A Wrinkle in Time

What do you think of the ending of the book? Are you surprised?

By concentrating on her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to restore him to his true identity. Meg releases Charles from IT's clutches and tessers with him through time and space, landing in her twin brothers' vegetable garden on Earth, where her father and Calvin stand waiting. The family joyously reunites, and the Mrs. W's visit the happy scene en route to further travels.

You may be disappointed in the predictable triumph of good vs. evil, but I was not surprised by the ending.  It is all in Meg's realization that her strong ability to love is a powerful weapon. 

Surprised? - no.  Disappointed? - yes.  As a novel that pits good against evil at every turn, the overly happy ending suggests that all evil can be overcome, complete with joyous reunions.  For me, this is too sunny of an outlook - granted, I prefer novels where main characters die and rays of potential hope are apparent without slapping you in the face.

I think the sunny-side up ending to WIT makes it a good novel for adolescent readers who still need the happy endings.  It doesn't provide for a very thought provoking final discussion, though, outside of whether or not it should have a happy ending.  Is my cynicism showing yet?