This was...very different from the Time Quintet (Wrinkle in Time- An Acceptable Time). It still has the science fiction (some, but not in the same sense as Tesseracts), meditation, well-developed characters, and plot twists. It is very similar to Troubling a Star, except this one has a male lead (young Adam) instead of female. I personally enjoyed Adam's perspective more than Vicky's (she's a little too much for me at times...especially in The Moon by Night). Overall, this book was more like a YA/middle school "spy" novel. There is spying involved, as well as secret experiments, kidnappings, and car chases. I enjoyed it, even though it wasn't much like A Wrinkle in Time (even though Calvin features as Dr. O'Keefe along with the family he started with Meg- Poly one of their kids). I'm still recovering from the plot twists. Usually I'm okay at predicting how twists will turn out...but this one, no. Which attests to this novel's quality. However, I did take off one star because of its similarity to Troubling a Star- they were a little too similar for my liking. I guess that just happens to many authors when they write a lot of books in the same genre. ( )

When Adam Eddington, a gifted marine biology student, makes the acquaintance of blond and beautiful Kali Cutter at Kennedy International Airport on his way to Portugal to spend the summer working for the renowned scientist Dr. O'Keefe, he has no idea that this seemingly chance meeting will set into motion a chain of events he will be unable to stop. Caught between Kali's seductive wiles and the trusting adoration of Dr. O'Keefe's daughter, Poly, Adam finds himself enmeshed in a deadly power struggle between two groups of people, only one of which can have right on its side. As the danger escalates, Adam must make a decision that could affect the entire world―which side is he on?

Praise for The Arm of the Starfish:
“Tense, tricky, well-plotted, The Arm of the Starfish has all the stuff of which adult spy novels are made.” ―The New York Times Book Review

Oh, wow. Re-reading thru the Wrinkle in Time series within in the last year left me a little disenchanted toward the end; the last couple of books just weren’t as good as I had remembered them.
I had started reading An Acceptable Time and realized that at least this book of the O’Keefe series had taken place before it, so I took a detour, since I hadn’t read this series before.
Here was the L’Engle writing that I loved in A Wrinkle in Time and A Swiftly Tilting Planet. Her ability to capture the complexity of life, especially for a young adult is amazing. Meg and Charles Wallace were quite unique in their abilities and intelligence, but Adam is much more just a normal kid; intelligent, focused and pretty privileged, but not overly “super”. 16 years old is quite grown, but still not quite, full of experiences but with so many unknowns, and the things Adam has to deal with are pretty major - Not knowing who to trust, whose side to be on, or what each side even stands for.
The story is practical, not preachy. Adam doesn’t investigate and choose sides based on facts and details; he chooses with his gut and his feelings. He likes Kali and her attention and is swayed by that, but the truth of Joshua and Poly and Dr. O’Keefe also hold sway. Maybe I relate because I’ve been led by my “gut” my whole life, and I have always felt that when I follow it, everything ends up alright. Not peachy keen with no troubles, but I end up down the correct path.
I also appreciate how L’Engle doesn’t shy away from pain or overwhelming emotion. The narration of Adam’s experience and emotions at the end of the book ring true, including his realization of the similar and even stronger feelings of the other characters, but the fact that they don’t overshadow or temper his own feelings, because really, at 16 (or maybe just in general) why would they?
I enjoyed this book completely. I figured out some of the plot twists well ahead of time, but it was still action packed and held my attention to the very end.

I will say, mostly for myself, that the only thing I was sad about was that Meg had such a tiny role! She doesn’t even get a name besides “Mrs. O’Keefe”, and tho her small contribution was a good one, it just showed nothing of her personality and abilities. We’re told that she occasionally helps Dr. O’Keefe with his work, but she is mostly matronly in her role (nothing wrong with that, says this mother of four!) and shows nothing of the Meg I know and love from her own series. Even Calvin (Dr. O’Keefe) is barely there as a character. I don’t disagree with the choice in either regard, it’s just a little sad when you’re looking forward to hearing about your old friends and you only get to see them thru the eyes of some strange kid who has no frame of reference or any idea of who they are or why they’re so special to you. It’s just not in the scope of the story, and that’s ok. ( )

The book in which we meet Adam and see how he ties to the Murrays. A good read more for where it takes the characters rather than what actually occurs in the book. ( )

An interesting, suspenseful, and sad tale of science and espionage that is overshadowed by some real bad choices that could have been thought through. A solid 3.5 stars. ( )