NY Times Crossword
August 20. 2020
Grant Thackray (adapted)

Below are three sections from a completed crossword. The theme of the puzzle is the title of a classic young-adult novel. The spacing of the three clues is important and gives a visual hint to the title of the novel. What's the title?

1)
M I N I M E
S E N T E N T A L   V A L U E

2)
         R I M S
W H A T E A N T   W A S

3)
  S C R I M P S
M O R T E R   M O U S E

Answer:

Stop at the first T in each lower word. Bump up to an I in the upper word, right to an E, and back down to the lower word - - - it spells out TIME - - - and fills in the lower word so that it makes sense:

1. SENTIMENTAL VALUE
2. WHAT I MEANT WAS
3. MORTIMER MOUSE

Title of the novel: A WRINKLE IN TIME