A FULL HOUSE: AN AUSTIN FAMILY STORY

A former babysitter to the Austin family turns up on Christmas Eve, unexpectedly and in trouble, and Dr. Austin brings another guest home with him from the hospital.  This short story, which takes place when Suzy Austin is eight years old (about a year before Meet the Austins), appears in both of the Christmas collections listed below.  [Incidentally, the character Topaze from A Severed Wasp appears in the short story "Transfiguration, " also published in Miracle on 10th Street.]

FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
in Wintersong:  Christmas Readings by Madeleine L'Engle & Luci Shaw 0877888558 $19.99 Harold Shaw Publishers Nov(?) 1996 available fiction, poetry & essays
in Miracle on 10th Street, hardback, pp 126-142 0877885311 $16.99 Harold Shaw Publishers Nov 1998 available collection of fiction, poetry & essays
as A Full House: An Austin Family Christmas,
hardcover, 44 pp
 0877880204  $12.99 Harold Shaw Publishers Sep 1999  available illustrated by Mary Chambers

 

MEET THE AUSTINS

The Austin family is disrupted when spoiled, newly-orphaned Maggy Hamilton comes to live with them in their large country home. This was the first volume published in the series. The newest editions of this book restore material originally considered too frightening or disturbing for young readers.


FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
192 pages
0814903525;
LC 60-9726

Vanguard Press
(later Random House)
Sep 1960 out of print orange dust jacket
hardcover 0374349290 $16.00 Farrar Straus & Giroux Oct 1997 available restored edition with new dust jacket art by Dennis Nolan, 1997
turtleback edition 0606021728 $9.75 Demco Media Nov 1985 available "Turtleback" is probably a hardcover library binding with no dust jacket.
mass market
paperback
044095777X $4.50 Dell Laurel-Leaf Apr 1981 available 6.76" x 4.18" x .46"

*current list price; only given for books that are still in print

 

THE ANTI-MUFFINS

Maggy is proposed as a new member of the Anti-Muffin Club after a courageous act at Sunday School in this short fiction companion story to Meet the Austins, written for younger readers.  Originally written as part of that novel, The Anti-Muffins has now been restored to its rightful place in the 1997 FSG edition of Meet The Austins.

FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED** STATUS NOTES
hardcover
48 pages
0829804153
Pilgrim Press Feb 1981 out of print 9.25" x 6.13" x .38"
illustrations by Gloria Ortiz
in Meet the Austins, hardcover 0374349290 $16.00 Farrar Straus Giroux 1997 available available in this new edition only.

*current list price; only given for books that are still in print

THE MOON BY NIGHT

Vicky meets handsome but troubled Zachary Grey [later featured in other Austin novels and in A House Like a Lotus] as the Austins take a cross country trip to soften the transition between life in the country and their new life in New York City.

FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
218 pages
0374350493 $16.00 Farrar Straus & Giroux Jun 1963 available 14th printing with new dust jacket art by Dennis Nolan, 1997.
mass market
paperback
0440957761 $4.50 Dell Laurel-Leaf Apr 1981 available 6.72" x 4.17" x .53"

*current list price; only given for books that are still in print

THE YOUNG UNICORNS

The Austins, along with Josiah "Dave" Davidson [A Severed Wasp] and blind prodigy Emily Gregory, are drawn into danger as Dr Austin's work with lasers is put to evil use by the Alphabat gang's mysterious masters. Canon Tallis [The Arm of The Starfish, Dragons in the Waters] and Mr. Theotocopoulos [Dragons in The Waters] help to set things right.

FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
275 pages
unknown;
LC 68-13682
$16.00 Farrar Straus & Giroux 1968 available 18th printing with new dust jacket art by Dennis Nolan, 1997
turtleback edition 060601893X $9.75 Demco Media Jul 1995 available "Turtleback" is probably a hardcover library binding with no dust jacket.
mass market
paperback
285 pages
0440999197 $4.50 Dell Laurel-Leaf Jan 1980 available 6.72" x 4.19" x .53"

*current price; only given for books that are still in print

 

A RING OF ENDLESS LIGHT

A Newbery Honor Book. Vicky is seemingly surrounded by death and impending death as she works with dolphins alongside guilt-scarred Adam Eddington [The Arm of the Starfish, Troubling a Star], dates the orphaned Leo Rodney and self-destructive Zachary Grey, and watches the progress of her Grandfather's leukemia. Katherine Vigneras [The Small Rain, A Severed Wasp] has a cameo appearance.


FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
324 pages
0374362998
Farrar Straus & Giroux 1980 out of print First Edition
turtleback edition 0606022430 $9.75 Demco Media Jun 1989 probably available "Turtleback" is probably a hardcover library binding with no dust jacket.
large print
hardcover
1557361819
Cornerstone Books unknown out of print Isis Large Print Books
For Children(?)
mass market
paperback
0440972329 $4.99 Dell Laurel-Leaf Aug 1981 available 6.88" x 4.17" x .95"
audio cassette
hardcover
0394077288
Amer School Pub Jun 1991 out of print scholastic edition

*current price; only given for books that are still in print

TROUBLING A STAR

Vicky's friendship with Adam Eddington [The Arm of the Starfish, A Ring of Endless Light], and with Adam's Aunt Serena leads to mortal danger and intrigue on a trip to Antarctica.

FORMAT ISBN PRICE* PUBLISHER ISSUED STATUS NOTES
hardcover
296 pages
0374377839 $17.00 Farrar Straus & Giroux Sep 1994 available First Edition
9.28" x 6.31" x 1.03"
turtleback edition 0606083189 $9.75 Demco Media Sep 1995 probably available "Turtleback" is probably a hardcover library binding with no dust jacket.
mass market
paperback
304 pages
0440219507 $4.99 Dell Laurel-Leaf Sep 1995 available 6.92" x 4.19" x .86"

*current price; only given for books that are still in print

A SEVERED WASP

See Katherine Forrester Vigneras page.  Dr. Suzy Davidson (Suzy Austin) appears, along with her husband Dave Davidson [The Young Unicorns] and their children.


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