Ten years after their adventures with the Echthroi in A Wind in the Door Meg and Calvin are married and expecting their first child. Meg spends Thanksgiving with the Murry family and Calvin's mother, Mrs. O'Keefe, while Calvin is at a conference in Britain. When the family hears of impending nuclear war caused by "Mad Dog Branzillo", dictator of a fictional South American country, Mrs. O'Keefe charges Charles Wallace with preventing the war and arms him with "Patrick's Rune" a spell of protection passed down from her Irish ancestors.
Charles Wallace goes to the family's star-watching rock and begins reciting the rune. He summons Gauidor, a unicorn from the heavens, who explains that Charles Wallace must travel through time to merge his mind with other people who have lived near the star-watching rock and change "might-have-beens" and alter the course of history. Charles Wallace is confused how events in New England will change what happens in South America, but the changes Charles Wallace makes act through a Butterfly Effect making larger changes in the modern world.
As he travels the Echthroi return and each change for the good that Charles Wallace fights for is opposed by their forces trying to maintain the 'evil' outcome. Charles Wallace visits a Native American boy, a Welsh trans-atlantic voyager, a welsh colonist, an American Civil War writer, and Mrs. O'Keefe's brother as a child. Meg uses the technique kything that she learned in A Wind in the Door to keep in touch with Charles Wallace telepathically on his adventures.
Charles Wallace discovers the connection between New England and Mad Dog Branzillo, but his alteration of "might-have-beens" causes a peaceful man to be born, rather than the crazed dictator.
The story of A Swiftly Tilting Planet shows how small events in everyday life can change the world and suggests a way for the reader to act in his or her own life that makes the future of our world a more desirable one. The story is suitable for older children, around fifth or sixth grade, however, some of L'Engle's language may be difficult for young readers. Older readers will discover new dimensions of the reading with each revisit.
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