And Both Were Young

By Madeleine L'Engle and Léna Roy

In this novel by A Wrinkle in Time author Madeleine L'Engle, Philippa is miserable at an all girls' boarding school in Switzerland . . . until she meets the mysterious Paul.

Flip feels miserable when she first arrives at boarding school in Switzerland. Then she finds a true friend in Paul. But as the two become more and more close, Flip learns that Paul has a mystery in his past—and to help him discover the truth, she must put herself into serious danger.

This new edition of one of Madeleine L'Engle's earliest works features an introduction by the author's granddaughter, the writer Léna Roy.

Books by Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time Quintet
A Wrinkle in Time
A Wind in the Door
A Swiftly Tilting Planet
Many Waters
An Acceptable Time

A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel by Madeleine L'Engle; adapted & illustrated by Hope Larson

Intergalactic P.S. 3 by Madeleine L'Engle; illustrated by Hope Larson: A standalone story set in the world of A Wrinkle in Time.

The Austin Family Chronicles
Meet the Austins (Volume 1)
The Moon by Night (Volume 2)
The Young Unicorns (Volume 3)
A Ring of Endless Light (Volume 4) A Newbery Honor book!
Troubling a Star (Volume 5)

The Polly O'Keefe books
The Arm of the Starfish
Dragons in the Waters
A House Like a Lotus

And Both Were Young

Camilla

The Joys of Love

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Apr 27, 2010
• ISBN: 9781429934114

Madeleine L'Engle

Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) was the Newbery Medal-winning author of more than 60 books, including the much-loved A Wrinkle in Time. Born in 1918, L'Engle grew up in New York City, Switzerland, South Carolina and Massachusetts. Her father was a reporter and her mother had studied to be a pianist, and their house was always full of musicians and theater people. L'Engle graduated cum laude from Smith College, then returned to New York to work in the theater. While touring with a play, she wrote her first book, The Small Rain, originally published in 1945. She met her future husband, Hugh Franklin, when they both appeared in The Cherry Orchard. Upon becoming Mrs. Franklin, L'Engle gave up the stage in favor of the typewriter. In the years her three children were growing up, she wrote four more novels. Hugh Franklin temporarily retired from the theater, and the family moved to western Connecticut and for ten years ran a general store. Her book Meet the Austins, an American Library Association Notable Children's Book of 1960, was based on this experience. Her science fantasy classic A Wrinkle in Time was awarded the 1963 Newbery Medal. Two companion novels, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (a Newbery Honor book), complete what has come to be known as The Time Trilogy, a series that continues to grow in popularity with a new generation of readers. Her 1980 book A Ring of Endless Light won the Newbery Honor. L'Engle passed away in 2007 in Litchfield, Connecticut.

Reviews for And Both Were Young

[amielisa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this story as an audiobook and quickly fell in love with both the character and the reader. According to the introduction to this book by Ms. L'Engle's granddaughter, this later published version more closely follows the original manuscript, which was thought when initially published, to deal with ideas too adult for the times. By today's measures, it is quite tame. It was a joy to read a coming of age story with strong characters, and a romance built on a real friendship rather than sort of conjured out of thin air as so many young adult stories seem to do lately.Flip, our main character, isn't the most likeable girl when the story opens. She is rather lost; her mother recently died and her artist father has chosen to install her in a Swiss boarding school while he travels for his latest project. At first, Flip is sullen and withdrawn. She is an awkward girl who has difficulty in communicating with her peers and making friends. Despite these character flaws, the reader is drawn to her, perhaps feeling sorry for the motherless child. As the story unfolds we are treated to real character growth, a great set of supporting (and supportive) characters, and a lovely sense of contentment as Flip finds her place in the world. I would recommend this to readers of any age.

[meggyweg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was apparently quite daring when it was originally published in the 1940s, so much that it had to be bowdlerized. But it seems awfully tame to me. I read the original (non-bowdlerized) version and find myself wondering just what they felt they needed to cut out. The whole "mysterious stranger lurking around" subplot seemed pretty truncated to me.Nevertheless, this was a good book. It does a good job portraying the claustrophobic, almost incestuous boarding school atmosphere (I would have HATED it) and it's also interesting to see Philippa mature from a painfully shy, sulky and rather whiny girl to a stronger, more independent and mature person as the months go on. And all the topical stuff of the post-war period was well integrated into the story.

[noahsmae · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was so innocent. The dialogue between Flip and Paul felt like they were 12 year olds not 17. Of course, this book was originally written in the 1950's. This would be a good book to recommend to a young teenager. The romance was not all that convincing -- they interacted more like good friends than two people attracted toward each other.

[salsabrarian · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Narrated by Ann Marie Lee. As the new girl at a French boarding school, shy, awkward, unremarkable Filippa finds it difficult to fit in among the more seemingly poised and glamorous girls. She eventually finds comfort and selfl-confidence through her blossoming romance with Paul, a boy with a tragic past, and through the support of Madame Percy, a friendly art teacher at the school. Narrator Lee expresses Filippa's loneliness and shy manner, and her careful pacing suits this quiet story.

[theeccentriclady · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I picked this audio book up at a library sale to listen to while I sew. Not a normal choice for me but an entertaining story that kept my attention for the 2 days I spent in my sewing room. I had no prior knowledge of Madeleine L'Engle and did not know what to expect but since I have been choosing books that were written at least 30 years ago I have been founding them an enjoyable experience.

[tay11_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

i couldnt put it down it was sad and happy at the same time

[raizel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author's foreword explains that when the book was originally published the world was not as comfortable talking about death and sex with young people. This 1983 version restores the story to what she originally wrote; she has not made any changes to reflect her own growth as a writer and person. She concludes the foreword by noting that the main character becomes a successful artist: one of her portraits is important in another of Ms. L'Engle's books.While the book deals with important topics, some very personal and some about global events (World War II), its happy ending feels too much like wish fulfillment. Especially the lovely quote by a teacher who not only admits that she misjudged the heroine but also tells her that she is happy that she was wrong.

[ohjanet_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sure the a Wrinkle in Time series is fantastic. But it's books like this one that make me love L'Engle with every cell in my body. She understands & conveys tenderness, longing, loneliness and joy better than anyone. This story of girls in a French boarding school just after WWII is one of her finer teen love stories.

[foggidawn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Philippa's father leaves her at a Swiss boarding school, she feels a bit as if her life is over. Philippa, or Flip, as she likes to be called, is an introverted, artistic girl, fiercely devoted to her father and still mourning the fairly recent death of her mother. Boarding school, with its points and sports and complete lack of privacy, is a nightmare for her -- and since she spends her time feeling sulky and sorry for herself, she doesn't make friends among her fellow students, who take to calling her "Pill." Flip befriends the art teacher, a woman who is sympathetic to Flip but also not afraid to call her out on her self-pitying behavior. But apart from art classes, Flip's only recourse is to escape the school on free afternoons -- and it's during those free times that she meets Paul, a boy of her own age, who lives in a nearby chateau. Paul has seen his own share of tragedy, and the two teens bond over their similar experiences and dispositions. But Paul also has a mysterious past, one that even he doesn't fully understand. Will Flip and Paul's friendship help both teens to blossom?This was a favorite of mine from my early teen years. I actually liked it better than a lot of Madeleine L'Engle's more well-known works, possibly because it's a simpler, more straightforward story, but more likely because I saw myself in Flip's introversion and social awkwardness. Now, encountering it as an adult, it remains a gentle, enjoyable read. Flip and Paul both undergo some painful, realistic character development, and the alpine setting is as lovely as I recall from those first times reading it. The romance angle is very slight, compared to what you see in more recent young adult literature, making this book perfect for young or conservative teens.

[wktarin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sweet story. Flowed the most naturally of all the L'Engle books I've read, although some of the plot twists did end seeming contrived.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've finished another reading of this 1949 young adult novel, my third time since I first read it at twelve. (Mind you, I've only read the 1983 edition, which includes some original story elements, like Flip's grief over her mother's death, that the author once had to leave out, due to their taboo nature for young people's fiction in the 40s.) I remembered certain parts of this postwar story but forgot major aspects of the plot twice, so it's been both a familiar but fresh reread for me each time.Even given Paul's role though, I wouldn't call this novel a romance. The story focuses on Flip's overall experiences at boarding school, not mostly or solely her romantic ones.Granted, it's funny, as I do remember my adolescent self thinking of Paul as so mature and "dreamy," and Flip's interaction with him seemed like such a grown-up thing. But as my adult self read about these two teens once again, it was like, "Oh. Gee. And both were young."Still, besides the aspect of young love, I can see why I've been so drawn by this rather peculiar story every time. It's the shy, nonathletic, unpopular heroine. A different, sensitive girl. An artist. Someone who struggles and has to try all the harder to make it in a social environment with her classmates, so her every triumph in school—whether major or minor—is that much sweeter.It's uplifting to watch how Flip learns and grows, and hey. The novel's handling of Christmas, my absolute favorite holiday, is pretty wonderful. My nostalgic self is rather sure I'll remember much more about the story after this third time.