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Alice in Wonderland High
Sixteen-year-old Alice just can't find a way to be free. Her parents are environmental activists whose cringeworthy public protests might involve chaining themselves to a fence and pleading with passersby to “Save the World. Save Alice!” It’s not that Alice doesn’t believe there’s work to be done. But after a petition to start a farmers’ market meets with more snickers than signatures, she figures she should shut up instead of speak out. At least, that is, until she can find something that feels real. Then along comes Whitney Lapin, a girl who speaks in cryptic riddles and spends her free time turning abandoned warehouses into beautiful gardens. Charismatic Whitney leads Alice on a rabbit trail into the underground—a.k.a. secret society—of Wonderland High.
Curiouser and curiouser. Alice is in wonderland! Even though Whitney’s group of teenage environmental vigilantes operates on the wrong side of the law, with them, Alice is finally free to be herself. She stomps on her good-girl image by completing a series of environmental pranks to impress the new group: flooding the school and disguising a pig as a baby in order to smuggle it out of a testing facility. She wants to trust them, and she especially wants to trust (or maybe kiss) Chester Katz—a boy with a killer smile, a penchant for disappearing, and a secret that will really turn Alice’s world backwards. But then one of the young vigilantes tries to frame Alice for all the pranks, and she must figure out their secret before she ends up in front of a jury that’s screaming, “Off with her head!”
Curiouser and curiouser. Alice is in wonderland! Even though Whitney’s group of teenage environmental vigilantes operates on the wrong side of the law, with them, Alice is finally free to be herself. She stomps on her good-girl image by completing a series of environmental pranks to impress the new group: flooding the school and disguising a pig as a baby in order to smuggle it out of a testing facility. She wants to trust them, and she especially wants to trust (or maybe kiss) Chester Katz—a boy with a killer smile, a penchant for disappearing, and a secret that will really turn Alice’s world backwards. But then one of the young vigilantes tries to frame Alice for all the pranks, and she must figure out their secret before she ends up in front of a jury that’s screaming, “Off with her head!”
300 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2015
9 people are currently reading
1611 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Shane
24 books165 followersRachel Shane studied Creative Writing at Syracuse University and now works in digital Project Management in New York City. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, young daughter, and a basement full of books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 16, 2015
I love fairy tale re-tellings. Alice in Wonderland happens to be one of my favorite ones to read. This one...I just can't.
Wonderland is a town in which environmentalist teens have decided to take a stand against waste. Alice's parents have passed away but not before asking their daughter to continue their crusade of Ecotage. *face-palm*
Alice begins by trying to steal the school's letterhead paper from the school office. Aided by her somewhat fickle friends Dru and Di, they pretty much dump her and Whitney Lapin (who keeps looking at her watch-muttering about being "late") comes to her rescue. Then, there is a whole lot of nonsense talk from all these vapid girls.
Then Alice wants to join up with Whitney's gang of Eco-terrorists so that they can bore the fuck out of me.
I received an arc copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
Wonderland is a town in which environmentalist teens have decided to take a stand against waste. Alice's parents have passed away but not before asking their daughter to continue their crusade of Ecotage. *face-palm*
Alice begins by trying to steal the school's letterhead paper from the school office. Aided by her somewhat fickle friends Dru and Di, they pretty much dump her and Whitney Lapin (who keeps looking at her watch-muttering about being "late") comes to her rescue. Then, there is a whole lot of nonsense talk from all these vapid girls.
"Contrariwise, why you keep talking to her?" Di used her fingers to pull her loose strands into an almost identical hairstyle.
Then Alice wants to join up with Whitney's gang of Eco-terrorists so that they can bore the fuck out of me.
I received an arc copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review
July 10, 2017
-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-
I was not into this book at all.
It had too much talk of the
environment and overall I found
it boring and cheesy. The idea of
the book seemed interesting at first
but in the end I didn't finish it.
I was not into this book at all.
It had too much talk of the
environment and overall I found
it boring and cheesy. The idea of
the book seemed interesting at first
but in the end I didn't finish it.
April 5, 2015
Opening Line: "If there was one thing I'd learned so far in high school, it was this: good girls are just bad girls that don't get caught."
Quick and sweet: A team of environment-conscious friends try to figure out what is going on in their town in this contemporary young adult retelling of Alice in Wonderland.
POV: Alice, first person.
Heat: Kissing, all mild.
Follow-up? Not that I'm aware.
Favorite character: Kingston. What? I like me a snarky boy. I won't apologize for that. Besides... I felt it between him and Alice. Come on! So did you.
"You really know nothing. At least in the zombie apocalypse you'd be safe. They only eat brains, after all."-- Kingston. He brings the swoons, no? *Dreamy sigh*
Least favorite character: Di. Ha, thought I'd say Quinn, right? Nope. Di was a horrible friend. I'm sorry, but she was. She slowly replaced Alice in her life and could have cared less what happened to her. Also, she said "Contrariwise" more than any one person should say any one word.
Sum it up: I would call this book frustrating but amusing. Alice as a character frustrated me. She was so single-minded in her desire to join SOMETHING she wasn't even sure what she was breaking all these rules to join. It could have been a cult. She honestly had zero idea. She was also pretty horrible to her sister throughout the novel. That sucked for me because her sister was pretty great. She didn't deserve that.
The best scenes by far were with Chess and, of course, my beloved Kingston (SWOON). Alice and Chess's witty banter really sparkled and made me laugh quite a few times. I enjoyed their relationship. It developed quickly, but evolved nicely.
(As a side note, if I could have a book about Kingston that would be great. I'd even take a novella.)
All in all I give this novel a 3.5. It was full of interesting characters, had puns for days (very well done, there), a sweet romance, and enough funnies to keep me smiling. Not quite as large as Chess's, but I try.
Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC through Sunday Street Team. My thanks to the host and the author for allowing me the chance to read and review this novel!
Quick and sweet: A team of environment-conscious friends try to figure out what is going on in their town in this contemporary young adult retelling of Alice in Wonderland.
POV: Alice, first person.
Heat: Kissing, all mild.
Follow-up? Not that I'm aware.
Favorite character: Kingston. What? I like me a snarky boy. I won't apologize for that. Besides... I felt it between him and Alice. Come on! So did you.
"You really know nothing. At least in the zombie apocalypse you'd be safe. They only eat brains, after all."-- Kingston. He brings the swoons, no? *Dreamy sigh*
Least favorite character: Di. Ha, thought I'd say Quinn, right? Nope. Di was a horrible friend. I'm sorry, but she was. She slowly replaced Alice in her life and could have cared less what happened to her. Also, she said "Contrariwise" more than any one person should say any one word.
Sum it up: I would call this book frustrating but amusing. Alice as a character frustrated me. She was so single-minded in her desire to join SOMETHING she wasn't even sure what she was breaking all these rules to join. It could have been a cult. She honestly had zero idea. She was also pretty horrible to her sister throughout the novel. That sucked for me because her sister was pretty great. She didn't deserve that.
The best scenes by far were with Chess and, of course, my beloved Kingston (SWOON). Alice and Chess's witty banter really sparkled and made me laugh quite a few times. I enjoyed their relationship. It developed quickly, but evolved nicely.
(As a side note, if I could have a book about Kingston that would be great. I'd even take a novella.)
All in all I give this novel a 3.5. It was full of interesting characters, had puns for days (very well done, there), a sweet romance, and enough funnies to keep me smiling. Not quite as large as Chess's, but I try.
Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC through Sunday Street Team. My thanks to the host and the author for allowing me the chance to read and review this novel!
May 15, 2015
Alice may not have been quite as extreme as her parents were about environmentalism before they died, but she still firmly believes in the cause and wants to take strong action. After her own activism routes seem sub-par, Alice discovers a hidden world of environmental vigilantes at her high school who might be willing to make her part of the group…if she can prepare herself for what’s in store if she does.
As soon as I read the premise for this story, I had to read it. A Wonderland retelling meets environmentalism plus cute Chester boy with a wicked smile? Hand it over immediately, please and thank you. Rachel Shane does a marvelous job with this novel. Keeping with the strangeness and oddities of the original Alice in Wonderland, the contemporary and environmental twists are stunning. All the favorite characters from the Mad Hatter to Dinah the cat are included in some form, and the nuances of the original story are incorporated magnificently, signifying a clear mastery of retelling from the author.
My favorite part is the witty and hilarious writing. Alice’s perspective will leave readers chuckling, smirking, solemnly nodding, and even occasionally grinning like a certain Cheshire. She is without a doubt, weird, hopeful, brave, curious, and eager, making her an absolute delight to follow. The secondary characters, especially Kingston Hatter, are bursting with complexity and riddles galore that will make you willing to go down any rabbit hole to find out their secrets. Through the characters, Shane also adds intriguing openings for discussions of homelessness, family relationships, illness, and government secrets.
For readers eager for something different, strange, and wonderful, Alice in Wonderland High would be my first recommendation. Brimming with humorous and meaningful writing, Rachel Shane delivers an unforgettable story about the rabbit holes we go down to accomplish something worthwhile and the people we meet along the way.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
As soon as I read the premise for this story, I had to read it. A Wonderland retelling meets environmentalism plus cute Chester boy with a wicked smile? Hand it over immediately, please and thank you. Rachel Shane does a marvelous job with this novel. Keeping with the strangeness and oddities of the original Alice in Wonderland, the contemporary and environmental twists are stunning. All the favorite characters from the Mad Hatter to Dinah the cat are included in some form, and the nuances of the original story are incorporated magnificently, signifying a clear mastery of retelling from the author.
My favorite part is the witty and hilarious writing. Alice’s perspective will leave readers chuckling, smirking, solemnly nodding, and even occasionally grinning like a certain Cheshire. She is without a doubt, weird, hopeful, brave, curious, and eager, making her an absolute delight to follow. The secondary characters, especially Kingston Hatter, are bursting with complexity and riddles galore that will make you willing to go down any rabbit hole to find out their secrets. Through the characters, Shane also adds intriguing openings for discussions of homelessness, family relationships, illness, and government secrets.
For readers eager for something different, strange, and wonderful, Alice in Wonderland High would be my first recommendation. Brimming with humorous and meaningful writing, Rachel Shane delivers an unforgettable story about the rabbit holes we go down to accomplish something worthwhile and the people we meet along the way.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
July 10, 2015
This book was not what I expected. It wasn't really a fairy-tale retelling, though I think it is as supposed to be? which is fine, sometimes I expect that and it isn't what I get and that's ok. But this book had other issues Imho. The voice was so flat and blah that it was painful to read. Alice, who I liked at first, became super annoying as her obsession with Chess grew....for no apparent reason except that she found him attractive and liked making out with him. There's no emotion or depth to their relationship. Whitney was, by far, a more appealing character. At least she has some strength of character to her. It takes Alice the whole book to figure out that Kingston has a crush on her, though it was made SUPER obvious to the reader countless times, and since this is told in first person, I'm left wondering how Alice didn't figure it out sooner. Is she that oblivious? Ugh.
Finally, the actual references to Alice in Wonderland were completely unsatisfying and actually made me roll my eyes. What teen goes around saying "contrariwise" regularly and is not mocked for it? All the talking in nonsensical riddles made no sense in the storyline-Whitney talks in code, but we never know why and the code is never really explained. At least when Kingston does it, it makes sense. It just felt like the language and the scenes that were reenacted from the original book were a distraction, at least for me.
I really wanted to love this, I expected to! I TRIED to! Instead, I'm just disappointed.
Finally, the actual references to Alice in Wonderland were completely unsatisfying and actually made me roll my eyes. What teen goes around saying "contrariwise" regularly and is not mocked for it? All the talking in nonsensical riddles made no sense in the storyline-Whitney talks in code, but we never know why and the code is never really explained. At least when Kingston does it, it makes sense. It just felt like the language and the scenes that were reenacted from the original book were a distraction, at least for me.
I really wanted to love this, I expected to! I TRIED to! Instead, I'm just disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2015
I read an ARC of Alice in Wonderland High, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a contemporary twist on the classic story, following eco-loving Alice as she falls in with a environmental vigilante group at school. The prose is often laugh-out-loud, and the characters are so dynamic and quirky they absolutely jump off the page (particularly Whitney and Kingston). There is so much creativity on display in the reworking of the classic scenes into this new contemporary setting. It's fun to spot the connections, though the book still feels as if it stand on its own. Great read, I hope there's more to come.
May 20, 2015
I really wanted to like this book, but it was a challenge getting through it. the characters themselves were interesting, Kingston clearly was the best, but I really gave no craps about Alice and chess. they were just suddenly in love and all mushy. and the story...I wasn't into. I enjoyed the references but this was just a miss for me.
March 10, 2015
I was really fortunate to read an early copy of this book, and thoroughly enjoyed the unique take on the original. A smart and quirky retelling with heart, fans of Ally Carter will love Rachel Shane’s debut, Alice in Wonderland High.
May 14, 2015
A quirky retelling of Alice in Wonderland. A fun read. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway
April 12, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!
*3.5 star rating*
I can't even try to tell you how many Alice in Wonderland retellings I've gone through... and how many I've been so utterly disappointed with that I'm not able to handle anything like that for a year. Okay, you've got me—it's happened every single time, except for this one.
I finally have found the right book for me. You just cannot even imagine how much pain and suffering I've gone through to find the right retelling novel for me. Alice in Wonderland is such a difficult story to be told again, as it's one of the most-known classics to ever hit the shelves, and there's been movie after movie and book after book that's been trying to do it again in the most perfect and absolutely on-point way that one can possibly imagine. Rachel Shane has retold this story in a complete modern-matter with no paranormal aspects needed. That's the unique and wonderful part of this whole story, I must say.
Can we first get to the point of this review where I can talk about the protagonist? I usually go through some sort of order, but I just have to go on and give my thoughts on Alice and her gorgeous life in Wonderland, Illinois because it just seems right and I really enjoyed her presence in this fictional world that has overtaken my heart and my mind. Alice is passionate, and that was one of the biggest things that captured my heart and helped me change my whole opinion on the most part of the novel and it's what brought my heart to give this a 3.5 rating. Every book needs an intelligent protagonist that can lead readers in the right direction, and they have to be likeable. I can't even give you a few situations where the protagonist influenced the book so much that it ended up as a complete catastrophe in a bad matter. Alice was confident, special and I saw the love that she had for her parents and what they left behind for her to do and work on.
Well, as the actual retelling goes, it follows the story, but at the same time, it takes its own direction and goes wonderfully in some sections while others don't. Alice lost her parents a few years ago in a supposed "car accident" where they bumped into a deer. Of course, Alice believes it and her older sister does too. What she doesn't know is that her parents' jobs as protesters and petitioners to build a farmers' market did take things a little too far, or at least that's what people say. Alice is recognized as a loser in her school and doesn't fit in with the people around her too well, but then she meets Whitney Lapin, who brings her into a world of rebellion and romance with Chess, a guy who takes her heart and never gives it back.
The question that kept circling my mind throughout this whole situation was: Will this situation end up badly and will Alice change her act? I really enjoyed her character from the start, and I can tell you that I was seriously hoping for her to keep her wittiness and never change to the bitch that I saw Whitney as. Please, people, and wonderful protagonists, stay away from the horrifying stuff of peer pressure. Not that I'm a guidance counsellor and know this stuff... but it can definitely look bad on you when someone thinks of your attitude and such. *snickers*
Since I know the real Louis Carroll story really well, I spent the majority time of my reading experience comparing this to the real thing. The characters did resemble the characters of the real book, and there were relationships that Alice had with some people that I didn't see coming. But, like I said—this took another direction at times, right?
I guess that I can say the writing could've been better. I wasn't as addicted to keep reading as I hoped I would become, but it wasn't a horrible experience, either. Since I wasn't a big supporter of the eco-stuff and the farming things since I didn't even have half of a clue of what some of the stuff meant, I didn't feel the connection.
No connection equals less interest of a plot, coming from me. I wanted to feel like I'm able to relate to this fictional high-school experience, but nothing ever came out of this. I just saw it as some fairy-tale retelling, when it should really be a contemporary-romance mixed in with some unique aspects. I found myself rolling my eyes at some moments because of the predictability, but it wasn't that bad. Some things just weren't for me, I have to say. *shrugs happily*
As characters come and go, most I can say aren't memorable, but Alice's love interest here, Chess, certainly was. Because his family was very much like Alice's and supported the same causes, they grew even closer together since they were able to understand what they were talking about. Thank goodness for that encounter in the first chapter or there certainly wouldn't have been any other real, nice moment where they would meet in a realistic way. And the fact that he was kind of friends with Whitney? These aspects absolutely made the story evolve better. I seriously don't want to get into the subject of Miss Whitney Lapin, who stood as an annoying, bitchy teenager who was stubborn and stole friendships.
That's how I saw her as, and since I really loved Alice, I didn't want her to be friends with her, since I guess that I saw the real side of her and the meaning of her character. Don't think of Whit as the perfect rabbit who shouts, "I'm late," and gears Alice into the rabbit-hole. You might have saw her as that, but I absolutely didn't.
Here we have a hilarious contemporary novel that deals with: broken friendships, a cute crush, and eco-terrorists, when you really think about it. *laughs* All in all, there were some broken moments where I felt that the book lost some of the connection from me, but it kept me going and made a nice Saturday-night read that everyone should go for eventually. I'm so excited to see Rachel Shane at BEA in May, where I'll definitely go to her signing and get this pretty signed!
*A finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
*3.5 star rating*
I can't even try to tell you how many Alice in Wonderland retellings I've gone through... and how many I've been so utterly disappointed with that I'm not able to handle anything like that for a year. Okay, you've got me—it's happened every single time, except for this one.
I finally have found the right book for me. You just cannot even imagine how much pain and suffering I've gone through to find the right retelling novel for me. Alice in Wonderland is such a difficult story to be told again, as it's one of the most-known classics to ever hit the shelves, and there's been movie after movie and book after book that's been trying to do it again in the most perfect and absolutely on-point way that one can possibly imagine. Rachel Shane has retold this story in a complete modern-matter with no paranormal aspects needed. That's the unique and wonderful part of this whole story, I must say.
"I swallowed hard. Perfection and I weren't exactly cohorts in our endeavours. Usually I lagged behind someone else's lead. Second in the class. Third wheel in friendships. Fourth in their group."
Can we first get to the point of this review where I can talk about the protagonist? I usually go through some sort of order, but I just have to go on and give my thoughts on Alice and her gorgeous life in Wonderland, Illinois because it just seems right and I really enjoyed her presence in this fictional world that has overtaken my heart and my mind. Alice is passionate, and that was one of the biggest things that captured my heart and helped me change my whole opinion on the most part of the novel and it's what brought my heart to give this a 3.5 rating. Every book needs an intelligent protagonist that can lead readers in the right direction, and they have to be likeable. I can't even give you a few situations where the protagonist influenced the book so much that it ended up as a complete catastrophe in a bad matter. Alice was confident, special and I saw the love that she had for her parents and what they left behind for her to do and work on.
Well, as the actual retelling goes, it follows the story, but at the same time, it takes its own direction and goes wonderfully in some sections while others don't. Alice lost her parents a few years ago in a supposed "car accident" where they bumped into a deer. Of course, Alice believes it and her older sister does too. What she doesn't know is that her parents' jobs as protesters and petitioners to build a farmers' market did take things a little too far, or at least that's what people say. Alice is recognized as a loser in her school and doesn't fit in with the people around her too well, but then she meets Whitney Lapin, who brings her into a world of rebellion and romance with Chess, a guy who takes her heart and never gives it back.
The question that kept circling my mind throughout this whole situation was: Will this situation end up badly and will Alice change her act? I really enjoyed her character from the start, and I can tell you that I was seriously hoping for her to keep her wittiness and never change to the bitch that I saw Whitney as. Please, people, and wonderful protagonists, stay away from the horrifying stuff of peer pressure. Not that I'm a guidance counsellor and know this stuff... but it can definitely look bad on you when someone thinks of your attitude and such. *snickers*
Since I know the real Louis Carroll story really well, I spent the majority time of my reading experience comparing this to the real thing. The characters did resemble the characters of the real book, and there were relationships that Alice had with some people that I didn't see coming. But, like I said—this took another direction at times, right?
"Every time you pass by the honor-roll board... you remember a test you haven't studied for? You wish you had a marker to draw devil horns on my head?"
I guess that I can say the writing could've been better. I wasn't as addicted to keep reading as I hoped I would become, but it wasn't a horrible experience, either. Since I wasn't a big supporter of the eco-stuff and the farming things since I didn't even have half of a clue of what some of the stuff meant, I didn't feel the connection.
No connection equals less interest of a plot, coming from me. I wanted to feel like I'm able to relate to this fictional high-school experience, but nothing ever came out of this. I just saw it as some fairy-tale retelling, when it should really be a contemporary-romance mixed in with some unique aspects. I found myself rolling my eyes at some moments because of the predictability, but it wasn't that bad. Some things just weren't for me, I have to say. *shrugs happily*
As characters come and go, most I can say aren't memorable, but Alice's love interest here, Chess, certainly was. Because his family was very much like Alice's and supported the same causes, they grew even closer together since they were able to understand what they were talking about. Thank goodness for that encounter in the first chapter or there certainly wouldn't have been any other real, nice moment where they would meet in a realistic way. And the fact that he was kind of friends with Whitney? These aspects absolutely made the story evolve better. I seriously don't want to get into the subject of Miss Whitney Lapin, who stood as an annoying, bitchy teenager who was stubborn and stole friendships.
That's how I saw her as, and since I really loved Alice, I didn't want her to be friends with her, since I guess that I saw the real side of her and the meaning of her character. Don't think of Whit as the perfect rabbit who shouts, "I'm late," and gears Alice into the rabbit-hole. You might have saw her as that, but I absolutely didn't.
Here we have a hilarious contemporary novel that deals with: broken friendships, a cute crush, and eco-terrorists, when you really think about it. *laughs* All in all, there were some broken moments where I felt that the book lost some of the connection from me, but it kept me going and made a nice Saturday-night read that everyone should go for eventually. I'm so excited to see Rachel Shane at BEA in May, where I'll definitely go to her signing and get this pretty signed!
*A finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. Thank you so much!*
November 16, 2020
It was... okay. I personally didn't love it. There were a lot of curse words, and the plot felt dull at some points.
February 4, 2017
It is an okay book. I just couldn't finish it. It was to hard to keep up with it.
March 10, 2017
Reseña en el futuro cercano, espero (?)
Read
November 13, 2015When sixteen year old Alice sets out to make a difference in her small town of Wonderland, the last thing she expects to do is make herself a target for laughter and ridicule. But starting a petition for a local farmer's market isn't something her peers and classmates fully understand. It isn't even something her best friends understand.
Defeated and dejected Alice is lost. Not sure what to do next or how to live up to her environmentalist parents expectations, Alice is ready to give up. That is until she meets Whitney.
Whitney, a mysterious girl who seems to have more than a few tricks hidden up her sleeves, is the kind of girl Alice needs on her side. For one, she gets a lot of attention - both warranted and unwarranted.
Little does Alice know that through Whitney her eyes will be opened to a whole underworld of dark environmental secrets that, not only her small town, but her deceased parents, have been keeping.
Is Alice ready to uncover the truth?
Alice in Wonderland High, written by author Rachel Shane, is a modern day retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland with an environmental twist.
Shane's writing is simply but strong. Through her words, she easily weaves a story that is both engaging and honestly realistic. What makes it so is her unique take on a this beloved classic. Personally, I really loved the liberties that Shane took to make this story her own. What I found most unique and intriguing is that she made Wonderland a real place, rather than a fantastical world only to be entered by way of a dream or a rabbit hole.
Beyond that, Shane has crafted a cast of memorable characters. Each of Shane's characters fit perfectly into their high school trope's while maintaining their Wonderland-ish traits. Take Chess for instance. He's the dark, brooding type that is shrouded in mystery. It's that mystery that make him alluring and easy to fall for.
Then there's Whitney. From the outside she's the queen bee of Wonderland High. But when readers get to truly know her, they'll quickly find out that this natural born leader is constantly ... well late!
And what about Alice? Alice, when we first meet her, seems to be a goody-goody, constantly afraid to truly stand up for what she believes in. But only readers get to know her, and see her true self they'll quickly realize that she is someone who is fiercely dedicated. She's dedicated to those she holds most important, and she's dedicated to carrying on the legacy and the mission of her deceased parents. And she's always down for some environmental mission.
Alice in Wonderland High has a strong environmental message. Admittedly, this was the one aspect of the book that made me nervous. Going into the book I thought it was that aspect that was going to make the book hokey for lack of a better term. But it so seriously wasn't. It really worked, and it really made me think about the environmental state of our own world.
I really liked that saving the environment one mission at a time was Alice's main goal. And I found that that aspect really linked her to the classic's Alice who was on a mission to, not only save her own head, but also find out the real reason of what exactly the white rabbit was late for.
Shane's Alice in Wonderland High, for me - a true Alice in Wonderland fan - was a really fun read. And I think that you too, dear readers, will also really enjoy it. Especially if you are as big of an Alice fan as I am.
(Cover Image from GoodReads)
Defeated and dejected Alice is lost. Not sure what to do next or how to live up to her environmentalist parents expectations, Alice is ready to give up. That is until she meets Whitney.
Whitney, a mysterious girl who seems to have more than a few tricks hidden up her sleeves, is the kind of girl Alice needs on her side. For one, she gets a lot of attention - both warranted and unwarranted.
Little does Alice know that through Whitney her eyes will be opened to a whole underworld of dark environmental secrets that, not only her small town, but her deceased parents, have been keeping.
Is Alice ready to uncover the truth?
Alice in Wonderland High, written by author Rachel Shane, is a modern day retelling of the classic Alice in Wonderland with an environmental twist.
Shane's writing is simply but strong. Through her words, she easily weaves a story that is both engaging and honestly realistic. What makes it so is her unique take on a this beloved classic. Personally, I really loved the liberties that Shane took to make this story her own. What I found most unique and intriguing is that she made Wonderland a real place, rather than a fantastical world only to be entered by way of a dream or a rabbit hole.
Beyond that, Shane has crafted a cast of memorable characters. Each of Shane's characters fit perfectly into their high school trope's while maintaining their Wonderland-ish traits. Take Chess for instance. He's the dark, brooding type that is shrouded in mystery. It's that mystery that make him alluring and easy to fall for.
Then there's Whitney. From the outside she's the queen bee of Wonderland High. But when readers get to truly know her, they'll quickly find out that this natural born leader is constantly ... well late!
And what about Alice? Alice, when we first meet her, seems to be a goody-goody, constantly afraid to truly stand up for what she believes in. But only readers get to know her, and see her true self they'll quickly realize that she is someone who is fiercely dedicated. She's dedicated to those she holds most important, and she's dedicated to carrying on the legacy and the mission of her deceased parents. And she's always down for some environmental mission.
Alice in Wonderland High has a strong environmental message. Admittedly, this was the one aspect of the book that made me nervous. Going into the book I thought it was that aspect that was going to make the book hokey for lack of a better term. But it so seriously wasn't. It really worked, and it really made me think about the environmental state of our own world.
I really liked that saving the environment one mission at a time was Alice's main goal. And I found that that aspect really linked her to the classic's Alice who was on a mission to, not only save her own head, but also find out the real reason of what exactly the white rabbit was late for.
Shane's Alice in Wonderland High, for me - a true Alice in Wonderland fan - was a really fun read. And I think that you too, dear readers, will also really enjoy it. Especially if you are as big of an Alice fan as I am.
(Cover Image from GoodReads)
June 3, 2016
Re-imagining fairy tales and their sistren has been a hot commodity lately in the book world. You've got a built-in audience of people who already know the story and will enjoy trying to find the similarities with their favorite stories. And while I love many of these, I can rarely pass up an opportunity to read a re-boot of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
In this version, Alice Liddell is a high school student whose parents died on their way to a protest. She lives with her sister, Lorina, in Wonderland, Illinois. The town has been changing for the worse, pushing out the farmers and idyllic life that used to be ubiquitous to their area. Though Alice's parents helped to get the nuclear power plant shut down, the residents aren't really any better off than they were before.
Sick of the ruination of the environment, Alice tries to do what she can by herself to make improvements. Then she stumbles upon a group of eco warriors - and she wants to join, no matter what - even if she discovers that perhaps her parents' deaths wasn't an accident after all...
This version just felt...nope. Instead of melding the Alice story in a seamless manner, it felt like someone took a random story and superimposed the bits over it. It wasn't as if the story was Alice-y in tone to begin with and then the references were merged in there; they seemed to be frantically waving and hooting an air horn to get your attention. I couldn't tell if this story was supposed to be serious or cute.
The names of the main characters - Whitney Lapin (get it?), Chester Katz, Kingston Hatter, Quinn Hart, Dinah Tenniel and Dru Tweedle - made me roll my eyes like a middle school girl at a lame parent festival. And so many episodes and references from the classic tale are thrust into the action (pigs in baby clothes, ravens and writing desks, painting roses red, the trial, etc.) but in a way that you sigh and say "here we go again" instead of "that's clever!" It's distracting and detracts from the underlying story/message.
If all of the Alice was stripped from the story, then it would be something. Contrary wise of what you do have, which is to say, meh. You see?
Alice in Wonderland High by Rachel Shane was published April 18, 2015 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher and the Author.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 13 and up
In this version, Alice Liddell is a high school student whose parents died on their way to a protest. She lives with her sister, Lorina, in Wonderland, Illinois. The town has been changing for the worse, pushing out the farmers and idyllic life that used to be ubiquitous to their area. Though Alice's parents helped to get the nuclear power plant shut down, the residents aren't really any better off than they were before.
Sick of the ruination of the environment, Alice tries to do what she can by herself to make improvements. Then she stumbles upon a group of eco warriors - and she wants to join, no matter what - even if she discovers that perhaps her parents' deaths wasn't an accident after all...
This version just felt...nope. Instead of melding the Alice story in a seamless manner, it felt like someone took a random story and superimposed the bits over it. It wasn't as if the story was Alice-y in tone to begin with and then the references were merged in there; they seemed to be frantically waving and hooting an air horn to get your attention. I couldn't tell if this story was supposed to be serious or cute.
The names of the main characters - Whitney Lapin (get it?), Chester Katz, Kingston Hatter, Quinn Hart, Dinah Tenniel and Dru Tweedle - made me roll my eyes like a middle school girl at a lame parent festival. And so many episodes and references from the classic tale are thrust into the action (pigs in baby clothes, ravens and writing desks, painting roses red, the trial, etc.) but in a way that you sigh and say "here we go again" instead of "that's clever!" It's distracting and detracts from the underlying story/message.
If all of the Alice was stripped from the story, then it would be something. Contrary wise of what you do have, which is to say, meh. You see?
Alice in Wonderland High by Rachel Shane was published April 18, 2015 by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher and the Author.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 13 and up
September 30, 2015
{My thoughts} – Alice is a teenage girl that seems to have her thought perception of life a tad skewed due to the impact her parents life choices had on her own life.
Alice’s parents took part in eco-terrorist protests trying to improve the township in which they lived. One night they were on the way to a protest when they crashed and inevitably didn’t survive. After that Alice’s sister became her main care provider and was forced to grow up faster then normal and get a job so that she could attempt to give Alice a chance at a better life.
Alice decides that she wants to follow in her parents footsteps. She does this by carrying out small under the radar protests around school and the township. Eventually she learns she can’t do it alone and she inquires the help of her three of her classmates Whitney, Kingston and Chess. They seem to have been doing their own eco-terrorist protests and she’d finally learned that they were her ticket to getting her point across to the township and those living within it.
While Alice is helping them she learns so many things that are difficult to process. What is it that she and her new friends do to help the town understand that things need to be changed? What is it about her new friends that makes her protests so much more worth doing? How does she and her new friends get along? How does her sister feel about everything that has been going on with Alice? Do Alice and her friends prove to the township and the people that things need to be changed?
I suppose to find out you’ll need to read the book. I recommend this books for those that enjoy retellings of classic stories. It isn’t clear at the beginning which character is suppose to be who in the Alice story, but once you read for awhile it begins to make a lot more sense to the reader. I personally have not read the original Alice story but I have seen the movies and read many different retellings of it. I may need to read the original after reading this book though!
Alice’s parents took part in eco-terrorist protests trying to improve the township in which they lived. One night they were on the way to a protest when they crashed and inevitably didn’t survive. After that Alice’s sister became her main care provider and was forced to grow up faster then normal and get a job so that she could attempt to give Alice a chance at a better life.
Alice decides that she wants to follow in her parents footsteps. She does this by carrying out small under the radar protests around school and the township. Eventually she learns she can’t do it alone and she inquires the help of her three of her classmates Whitney, Kingston and Chess. They seem to have been doing their own eco-terrorist protests and she’d finally learned that they were her ticket to getting her point across to the township and those living within it.
While Alice is helping them she learns so many things that are difficult to process. What is it that she and her new friends do to help the town understand that things need to be changed? What is it about her new friends that makes her protests so much more worth doing? How does she and her new friends get along? How does her sister feel about everything that has been going on with Alice? Do Alice and her friends prove to the township and the people that things need to be changed?
I suppose to find out you’ll need to read the book. I recommend this books for those that enjoy retellings of classic stories. It isn’t clear at the beginning which character is suppose to be who in the Alice story, but once you read for awhile it begins to make a lot more sense to the reader. I personally have not read the original Alice story but I have seen the movies and read many different retellings of it. I may need to read the original after reading this book though!
December 13, 2016
This was definitely a different take on the classic tale, but fitting in its own quirky way. It's fun and whimsical, as any Alice story should be, but it still has that core feeling of being about something important. Being more than what it appears to be. Though I suppose it's a little more obvious in Alice In Wonderland High. This was a very well written and thought out book. I didn't really connect with the characters but I did start to feel for them near the end. I'd give this book a 3.5.
The theme for this story is environmental. Alice's parents are die environmentalists. From embarrassing protests outside of her school to their more risky eco-tage endeavors, they did all they could do. Including asking Alice to continue their work should they be unable to. When they die in a car accident that promise Alice made weighs heavy on her mind. So she tries to start a farmers market. With the power plant shut down and all the local farms gone and taken over, it would be good for the town of Wonderland.
If only, if only.
Needless to say it doesn't exactly pan out. She does end up meeting three teens who likewise want to help the environment. Through eco-tage. Whitney, Kingston and Chess. They get results and have plans and Alice wants in. Chess might have something to do with it, but Alice denies that as being her main reason so we'll let that be. Whitney is the on the fence about letting her join, if Alice is understanding her riddles right, and Kingston is flat out against her, even though she doesn't understand him at all. But threats are universal. She's put to the test, in eco-tage, friendships, love, and her home life. Eventually her criminal expertise starts stacking up. As does the risks and rewards.
The theme for this story is environmental. Alice's parents are die environmentalists. From embarrassing protests outside of her school to their more risky eco-tage endeavors, they did all they could do. Including asking Alice to continue their work should they be unable to. When they die in a car accident that promise Alice made weighs heavy on her mind. So she tries to start a farmers market. With the power plant shut down and all the local farms gone and taken over, it would be good for the town of Wonderland.
If only, if only.
Needless to say it doesn't exactly pan out. She does end up meeting three teens who likewise want to help the environment. Through eco-tage. Whitney, Kingston and Chess. They get results and have plans and Alice wants in. Chess might have something to do with it, but Alice denies that as being her main reason so we'll let that be. Whitney is the on the fence about letting her join, if Alice is understanding her riddles right, and Kingston is flat out against her, even though she doesn't understand him at all. But threats are universal. She's put to the test, in eco-tage, friendships, love, and her home life. Eventually her criminal expertise starts stacking up. As does the risks and rewards.
May 21, 2015
4.5 stars
I receive Alice for free through Goodread First reads.
To be honest when I first saw this book at the giveaway, what capture me was the interesting cover and the word High cause I knew right away the setting would be high school, and I'm always a sucker for settings taking place in academy, school set. So I gave it a try, read the summary and I was interested and conflicted because if u go to my page you will see I'm more into the paranormal side.
After reading, I'm glad I won.
Rachel Shane surprise me, for her first book it was really good. I didn't expected cursing, snotty/b*tch attitude from most of the characters and shade. That's what made me keep reading. There was a bit of a bump on the flow of the writing but it is the first book. Basically the book is about Alice wanting to do good for the environment, and realize the friends she has now are being sketchy around her. She found other environmentalist in the most unlikely people and you can almost call them "friends" during the missions they had together.
Characters I love--> Kingston flat out he won. There was moments to my self where I said "I can't believe he just said that" or "Oh my god". At first he was funny, then rude, next almost crossing a line but then towards the end you can see he's working at an angle. He's like the crazy bad boy. Where you can almost fall for. He has his moments.
2nd--> Whitney, she was witty and smart but I have to say half the time between her and Kingston you don't understand what there saying. Most of there conversation is riddles.
Plz press 'like' if you agree with me or my review has helped you in some way.
P.S hope her next line of work is paranormal
I receive Alice for free through Goodread First reads.
To be honest when I first saw this book at the giveaway, what capture me was the interesting cover and the word High cause I knew right away the setting would be high school, and I'm always a sucker for settings taking place in academy, school set. So I gave it a try, read the summary and I was interested and conflicted because if u go to my page you will see I'm more into the paranormal side.
After reading, I'm glad I won.
Rachel Shane surprise me, for her first book it was really good. I didn't expected cursing, snotty/b*tch attitude from most of the characters and shade. That's what made me keep reading. There was a bit of a bump on the flow of the writing but it is the first book. Basically the book is about Alice wanting to do good for the environment, and realize the friends she has now are being sketchy around her. She found other environmentalist in the most unlikely people and you can almost call them "friends" during the missions they had together.
Characters I love--> Kingston flat out he won. There was moments to my self where I said "I can't believe he just said that" or "Oh my god". At first he was funny, then rude, next almost crossing a line but then towards the end you can see he's working at an angle. He's like the crazy bad boy. Where you can almost fall for. He has his moments.
2nd--> Whitney, she was witty and smart but I have to say half the time between her and Kingston you don't understand what there saying. Most of there conversation is riddles.
Plz press 'like' if you agree with me or my review has helped you in some way.
P.S hope her next line of work is paranormal
June 28, 2015
I may be one of the only people in the country who has never read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or seen the Disney movie, but I know enough of the story to be familiar with the characters. Alice in Wonderland High was a clever retelling of the story. I received a copy of the book free through the Good Reads First Reads program. Alice is a high school girl who has adventures and encounters people such as Chess Katz, who has a wonderful smile. I am not sure how die-hard fans of the original would feel, but for someone only minimally familiar, it was fun to identify the characters, noting their well-known traits. The story centers around issues of environmentalism, as well as teens trying to fit in. The book did become a little silly at the end, with the person who represented the queen of hearts actually hollering "off with her head" at a peer court hearing for Alice, but that descent into ridiculousness aside, the book was enjoyable. 3 1/2 stars-the story itself is okay, but the Alice tie-in makes it fun.
February 17, 2017
Actual rating 3.5
ALICE IN WONDERLAND HIGH was an enjoyable read, with writing I immediately connected with and a good retelling of Alice in Wonderland, something we haven't quite seen before in YA. I loved the protagonist Alice, she was smart and likeable, but also flawed. I also loved the other characters, they were an entertaining bunch - funny and mysterious! I wasn't quite into the plot, I think the book was a bit underwhelming in that sense. The plot was solid but I wasn't 100% into it.
I think when it comes to retellings I might stick to fantasy, I just prefer that over contemporary. I recommend this for YA contemporary readers looking for a solid retelling.
I did love the slight reference to Neverland at the end, that was really intriguing. I loved thinking about how my favourite characters from Peter Pan were retold in the author's book world!
ALICE IN WONDERLAND HIGH was an enjoyable read, with writing I immediately connected with and a good retelling of Alice in Wonderland, something we haven't quite seen before in YA. I loved the protagonist Alice, she was smart and likeable, but also flawed. I also loved the other characters, they were an entertaining bunch - funny and mysterious! I wasn't quite into the plot, I think the book was a bit underwhelming in that sense. The plot was solid but I wasn't 100% into it.
I think when it comes to retellings I might stick to fantasy, I just prefer that over contemporary. I recommend this for YA contemporary readers looking for a solid retelling.
I did love the slight reference to Neverland at the end, that was really intriguing. I loved thinking about how my favourite characters from Peter Pan were retold in the author's book world!
October 16, 2017
Alice In Wonderland High is a fun, trippy contemporary retelling with numerous nods to the original story. With quirky characters who talk in riddles, intriguing mysteries, and crazy eco-missions involving covering houses with plants and freeing animals from a lab, there’s never a dull moment. The dialogue is a little confusing at times (though a lot of that is done on purpose, I think), and the insta-love between Alice and Chess could’ve been more of a slow burn to really make me get behind the relationship. But overall, a seriously unique take on a classic.
May 5, 2015
It was a fascinating read as it is easy, and sometimes a little hidden, to see the characters and dialogue from Alice in Wonderland come to life in the high school.
While this Alice seems a little too fit in, at the expense of the law, the spirit of saving the environment and the planet should hit a cord with readers around the world.
it is too easy to see the parallels from Wonderland and the way that we are currently going. We are paving over valuable farmland as well as needed information.
A good read both on the surface as well as deeper into the spirit.
While this Alice seems a little too fit in, at the expense of the law, the spirit of saving the environment and the planet should hit a cord with readers around the world.
it is too easy to see the parallels from Wonderland and the way that we are currently going. We are paving over valuable farmland as well as needed information.
A good read both on the surface as well as deeper into the spirit.
September 3, 2015
A high school drama from different angle and for different reasons.
Fun to read. The story also makes you think about environmental issues and corrupted world surrounding us.
Alice is a high school student. She was a good girl. Or rather" a good girl who was a bad girl, but she just didn't get caught". She becomes friends with a group of eco- vigilantes . She gets involved in many activities that weren't the most legal and superior.
All the characters in the book are dynamic and driven.
It is a retelling of Alice in the Wonderland. It is Alice in XXI century surroundings.
Fun to read. The story also makes you think about environmental issues and corrupted world surrounding us.
Alice is a high school student. She was a good girl. Or rather" a good girl who was a bad girl, but she just didn't get caught". She becomes friends with a group of eco- vigilantes . She gets involved in many activities that weren't the most legal and superior.
All the characters in the book are dynamic and driven.
It is a retelling of Alice in the Wonderland. It is Alice in XXI century surroundings.
March 19, 2015
A retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but this book is so much more than that! I especially loved the voice -- Alice is a likeable, funny character who wants so badly to be part of a group. When she finds herself a member, things start to get a little out of control. The characters are especially well-done, and I found myself second-guessing their loyalty to Alice throughout the book. A really great read!
September 4, 2015
The story started slow as the slew of vandals, er. characters, were introduced. As the mysteries grew, I became more engrossed. It took me back to my own youth, reading Nancy Drew and her do-good friends. I liked the way the author tied all the loose ends. Well written and fast paced.
Per FTC rules, I received this book free via Goodreads.com.
Per FTC rules, I received this book free via Goodreads.com.
May 5, 2015
alice wants to get in with the wrong crowd so she can be a part of what her parents were doing before they died.problem is she has always been the good student.so to show her new friends she can be bad she helps out with pranks to get the township to notice.mean while her sister is investigating who is doing this....
April 6, 2015
Thank to the author Rachel Shane and Nori of Readlovewrite28 for letting me borrow a copy to read and review. I didn't really care for this retelling. A review will be posted closer to the release date.
July 26, 2015
It was a little hard to get into. I was expecting it to be more fantasy, but it's about an environmentalist, which isn't really my bag, but I found most of the characters to be endearing towards the end. And I like how it all wrapped up.
January 7, 2015
A dizzying, madcap ride.
January 18, 2015
Read for review.
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