Alice With a Why

by Anna James, Matthew Land

Return to Wonderland in this extraordinary reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by one of our most brilliant storytellers

‘Spectacular!’ Kiran Millwood Hargrave

‘An absolute masterclass’ Hannah Gold

‘I absolutely loved it’ Katie Tsang

‘Beautiful and witty’ Pari Thomson

England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother’s stories – for it is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

*Includes bonus chapters from Anna’s epic fantasy, Chronicles of Whetherwhy and the original Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland*

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Retellings, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Childrens

Audible Audio

First published July 19, 2025

Reviews

[Rosh (is back & catching up slowly!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A middle-grade fantasy offering a continuation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, albeit with another *Alyce*. Interesting characters (some old, some new), fun adventures and zingy one-liners. Not as nonsensical as the original, but still quite absurd. Quite clever as an unofficial sequel, but most of the jokes will click better if you know the Lewis Carroll work. Recommended.

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Plot Preview:

1919. England. After having lost her father during the Great War, Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice who still speaks about her visit to Wonderland even though no one takes her seriously. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits Alyce (literally), she assumes that it’s for her. After all, many people confuse the spellings, and why would anyone invite her grandma to a tea party anyway? But soon, Alyce realises that her grandma’s stories had some element of truth. This Wonderland is slightly different from the one she had heard about. Worse, though the *wrong* Alyce turned up, the strange denizens of Wonderland expect this “Alice” to solve their problems just like “their Alice” did many years ago. And the problem is indeed a big one.
The story comes to us in Alyce’s third-person perspective.

While I am not the biggest fan of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (it was much too meandering and absurd for my liking), I still enjoy its quirky characters, clever wordplay, and witty repartee. As such, I was delighted to see this sequel-of-sorts contain all of these, and more.


Bookish Yays:
🦊 The clever title, which offers an instant recollection of another classic, ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and her ‘Anne with an E’.

🦊 Alyce. She’s not as curious or imaginative as her grandma Alice, so she’s more my kind of girl. 😅 It is fun to see her trying to figure out her way back home while being so frustrated by the inanities of Wonderland.

🦊 Carroll’s Alice, who regularly pops up in the plot, either in a direct appearance or because of the Wonderland characters’ references to “their Alice”. We needed more of her.

🦊 The whole Alyce-Alice confusion. Adds a whole load of fun to many situations. The “Alice with a Why” conversation towards the start is hilarious.

🦊 The absurdities. To be fair, this definitely isn’t at the same level of madness as Lewis Carroll’s world, which might be why it worked better for me. Things are silly but still convincing.

🦊 The word play and the witty repartee. Almost as entertaining as in the original.

🦊 The adventures that Alyce goes through. Somewhat reminiscent of the episodic journey that the original Alice experiences in Wonderland, and almost as fun. On the bizarre scale, this story is somewhat tame, though this will bother only those who expect the same crazy developments as found in the classic.

🦊 The “situation” that the Wonderland denizens want Alyce to sort out. I love the clever incorporation of a certain real-life event into the plot. To be clear, this event is practised only in one-third of the world’s countries (Can you guess what I’m talking about without cheating and peeking into other reviews? 😁) and it isn't even referenced by its actual name in the book, so it won't work for children who aren’t aware of it. Regardless, even without knowing the basis for the same, it is an entertaining addition as its success as a plot point isn't dependent on prior knowledge. There are two new royal characters connected to this arc, and while not as wacko as the Red Queen, they are still comically self-serving.

🦊 The way the story brings out the importance of discussion and open communication – subtle but good.

🦊 The B&W illustrations. Matched the quirkiness of the story very well. I wish there had been more artwork, especially as the story itself was relatively short.


Bookish Okays:
🐭 The Wonderland characters. Several reprise their roles from the original, though a few key players are conspicuous in their absence. There are some new characters as well, the best of whom is Fox. A part of me wonders if Alyce saw him as a metaphorical representation of her late father. Sadly, just as in the classic, there are too many characters, but unlike the original, the short length of this book doesn’t allow deep character development.

🐭 The minimal role the prologue plays in the plot. The house-used-as-hospital-during-war backstory wasn’t even used ahead, so it was not really necessary. The absence of Alyce’s mom is explained but it is more like a quick one-liner mention. Then again, this is a story about Alyce and not her family, so I guess this isn't a major issue. I do wish there had been more of Dinah the cat(s) in the main story.


Overall, this middle-grade fantasy was a pleasant surprise for me. The characters, the adventure, and the humour mostly delivered on point, and they might work even better for the target audience.

The story contains myriad references and allusions to Lewis Carroll’s book. If you aren’t aware of the original classic, then you will miss these hidden nuances. Watching the movie adaptations won't suffice because the movies are such watered-down versions of the craziness that is chock-full in ‘Alice in Wonderland’. However, this book does work fairly well as a standalone, as long as you are okay with not understanding the significance of why the residents of Wonderland kept talking about Alice.

Recommended for sure, though I cannot decide if the book will work better for middle-graders (they will enjoy Alyce’s adventure but not understand the Wonderland Easter Eggs unless they’ve read the original) or for adult fans of the Lewis Carroll work (they might enjoy the nostalgia and the Easter Eggs but won't find this as whimsical.)

4 stars.


My thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and Flamingo Books for providing the DRC of “Alice with a Why” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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I follow the Goodreads rating policy:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Lifelong favourite!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I loved the book.
⭐⭐⭐ - I liked the book.
⭐⭐ - I found the book average.
⭐ - I hated the book.
The decimals indicate the degree of the in-between feelings.

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[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month - May 2026

Shortlisted Waterstones Book of the Year 2025

Anna James - author of the brilliant Pages & Co series- has taken her wonderful imagination and stepped into the world of Lewis Carroll by bringing us a new version of Alice in Wonderland.

But this is a new Alyce (yes with a Y)- this is the granddaughter of the original Alice who finds herself living her grandmother at Specula House. Set in 1919 , Alyce's father has died in World War I and she is stying with her grandmother. The house was used as a hospital in the war

Upon discovering an invitation between the pages of a book Alyce soon finds herself in Wonderland after falling out of a paper boat; but upon a rival she finds she has a problem to solve - The Queen of the Moon and The Sun King are engaged in a battle - the King has stolen an hour from the Queen.

Alyce needs to go in search of The Time Being to find her way home and solve the problems of Wonderland Meeting up with lots of familiar characters- the Mad Hatter, The Mock Turtle, Dormouse, Alyce has to find the right route - she is joined by a wise fox.

Anna James has recreated Wonderland but with a twist- loyal to the original but with a new twist, this is a wonderful fantasy adventure- perfect as a bedtime read or a class story time- surreal, magical, full of of humour and wisdom.

A fantastical winner full of nostalgia for parents and new delights for younger readers.

[Sian Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous, wonderful imagining of a new Alyce - the original Alice's granddaughter ("with a why" as she is described!) - on her own journey through Wonderland.

I haven't read the original Alice books for years, but I have watched various versions of the films in recent times thanks to having a daughter at the right age for them. Even though I can't say I remember the writing style all that well of the originals, I feel that the author got the tone just right for this. It's whimsical and nonsensical, but also witty. The strange thing is that some of the little jokes, like Alyce searching for the "Time Being", would have seemed like nonsense to me if I'd read it as a child, but as a grown up, they're like little in-jokes. I'm sure there are ones that I missed in there too!

This Alyce has heard her grandmother's tales of adventure in Wonderland but isn't quite sure she can be believed. That is, until she finds a strange invitation and tumbles after a paper boat into a new world herself. The new Alyce meets a few of the old cast of characters, including the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse, the Mock Turtle and Cheshire Cat, but she also meets some new friends, including a wise fox who accompanies her on her journey. This journey is, like the original Alice's, somewhat accidental where each step makes sense at the time - including finding the Time Being, helping the Sun King and Queen of the Moon find a truce in their war, and searching for the right papers to allow her passage through the land.

Unfortunately as my version was an advance copy from Netgalley, I didn't have the illustrations -the author actually refers to them at points, speaking to the reader directly (which is a lovely touch and very fun!). I'd love to get my hands on a physical copy in the future to see the illustrations and to share it with my daughter. She's just turned 6 and I feel like she would be just on the edge of the age where she might enjoy it, but it's one of those stories that gets better with time.

This is a lovely, faithful new rendering of a classic which I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for a review copy of this book.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love many (children's) classics and the two original stories about a girl named Alice ending up in a place called Wonderland where she meets the strangest beings and has the most weird but awesome adventures firmly belong in that category.

This is a continuation, kinda.
Alice is a grandmother now and has cared for soldiers during WWI. Sadly, that war cost her own son's life. So now, for reasons, her granddaughter - Alyce - is staying with her. But what could they talk about now that the house is no longer a hospital and they are the only two left?!
Well, fortunately (depending on whom you’re asking) an invitation arrives that transports "the wrong Alice" to Wonderland where we meet many of the old companions as well as some new ones.
As it turns out, war can not only happen in our world and Alyce is asked to find a way to stop the to-and-fro between the Sun King and Queen of the Moon. This leads her on a quest along which she is more often confused than not but also learns vital lessons and makes friends.

Some of this story is as silly as Wonderland should be, though it simultaneously felt a little less imaginative than the original. However, the bits about the war(s) felt quite nice if a bit simplistic at times - Lewis Carroll wrote something that didn't assume children were any less intelligent / capable than adults (rather the contrary) while this story was definitely toned down.

Nevertheless, the writing and flow to the story were quite nice and just look at how lovely this edition is:



Here are examples of the artwork:



So yes, while this was in no way like the original(s), it was a respectful nod and one that might hook plenty of (young and old) readers, opening a door into a wonder(ful )land which is the best thing about stories anyway.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t give this author enough props!!!!!! This book was beautiful. I loved it so much especially just reading Alice in wonderland a few months back. Saw this online and had to get it. The story was so pleasing and amazing illustrations! Please make a sequel

[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in reads-with-grandma sessions. . .to the very end!

We loved Alice With a Why: Return to Wonderland . I received an ARC copy of this book and read it (just me, an elderly grandma sort, who works remotely) in audio format. Alice in my childhood was not a standout - I appreciated a few things in the tale, even memorized the Walrus and Carpenter's poem (the entire thing all 18 stanzas! in high school for some kind of pranky performance), but beyond that, it didn't dazzle for me. So this came along, and I was sure it would be a exercise in comparison, but wouldn't rise above Lewis C (who although I appreciated his way with turning a phrase, had issues with his general creepiness). Along comes Anna James, and we believe she's done just that: risen above the original! When I clicked the audio off, I found an ebook immediately and proposed to my grandkid reading buddies that they have another book to review with me. They bit.

I've read with my grandkids who are far, far away from me physically (except for when we can visit a few times a year) ever since COVID when we discovered Zoom. So two mornings a week - for 2 to 3 hours we read books to each other (I pull up our chosen book, share my screen and each person reads a page [rotate, repeat] - generally a chapter per session - unless its long, and then we pick up the next book. Usually we have 2 to 3 going, and mid-session we play games (NY Times games, Matching Games, MahJong, or JiGidi Puzzles), and then finish with one last book. Alice(w/Y) was one of those. . .when I read an ARC I let them know that we need to discuss aspects as we read (and we do) and then at the end vote using GR's star method.

There are cameos of many of Wonderland's usual suspects, but the author introduces readers to new characters as unique and unreasonably appealing as any of Carroll's. Our favorite was the Fox, and liked it that the problem was a totally new one, that it wasn't a rewrite of the first story at all.

At our completion of Alice with a Why [who is really Alyce (with a Y), the granddaughter of Her Fine Self, the Original Alice (with an I). Alyce knows of her grandmere's stories about being in that fabled land, but it seems that is it a beloved fiction, not an actual place. That is, until she learns otherwise!] I queried my reading partners - on stars: 5! other comments: I hope she goes back!! and I hope SHE has a granddaughter who visits ?Alyce with an ?S?!? and Do ya think they'll make a movie of this? I wished the author could have been there. I suspect she would have been pleased at their excitement.

SO: ALL THE STARS. Pick it up and read it with the kiddos in your life, or on some day of good weather just sit your own self down, go back to your 2nd decade, find a comfy tree to lean against, talk some friendly animal into claiming your lap and start to read. . .

*A sincere thank you to Anna James, Penguin Young Readers Group | Flamingo Books, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #AlicewithaWhy #NetGalley 26|52:36c

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely return to Wonderland, this time with Alice's grandaughter Alyce. Beautifully written with charm and delight!

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Alice in Wonderland, so when I saw this a few months ago, I pre-ordered it without thinking too much about it. But here's the thing - my love of Alice really grew as an adult, rather than me devouring the books as a child. I remember having the two books as a child, in beautiful hardback editions, with colour plates as well as the traditional illustrations, but I think I grew to appreciate them more as I grew. The books are quite surreal, absurd, and there is a lot of word play which can get lost on younger readers. So, although they are children's books, I can understand when children are a little bemused by them. And I think this may be the case with "Alice With a Why."

This story sees Alyce - the granddaughter to our original Alice - discover the strange land that her grandmother told her stories about, but she thought were made up. We see familiar characters from the original tale, along with new additions.

The book is beautifully created. My edition had sprayed edges. There are also illustrations. And the cover is gorgeous. James has stayed quite true to the original Alice stories, and this is no bad thing. Having said that, I think for some children this may turn out to be a bit of a barrier for them. I hope that there will be enough who either love the Alice stories, and so come to this, or who are fans of James, and come to this that way.
Personally, for me, there was just something missing which I couldn't quite put my finger on. Perhaps I was reading it whilst trying to judge it from my younger perspective (whether that is fair of me, or not). So although this will go on my Alice shelf, it isn't one that I will be coming back to.

[Lupe Migliaccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alice’s granddaughter (Alyce) is accidentally sent to Wonderland, only to discover she isn’t the Alice they wanted. Familiar faces return and Alyce realizes her grandmother’s stories were true. I listened to the audiobook and was instantly hooked by the narrator, who also voices the Belladonna series and the ending genuinely got me a little emotional. It’s cute, nostalgic and heartwarming.

[Sue Oshin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is light and entertaining. It feels like it’s been ages since I last read something that actually reignited my love for reading. A quick and easy read!

This isn’t Alice’s story but it’s Alyce. Alyce with a Y. She’s Alice’s granddaughter. At first, the story was a little confusing, but the more you read, the more things start to make sense.

Alyce had only ever heard about her grandma’s adventures in Wonderland. Just like us, we’ve all heard of Alice in Wonderland, a timeless tale that’s been told over and over again.

But now, the author gives us the granddaughter’s version. It’s like seeing the story from our modern-day perspective. Alyce doesn’t really believe the stories her grandma told her… until one day, she ends up experiencing it all for herself.

That’s why the book is titled Alyce: Return to Wonderland. The one returning isn’t Alice, but Alyce with a Y.

In Wonderland, everyone keeps misunderstanding why she says “Alyce with a why.” They questioning if it has why, there should be what, where and when 😂 What she means is her name is spelled with a Y, not an I. But it’s pronounced just like her grandma’s.

Follow Alyce’s journey through Wonderland. No spoilers here, but trust me, this adventure is completely different from the original Alice tale. And it all begins with a misdelivered invitation…

[•*~ 𝓙𝓮𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓼 ~*• · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

___________________________

This book was amazingg
I would have given it 5stars but its just not the kind of books I like to read
I preferred this book than Alice in Wonderland
It was rly quick to read but that was veryy good
I rly liked the story and things happened that i didn’t expect
The writing style was simple and easy to read
And Alyce did not annoy me which is good lol
I usually only read books with romance but this one didnt need the romance and the fantasy was rlyy good
This book was creative (the magic stuff since its the world of alice jn wonderland)

___________________________

If u want a short book to read without romance u should read it :)

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical and true to the original.
Wonderful characters (old and new).
Adorably daft rhymes.
Chapter 14 is absolutely beautiful. 🦊
A gorgeous ending too. ☀️
And, of course, the best illustrations possible. They are so cute and quirky. 🥰

A physical copy is a must as it would be a wonderful keepsake. And a story you’ll love and cherish forever. 😍

I honestly don’t think I need to say anymore.

[Mandy (Bookishlove85) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pages and Co. was one of my fave series over the years and has stuck with me to this day. So when I saw the author was coming out with a book about Alice, I knew I’d love it. And love it, I did! Love how much heart and whimsy Anna includes in her stories. This one was so fun to read and flew by quicker than I would have liked. Very much looking forward to what she has next for us!

[Susy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
Not being the biggest fan of Alice in Wonderland (the movie/series, the book I havent read yet), this didn't start very strong for me. It developed nicely though and the end with the resolve of the war between the Queen of the Moon and the Sun King, discussion about the stolen hour and themes of loss made it a very enjoyable read.

Characters 7
Atmosphere 7
Writing Style 8
Premise 7
Plot 7
Pace 8
Length 8
Structure/Setup 7
Enjoyment/Engrossment 7
Narration 8

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ (Rounded up)

Alice With A Why by Anna James & Matthew Land is a legacy sequel to Alice In Wonderland. This time Alice’s granddaughter, Alyce, tumbles into Wonderland, where the Sun King & Queen of the Moon quarrel, and familiar faces like the Mad Hatter & the Cheshire Cat return!

Alyce is a brave, curious protagonist. Thrust into a quest, she’s forced to solve puzzles, meeting characters from her grandmother’s tales. Her friendships, especially with the clever Fox, & her bond with her grandmother give the story so much heart! The pacing is quick & full of fun twists & clever wordplay. The ending has a satisfying resolution that will leave readers smiling.

🗣️Narrator Kristin Atherton elevates the story, bringing Alyce’s curiosity & wit to life using a bright, expressive voice. Her character voices—from the eccentric Mad Hatter to the sly Cheshire Cat & clever Fox—are distinct & highly entertaining, keeping listeners young & old fully immersed.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alice in Wonderland, the book and movies, so I wanted to read Alice with a Why by Anna James. It’s a short book with nice illustrations of Alyce, new characters and reimagined characters. I think it’s a perfect book to introduce new middle grade readers to the present world of Alyce with familiar Wonderland characters popping in and out of the story. My adult brain thought this was a clever way to sort out the conundrum of Daylight Savings Time/time change when traveling and introduce the concept of passports/dealing with the red tape behind needing papers. ARC was provided by Penguin Young Readers Group/Flamingo Books via NetGalley. I received an advance reading copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dingske · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

Wonderland has reopened and awaits its Alyce.

A real new adventure full of logic, illogic, friendships, wordplay opponents and a lot of strange creatures! And above all the magic we are used to from Alice in Wonderland. And there may or may not be a moral to the story.

All in all, a great retelling about Alice's granddaughter and entirely in the style we are used to from Wonderland. Especially thanks to the playful writing style. While the original story doesn't really have a plot, this one does. And in this journey, you find yourself in numerous corners of the land where no story has ever been told.

I read this book without the accompanying illustrations! However, I want to re-read this to discover the full story with all the pictures.

This was an ARC ebook thanks to Netgalley.

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is enchanting. If you love Alice in Wonderland you should read this book. It centers around Alyce, who is the granddaughter of the original Alice. She finds herself in wonderland and runs into many of the same characters and some new ones as well. This is a children’s/middle grade book but I loved it too. The writing style is very similar to the original Alice in Wonderland. Alice even makes an appearance in this book. I picked up a copy from the UK as this will not be published in the US until Jan 2026.

[Wendelle]

a delightful, gentle escape, this book is written as a sequel to Alice in Wonderland, chronicling the adventures of Alice's granddaughter Alyce, as she sets forth to discover her own bravery and ingenuity in reconciling the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon who are at odds with each other. I liked the ever more whimsical settings, and the return of recognizable classic characters. I think this book would be a great read for kids, aiding them in discovering the wonders of imagination transcribed within books.

[Dan Bassett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully whimsical story which sees Alyce, the granddaughter of Alice, stumble upon Wonderland and it’s residents in a state of turmoil amidst a constant tug of war between night and day, and it falls to her to track down the root of the problem and get things back to how they should be! Funny, magical, and a gorgeous follow up to the original books, I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished copy in all its glory and I will definitely be getting a copy! Highly recommended for a fabulous slice of childhood escapism!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is beautiful to look at and written beautifully with wonderful illustrations but just like the original Alice books I very much did not enjoy the nonsense parts. I love Anna's books and she gets the Carroll writing style perfect but it just was not for me.

[lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so charming. i am a sucker for absolutely anything based in wonderland and i'm so glad i decided to read this. i remember reading some of anna james' pages & co series as a kid, and i absolutely loved them, so i'm unsurprised by the fact i loved this too.

i loved the concept, and i especially liked the alice and alyce scenes because they felt perfectly wonderland. i think the book was written with the perfect amount of wonderland peculiarities that the original has, which is definitely not easy to get right without it seeming too forced.

[Julian Deacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the closest that an Alice fan-written book has gotten to capturing the attitudes and behaviours of wonderland I’ve ever seen.

An exceptionally charming children’s book with very good illustrations and a beautiful cover. Distinct lack of white rabbit, however :(

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for the Tween Book Club I host at work.

[Alexander Petkovski · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Alice With a Why is an upcoming middle-grade novel by Anna James. As a fan of her Bookwanderers series, I was eager to read this new adventure. The story follows Alyce, who lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, until a mysterious invitation from the Mad Hatter and his friends arrives. Though meant for Alice, it is Alyce who ends up in Wonderland, only to find the whimsical world in trouble once again.

This is a short middle-grade book, almost novella-length. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect with the characters and the story. A significant factor may have been that my advanced reader copy lacked the illustrations, which are meant to enhance the experience. Despite this, I would love to revisit the finished version with the artwork included. One (un)expected outcome of reading this book was that it inspired me to finally pick up Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a classic I had never read before.

[Benjamin Stenseng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favorite book of all time. The language is easier than that of the Lewis Carol AoW, which I very much appreciated. It was also very poetic at times. There are fun characters, unpredictable rules and so much more to enjoy. The Mock Turtle is my favorite character in this universe and he did not disappoint. All in all, I am very very happy with this. It found me at the right time. I kept looking at the ceiling and thinking; "This has to be the greatest book ever written".

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I discovered this book I knew I had to have it. I collect Alice in Wonderland books and I also collect all possible retellings. Considering the author and how amazing her Bookwanderer books were I had high expectations. I was even more excited when I discovered this book on Netgalley. Luckily Harper Collins granted me a copy and I could start reading.

This was everything I had hoped it would be and maybe even a little bit more. It's not easy to write a sequel to the original Alice in Wonderland story. That's partly because the writing of the original book is insanely creative and the logic completely bonkers. This book comes insanely close! I've been laughing out loud so often and everything that happened was so logical and illogical at once!

I also loved the plot of this book. I know, the original Alice in Wonderland story doesn't really have much of a plot. This one does and it works. It allows Alyce to travel through Wonderland, to follow in her grandmother's footsteps and to make her own friends and enemies. And it allows us to revisit this amazing world while also discovering new parts of it.

I also can't wait to get my physical copy. This digital arc didn't include the artwork yet and I can't wait to see some of those new characters and settings come to life! I hope that, partly because of this book, a lot of new readers will discover the amazing world of Wonderland and I hope that those who read this book first, will get curious enough to also pick up the original!

[Lily Golding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting this to be as good as it was. I felt it would be hard to recreate the precise charm and utter ridiculousness of the original Alice books. But Anna James has done it, and done it triumphantly. It felt just like sitting down and reading Alice as a kid. I’m utterly amazed.

It was good to see the return of some of the old characters and also have some new ones in the mix. I loved the fox a lot and also the book worm caterpillar eating poetry. The fight between the sun king and the queen of the moon added a nice conflict that wonderfully paralleled Alyce’s own war-torn Britain.

I also like how Alyce didn’t believe Alice’s stories. This is not an Alyce who knows what she’s doing from years of faithfully learning about Wonderland. This is an Alyce who is guiding herself with half remembered stories that she’s amazed are actually true. Which I think is a good choice as it replicates the innocence of the original Alice while still giving our new Alyce some guidance.

Honestly? This was perfect to me. A perfect celebration of the original story while also taking it to new grounds. 10/10

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Cross-posted to thewhisperingofthepages.co.uk

[Lucy Lightning · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no other writer that captures the magic of Children’s Literature quite like Anna James.

Over the many years many an author have tried to capture the wonder of Alice or the whimsy of Lewis Carroll, a vast majority have fallen short, except for Anna James.

Alice With A Why Will provide the magic of reading aloud at bedtime, each chapter is a love letter to Children’s Literature and, of course, brings Alice once again to life.

I will often as a bookseller pointed out what books I think will stand the test of time, I now know more than ever that Alice With A Why shall be one of those, shared most fondly between family members. As I know at nearly twenty-eight years of age, I shall be sharing and remembering this story of each Alice with my nearly eighty-one year old grandmother for years to come.

Thank you Anna for another beautiful book.

[Kara Rutledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice with a Why by Anna James opens with Alyce living with her grandmother Alice after the war. Not really believing the stories her grandmother tells of her time in Wonderland, Alyce receives a waterlogged invitation to a tea party. Now, she's not so sure that those stories of her grandmother were made up.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers Group, and Flamingo Books for approving my request for an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Alice with a Why by Anna James. I found the synopsis of the book intriguing and always love a good reimagining of an older tale. I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Not having read Lewis Carroll's original story Alice in Wonderland, my only frame of reference going into this reimagining was the Disney movie, and it's been quite some time since I've seen that.

The concept of this story is amazing and thoughtfully presented. It did take me the briefest moment to keep both Alice's straight in my given how they're introduced. However, I was quickly drawn into the story and couldn't wait to see what happened. Several of the original characters make appearances in the story. There was no Queen of Hearts, but there was a Queen of the Moon and a Sun King, who just happen to be in a battle of time. Also new to the story was the fox, which is tied to Alyce's father metaphorically, and by the end of the story, I found myself in tears over the fox ... the bittersweet kind.

Although there wasn't deep character development, it didn't detract from the story, and the plot kept me quite engaged. It was super quirky, fun, and well-written with a lesson learned at the very end. I mean if a children's book can make me cry as an adult, that says a lot about the author's storytelling.

Along the way, there were a few illustrations, and the main character would break the fourth wall to point out something about those illustrations. This was the only thing that I felt detracted from the story.

Five out of five stars is what I rated Alice with a Why by Anna James, and now, I think I need to go read Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.