Stranger Things' season five has turned up the dial in unexpected ways, shining a light on characters who once barely registered. Holly Wheeler, for example, who was once only Mike's little sister, has now been clutching her copy of A Wrinkle in Time like a secret weapon. Only the book seems to be far more than just her recent read.

Who knew that the Wheeler kid's pages could turn into plot portals? 

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is about fighting darkness with love, involving a world controlled by a sinister brain-like creature. This actually mirrors what is happening in Hawkins with Vecna’s psychic grip on the town.

From Holly dubbing her eerie visitor Mr Whatsit, echoing the novel's guide against darkness, to venturing into forbidden woods and linking Vecna's grip to Camazotz, a conformist planet ruled by an entity, Stranger Things might be unravelling right beneath the audience's noses. These nods frame Hawkins' nightmare perfectly.

Holly’s use of the book is not just for show. With the Duffer Brothers having confirmed how key themes from the novel, like love as a weapon, feed directly into Stranger Things' storylines, the book has become a subtle but crucial piece of the puzzle.

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From the kid sister that slipped into the back of everybody's brain, Holly Wheeler has now become the brains in the Upside Down.

Holly’s journey in season five is the real surprise. Recast with Nell Fisher to rejuvenate the character's, innocence, Holly has quickly become more than a side character. The episode, The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler, has underscored her rising importance as she navigated the weird and dangerous world around her. Holly is now a wildcard with a front-row seat to the battle against the Upside Down.

What makes Holly stand out is how her character and the book she carries connect the dots for viewers. Her interactions with Hawkins’ supernatural threats and moments of quiet insight give the show an extra layer of meaning. While music and memory play bigger roles for others like Max, Holly’s book is a new tool to understand the fight against Vecna.

The Duffer Brothers’ nod to this beloved novel is more than fan service—it is shaping the way the season’s story is unfolding. Holly’s transformation from background kid to central player means that sometimes, the smallest characters hold the biggest clues in the fight against darkness.

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What do you think of Holly Wheeler's reading habits paving the way to Stranger Things' finale? Let us know in the comments below!