This is quite different from the rest of L'Engle's work that I have read. I would never have guessed her to be the author. But it is very good, and especially magnificent for a debut.
I loved Katherine and related to her well. Justin, too, and Charlot and Felix. All of the characters are bright and singular.
The engaging description surprised me at times—not because I didn't think the author capable of elegant prose, but because of the nature of the book. It's largely a romance, but it isn't at all shallow.
And the dialogue. I haven't read a book with this many quotation marks in years, and I was terribly pleased with it. There was never a dull moment, because there was nearly always someone talking.
I'm glad there is a sequel. Not that the book didn't settle nicely—but I need to know what happens to Katherine. L'engle has made me care about her too much to desert the story now.