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The Lost Wonderland Diaries #2
Secrets of the Looking Glass
After returning from Wonderland, Celia and Tyrus journey to the Looking-Glass World to reclaim their mirror images and stop a war between two powerful queens.
When the Bandersnatch steals one of Lewis Carroll’s lost diaries, Celia and Tyrus try to get it back, only to tumble through a magic mirror into the Looking-Glass World, a place where everything—themselves included—is divided in two. Celia’s logic and Tyrus’s imagination now belong to their mirror images, Lia and Ty.
Left without their greatest problem-solving skills, Celia and Tyrus must rely on each other as they play a massive game of chess to try to catch their mirror images. Along the way, they engage in a rhyming battle with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, seek advice from Humpty and Dumpty, and learn how to believe in the impossible from the White Queen, who remembers the future as if it were the past.
As the final battle draws near, Celia and Tyrus form an uneasy alliance with Lia and Ty to find the legendary vorpal sword—the only weapon powerful enough to stop the war. If they fail, not only will two kingdoms be destroyed, but Celia and Tyrus might never regain their stolen talents and could be trapped in the Looking-Glass World forever.
When the Bandersnatch steals one of Lewis Carroll’s lost diaries, Celia and Tyrus try to get it back, only to tumble through a magic mirror into the Looking-Glass World, a place where everything—themselves included—is divided in two. Celia’s logic and Tyrus’s imagination now belong to their mirror images, Lia and Ty.
Left without their greatest problem-solving skills, Celia and Tyrus must rely on each other as they play a massive game of chess to try to catch their mirror images. Along the way, they engage in a rhyming battle with Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, seek advice from Humpty and Dumpty, and learn how to believe in the impossible from the White Queen, who remembers the future as if it were the past.
As the final battle draws near, Celia and Tyrus form an uneasy alliance with Lia and Ty to find the legendary vorpal sword—the only weapon powerful enough to stop the war. If they fail, not only will two kingdoms be destroyed, but Celia and Tyrus might never regain their stolen talents and could be trapped in the Looking-Glass World forever.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 11, 2022
13 people are currently reading
2338 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Savage
20 books536 followersJ Scott Savage is the author of 19 novels including the Mysteries of Cove series, the Farworld series, and the Case File 13 series, and the Lost Wonderland Diaries.
He has been writing books for over twenty years. His books have received various recognitions including Junior Library Selection, Starred reviews from PW and Kirkus, Amazon Book of the Month,
Barnes and Noble Select book, and several state award nominations.
He has visited over 2500 schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife Jennifer in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.
He loves hearing from his readers at info@jscottsavage.com
He has been writing books for over twenty years. His books have received various recognitions including Junior Library Selection, Starred reviews from PW and Kirkus, Amazon Book of the Month,
Barnes and Noble Select book, and several state award nominations.
He has visited over 2500 schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife Jennifer in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.
He loves hearing from his readers at info@jscottsavage.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 25, 2022
Through the Looking-Glass: and What Alice Found There is my favorite of Carroll's two Alice books. It contains the Jabberwocky poem, the Red and White Kingdoms battling for control of their chessboard world. Most people know Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and most newer sequels/references/retellings stick to it as well. I was VERY pleased that Savage decided to take on the second book in this sequel, and very pleased with how he did it. Loved the inventiveness of the world, the puns, and the fleshing out of the characters. Also really loved the psychological aspect of it, as the main characters from our world deal with their perceived notions of themselves, and what they really want from the world.
September 11, 2022
Wow, I’m reading so many great sequels lately-& this is DEFINITELY 1 of them. This was such an interesting concert for the plot, & I love how it makes you take your own look in the “mirror”, & see all the parts that make up you. The writing is still extraordinary, & this one even more so felt like I could actually have been reading a Lewis Carroll book. The writing that is so creative, imaginative, UNIQUE, kooky, brain twisting..you love it so much, but makes your head hurt trying to imagine writing it yourself? Yea like that lol I mean Lewis Carroll has poetry classified in the genre of “literary nonsense” lol. So I guess that’s my thing, cause I love it all. The author does such a fantastic job with the fantastical parts to the story, the word play, riddles, throwing logic right way/wrong way/all the way lol, Carrolls mathematical style elements, & also portmanteau words. Just pure talent being able to write like that, & have it come off beautifully & just work so well.
The author notes in the back that in Through the Looking-Glass, Carroll ended 1 of his chapters with the title of the next 1 while introducing the Tweedles. He thought that was fun, & adopted that to this book. He’s right. It was such a fun, & different way to end & start a chapter. I also love how he stuck with what felt right(& like Carroll’s own sometimes “unusual” writing choices)& chose to write some of the book in 1st & some in 3rd person. He says it best, so quoting from the authors note, “I needed the reader to get inside Celia's head so they could experience first hand the doubts and fears of neurodiverse children. I don't think that would have been as effective in third person. Once we reached Wonderland, first person was too limiting to show the amazing world Charles Dodgson(Carroll)created.” COMPLETELY agree, & loved how this was done.
Also, the chess in here & the deeper meanings, & how it helps them so much in their quest was so good. I still love Celia & Tyrus so much, & loved how their story evolved in this 1. Everything they learned about each other, & about themselves..& even others. This still shows how much power words can have as well. So many amazing messages/lessons throughout. The “battle” scenes are extraordinary. The black sheep pirate parts were some of my favorite, & so daring & imaginative. There’s a certain Princess who has some of my heart, but an amazing guy with hats who will always have my heart. I absolutely love the way this author writes his character.
I’ve said it feels like you’re reading a Carroll book, & it does. But at the same time, the author manages to do something I imagine to be quite difficult when joining with such a huge classic:he manages to make it its own story in its own right. He pays homage & respect to Lewis Carroll-his style, what he created, this world & characters he wrote & loved himself. But the author weaves that together with his own style, characters, & story as well. It’s truly impressive, & all of it makes my head hurt for him lol. It’s a lot to pull off. Pull off & not have it seem like a carbon copy, cheap knockoff, etc. But he pulls it off, & does it beautifully. Such a VIVID story as well. I feel like colors should be shooting out of the page it’s so vividly detailed, & imaginatively written.
Full of friendship, imagination, logic & not, nonsense lol, lessons, words(again lol), adventure, & so much more. This comes out this Tuesday September 13th, & I highly recommend. Hope there will be a 3rd, but I’m not sure.🤞🏻 Another BEAUTIFUL cover by Kevin Keele as well!💜
The author notes in the back that in Through the Looking-Glass, Carroll ended 1 of his chapters with the title of the next 1 while introducing the Tweedles. He thought that was fun, & adopted that to this book. He’s right. It was such a fun, & different way to end & start a chapter. I also love how he stuck with what felt right(& like Carroll’s own sometimes “unusual” writing choices)& chose to write some of the book in 1st & some in 3rd person. He says it best, so quoting from the authors note, “I needed the reader to get inside Celia's head so they could experience first hand the doubts and fears of neurodiverse children. I don't think that would have been as effective in third person. Once we reached Wonderland, first person was too limiting to show the amazing world Charles Dodgson(Carroll)created.” COMPLETELY agree, & loved how this was done.
Also, the chess in here & the deeper meanings, & how it helps them so much in their quest was so good. I still love Celia & Tyrus so much, & loved how their story evolved in this 1. Everything they learned about each other, & about themselves..& even others. This still shows how much power words can have as well. So many amazing messages/lessons throughout. The “battle” scenes are extraordinary. The black sheep pirate parts were some of my favorite, & so daring & imaginative. There’s a certain Princess who has some of my heart, but an amazing guy with hats who will always have my heart. I absolutely love the way this author writes his character.
I’ve said it feels like you’re reading a Carroll book, & it does. But at the same time, the author manages to do something I imagine to be quite difficult when joining with such a huge classic:he manages to make it its own story in its own right. He pays homage & respect to Lewis Carroll-his style, what he created, this world & characters he wrote & loved himself. But the author weaves that together with his own style, characters, & story as well. It’s truly impressive, & all of it makes my head hurt for him lol. It’s a lot to pull off. Pull off & not have it seem like a carbon copy, cheap knockoff, etc. But he pulls it off, & does it beautifully. Such a VIVID story as well. I feel like colors should be shooting out of the page it’s so vividly detailed, & imaginatively written.
Full of friendship, imagination, logic & not, nonsense lol, lessons, words(again lol), adventure, & so much more. This comes out this Tuesday September 13th, & I highly recommend. Hope there will be a 3rd, but I’m not sure.🤞🏻 Another BEAUTIFUL cover by Kevin Keele as well!💜
September 14, 2022
A copy of the book was provided for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore does not affect the opinion or content of the review.
Secrets of the Looking Glass was an unexpected (but pleasant) sequel to The Lost Wonderland Diaries that I didn't know I needed until I heard it was happening. But I definitely missed Celia's and Tyrus's adventures, and it was a joy to go back into the world J. Scott Savage created.
This second book in The Lost Wonderland Diaries continues Celia's and Tyrus's journey in exploring Lewis Carroll's four journals after they return from Wonderland. But it's not long after their return before they're pulled into the Looking-Glass World to get back the second journal after the Bandersnatch steals it, along with the best parts of their selves (Celia's logic and Tyrus's imagination).
Much like the first novel, Secrets of the Looking Glass was fun and full of adventure and wordplay; Savage draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll's works while also taking his own spin with this sequel. I've mentioned in my review for The Lost Wonderland Diaries that Savage really captures the essence and writing style of what many of us associate with Alice in Wonderland, and this definitely continues with the second novel! I especially liked the format inspired by Through the Looking Glass mentioned in the author's notes, the illustrations accompanying the story, and the vivid imagery of the writing that brought the story to life.
(I mean, there's literally an implementation of chess in an entire fictional world going on here; I can't even properly describe my Squishmallow.)
I also liked Savage exploring the question, "who are we without the best part of ourselves?" and I think this plays a huge part in the novel (heck, character development is a large part of the series, and it's one of my favorite things in books). In the first book, Celia and Tyrus grew to recognize their differences from those around them were strengths they utilized to save Wonderland. In the second book, they essentially swap roles as they try to reclaim their mirror images (Lia and Ty) and stop a war between the Red and White Queen, but they also realize there's much more to them than their greatest strength.
It was great to dive back into the world created with The Lost Wonderland Diaries, with the right amount of pacing and magical adventure that will delight fans of the first novel. Whether there's a third novel or not, I'm looking forward to reading more of Savage's works.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Secrets of the Looking Glass was an unexpected (but pleasant) sequel to The Lost Wonderland Diaries that I didn't know I needed until I heard it was happening. But I definitely missed Celia's and Tyrus's adventures, and it was a joy to go back into the world J. Scott Savage created.
This second book in The Lost Wonderland Diaries continues Celia's and Tyrus's journey in exploring Lewis Carroll's four journals after they return from Wonderland. But it's not long after their return before they're pulled into the Looking-Glass World to get back the second journal after the Bandersnatch steals it, along with the best parts of their selves (Celia's logic and Tyrus's imagination).
Much like the first novel, Secrets of the Looking Glass was fun and full of adventure and wordplay; Savage draws inspiration from Lewis Carroll's works while also taking his own spin with this sequel. I've mentioned in my review for The Lost Wonderland Diaries that Savage really captures the essence and writing style of what many of us associate with Alice in Wonderland, and this definitely continues with the second novel! I especially liked the format inspired by Through the Looking Glass mentioned in the author's notes, the illustrations accompanying the story, and the vivid imagery of the writing that brought the story to life.
(I mean, there's literally an implementation of chess in an entire fictional world going on here; I can't even properly describe my Squishmallow.)
I also liked Savage exploring the question, "who are we without the best part of ourselves?" and I think this plays a huge part in the novel (heck, character development is a large part of the series, and it's one of my favorite things in books). In the first book, Celia and Tyrus grew to recognize their differences from those around them were strengths they utilized to save Wonderland. In the second book, they essentially swap roles as they try to reclaim their mirror images (Lia and Ty) and stop a war between the Red and White Queen, but they also realize there's much more to them than their greatest strength.
It was great to dive back into the world created with The Lost Wonderland Diaries, with the right amount of pacing and magical adventure that will delight fans of the first novel. Whether there's a third novel or not, I'm looking forward to reading more of Savage's works.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
September 14, 2022
Okay I LOVED this. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, so of course I hoped I'd enjoy this one too. I found a story that just delighted me with how much fun I was having, while still having a few gasp-out-loud moments as the pieces started coming together! (those TWISTS though!!)
I loved being back with Celia and Tyrus, and seeing how much they've grown since the first book, not only as people, but as friends. So many of their moments were just so precious, I adore them. The concept and plot of this one was also super interesting, with the splitting personalities mixed with the wackiness of the Looking Glass World. Iconic characters are present, like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Bandersnatch, and the Jabberwock, and it was so fun to explore. (sidenote, chapters 27-29 are a big old 'absolutely not' from me, nope, no thank you, I hate it, lol)
Savage's writing continues to be wonderfully clever, I can and will be recommending this series to kiddos who love Wonderland, and I can't wait to see what happens next! Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
I loved being back with Celia and Tyrus, and seeing how much they've grown since the first book, not only as people, but as friends. So many of their moments were just so precious, I adore them. The concept and plot of this one was also super interesting, with the splitting personalities mixed with the wackiness of the Looking Glass World. Iconic characters are present, like Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the Bandersnatch, and the Jabberwock, and it was so fun to explore. (sidenote, chapters 27-29 are a big old 'absolutely not' from me, nope, no thank you, I hate it, lol)
Savage's writing continues to be wonderfully clever, I can and will be recommending this series to kiddos who love Wonderland, and I can't wait to see what happens next! Five stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
September 16, 2022
I love it when you can find a series that you can read with your children and enjoy as much as they do. This is one of those! The characters are fantastic. And the setting pulls the reader in. I loved this one so much!
It seems to me that you’d want to read the first one, The Lost Wonderland Diaries first. You may not understand the characters or what had happened previously without reading it. And it’s a fantastic story as well!
Celia and Tyrus are the heroes of this story. I loved these two. The way they support each other in the dog eat dog world of school is so great. Tyrus even going out of his way to learn about Celia’s favorite game and hobby of playing chess.
I loved the way these two learn a lot about themselves in this book. They each thought they were one thing. And when that one thing was taken away, they were lost for a minute. But as they went along, they discover that they are more than what they thought they were. And that is a priceless lesson any of us can learn.
This is a great book for middle grade readers. And I personally can’t wait for the next installment, at least I hope there will be another installment.
It seems to me that you’d want to read the first one, The Lost Wonderland Diaries first. You may not understand the characters or what had happened previously without reading it. And it’s a fantastic story as well!
Celia and Tyrus are the heroes of this story. I loved these two. The way they support each other in the dog eat dog world of school is so great. Tyrus even going out of his way to learn about Celia’s favorite game and hobby of playing chess.
I loved the way these two learn a lot about themselves in this book. They each thought they were one thing. And when that one thing was taken away, they were lost for a minute. But as they went along, they discover that they are more than what they thought they were. And that is a priceless lesson any of us can learn.
This is a great book for middle grade readers. And I personally can’t wait for the next installment, at least I hope there will be another installment.
September 23, 2022
What a fun adventure being back in the world of Wonderland. This time Celia and Tyrus set off for the Looking Glass World to retrieve one of Lewis Carroll's lost diaries that the Bandersnatch stole. They're also searching for their mirror images that have gone off to fight in the Red Queen's army. How fun that this book is so much like the original second Alice in Wonderland book, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There.
The poem, The Jabberwocky, has a huge role in this second book. I've always loved the poem because my dad loved it since he'd memorized it in elementary school. They follow the clues in the poem throughout the whole novel. I have to admit that I was thinking pretty hard at times to figure things out. I'm sure kids would figure it out sooner! Ha Ha!
Also, Hatta, Humpty-Dumpty and Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum add to the humor in the novel. One of my favorite parts was when Tyrus and Celia had a Rhyming Battle with the Tweedle Twins. I read that part out loud to my family. I also had to read all of the jokes that twins Humpty and Dumpty told. This actually caused my family to stop what we were doing and start telling jokes to each other.
Overall, I loved the messages that Celia and Tyrus learned in the Looking Glass World. Even though they lost most of the "battles" of wit and humor, they realized it wasn't about winning, but instead it was all about learning. They learned to be the very best they can be. They also needed to love all parts of themselves and improve on all of their talents. Secrets of the Looking Glass, book #2 in The Lost Wonderland Diaries was a hit for me. I'm truly hoping that there is more to come. This book is a must Read-Aloud for families and in classrooms. You do not have to be a Middle-Grade reader to enjoy it.
The poem, The Jabberwocky, has a huge role in this second book. I've always loved the poem because my dad loved it since he'd memorized it in elementary school. They follow the clues in the poem throughout the whole novel. I have to admit that I was thinking pretty hard at times to figure things out. I'm sure kids would figure it out sooner! Ha Ha!
Also, Hatta, Humpty-Dumpty and Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum add to the humor in the novel. One of my favorite parts was when Tyrus and Celia had a Rhyming Battle with the Tweedle Twins. I read that part out loud to my family. I also had to read all of the jokes that twins Humpty and Dumpty told. This actually caused my family to stop what we were doing and start telling jokes to each other.
Overall, I loved the messages that Celia and Tyrus learned in the Looking Glass World. Even though they lost most of the "battles" of wit and humor, they realized it wasn't about winning, but instead it was all about learning. They learned to be the very best they can be. They also needed to love all parts of themselves and improve on all of their talents. Secrets of the Looking Glass, book #2 in The Lost Wonderland Diaries was a hit for me. I'm truly hoping that there is more to come. This book is a must Read-Aloud for families and in classrooms. You do not have to be a Middle-Grade reader to enjoy it.
October 1, 2022
First off, you'll want to read the first book to fully understand this one.
I am not much of a fantasy reader. I just don't have a good enough imagination to see the wonders described. My daughter and I read the first book together and she loved it so much I decided we needed to read this one together too. I was doing really good and loving the book while in the human world and then they went through the looking glass and my brain wasn't quite ready to shift gears. I'll admit it was kind of exhausting for me to read that first part, but at the same time I was thinking how brilliant Mr. Savage is that he can transition so well from normal to fantasy. I was amazed by the descriptions, the word play and the overall story. I still struggled to follow everything, but my daughter was pulled right in and loved it all. It was a great story and it was fun to see beloved characters again.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
I am not much of a fantasy reader. I just don't have a good enough imagination to see the wonders described. My daughter and I read the first book together and she loved it so much I decided we needed to read this one together too. I was doing really good and loving the book while in the human world and then they went through the looking glass and my brain wasn't quite ready to shift gears. I'll admit it was kind of exhausting for me to read that first part, but at the same time I was thinking how brilliant Mr. Savage is that he can transition so well from normal to fantasy. I was amazed by the descriptions, the word play and the overall story. I still struggled to follow everything, but my daughter was pulled right in and loved it all. It was a great story and it was fun to see beloved characters again.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley and this is my honest review.
September 5, 2022
I was one of the few who were not enchanted with the first book in this series. However, I decided to give author J. Scott Savage a second chance and I am happy to report that “Secrets of the Looking Glass” is a winner. This book has many original and imaginative elements while providing background that includes characters from Lewis Carroll’s classic.
Right from the beginning there is an aura of excitement and danger, two things that are sure to capture the attention of younger readers and pull them into the story. This story focused more on Celia and Tyrus rather than using Carroll’s original that must be solved.
Recommended for younger readers who have already been introduced to the original Wonderland tales. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
Right from the beginning there is an aura of excitement and danger, two things that are sure to capture the attention of younger readers and pull them into the story. This story focused more on Celia and Tyrus rather than using Carroll’s original that must be solved.
Recommended for younger readers who have already been introduced to the original Wonderland tales. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
August 8, 2022
Somehow a step above the first one??? Powerful story of loving and believing in yourself. Great twists, great voice, and some astounding creativity. I honestly can’t believe this really exists.
Very, very good. Such a wonderful, positive story for kids.
Very, very good. Such a wonderful, positive story for kids.
August 17, 2022
Celia and Tyrus are back in their second adventure surrounding the lost diaries of Celia’s great-great-great granduncle, Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll). This adventure takes them to the Looking-Glass World to reunite with their mirror images. When they learn that all the Looking-Glass World has been split, they must follow the clues left by Charles Dodgson to help reunite it. With help from Hatta, the mirror image of Mad Hatter, they must work with their mirror image twins to discover the nature of the split and what is keeping them apart.
This is another wonderful children’s fantasy in this great Wonderland series by J. Scott Savage. It is just as much fun as the first. Celia and Tyrus are easy to relate to as they learn more about themselves and learn to overcome their insecurities. Such great messages for kids. And I love, love, love all the word play, riddles, and fun with logic.
This is another wonderful children’s fantasy in this great Wonderland series by J. Scott Savage. It is just as much fun as the first. Celia and Tyrus are easy to relate to as they learn more about themselves and learn to overcome their insecurities. Such great messages for kids. And I love, love, love all the word play, riddles, and fun with logic.
September 7, 2022
I'm a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and so I thoroughly enjoyed my read of J. Scott Savage's first book in The Lost Wonderland Diaries series. It had all the memorable characters I've come to know and love, like the White Rabbit, The Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and the Cheshire Cat. Savage then spun the story into a few new and pleasant directions. This latest addition also did not disappoint, I loved all the new characters, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Humpty and Dumpty, even the Bandersnatch (from Jabberwocky), the Black Sheep Pirate Captain and Lia and Ty, who are mirror images of Celia and Tyrus with the bonus of having received their "best qualities," or Celia's math/logic skills and Tyrus's imagination.
What would a Lewis Carroll adaptation be without some clever wordplay, nonsensicalness, a few acrostics, neologisms and portmanteau words? There's even some clever riddles and I love how it focuses on language, including words like "abhorrence and "deferential." There are so many details that I enjoyed, the way that each chapter ended with the title of the next chapter. The inclusion of chess and emphasizing how it improves skills like visualizing, planning moves in your head, increases your ability to analyze an outcome of your opponent's move and react. Skills that later became important when the battle between the White and Red Queen began. And oh, don't get me started on the wonderful battle scenes. So much fun. Savage really has a knack of taking all the wonderful things about Lewis Carroll's works and combining them into his stories giving them the feel of the original works, while being something completely unique, humorous, and exciting.
Then there's our two main characters, Celia and Tyrus, who because their skills were taken away had to learn to adapt, and in the end discover that within them are more abilities than they've ever realized before, that there is more too them then just their logic and imagination. That having flaws was a strength. I will forever remember the expression a "fish in roller skates." Overall, this was a lovely story that I zipped through and has me now looking forward to a re-read real soon.
**A huge thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the E-ARC**
What would a Lewis Carroll adaptation be without some clever wordplay, nonsensicalness, a few acrostics, neologisms and portmanteau words? There's even some clever riddles and I love how it focuses on language, including words like "abhorrence and "deferential." There are so many details that I enjoyed, the way that each chapter ended with the title of the next chapter. The inclusion of chess and emphasizing how it improves skills like visualizing, planning moves in your head, increases your ability to analyze an outcome of your opponent's move and react. Skills that later became important when the battle between the White and Red Queen began. And oh, don't get me started on the wonderful battle scenes. So much fun. Savage really has a knack of taking all the wonderful things about Lewis Carroll's works and combining them into his stories giving them the feel of the original works, while being something completely unique, humorous, and exciting.
Then there's our two main characters, Celia and Tyrus, who because their skills were taken away had to learn to adapt, and in the end discover that within them are more abilities than they've ever realized before, that there is more too them then just their logic and imagination. That having flaws was a strength. I will forever remember the expression a "fish in roller skates." Overall, this was a lovely story that I zipped through and has me now looking forward to a re-read real soon.
**A huge thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the E-ARC**
April 10, 2022
I loved the first book in this series, so I was excited to see that there was going to be a sequel based on Through the Looking Glass. The plot in this book was very enjoyable and it was great getting to follow along with Tyrus and Celia again in a new adventure.
This zany adventure was a great follow-up to the first book, with lots of riddles, wordplay, and characters that I was looking forward to seeing Savage's take on. I am not as big of a fan of the original book Through the Looking Glass as I am of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but I will say that Savage's version of this story was awesome. I'm glad that the adventure for Tyrus and Celia was unexpected, especially the ending.
It was great that so much of the plot dealt with the chess battles since chess is an important part of Through the Looking Glass, but that it was not bogged down in chess. Every instance of it in the plot made a lot of sense and it was entertaining to see how it fit into the story overall.
Loved the riddle battle with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle Dum, the poetry with Humpty and Dumpty, the different chess battles throughout the entire book, the wordplay (both physically in the book and in the story in general), and I loved the eerie scenes with the Black Sheep.
Also, I want to mention how much I love the fact that Tyrus has started a book club in this one and that they are reading Inkheart. Makes me want to read that book again. It's one of my favorites, that I first read in ninth grade. And I hope that this will lead even more young readers to pick it up.
What a great follow-up that added so much more to the world and to the characters as a whole! It was great to see Tyrus and Celia learn even more about themselves and grow as young people. I'm glad that young readers get to see such great character growth throughout both books in this series.
This is a series that I love and is a great retelling that I believe young and old readers will both enjoy.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.*
This zany adventure was a great follow-up to the first book, with lots of riddles, wordplay, and characters that I was looking forward to seeing Savage's take on. I am not as big of a fan of the original book Through the Looking Glass as I am of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, but I will say that Savage's version of this story was awesome. I'm glad that the adventure for Tyrus and Celia was unexpected, especially the ending.
It was great that so much of the plot dealt with the chess battles since chess is an important part of Through the Looking Glass, but that it was not bogged down in chess. Every instance of it in the plot made a lot of sense and it was entertaining to see how it fit into the story overall.
Loved the riddle battle with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle Dum, the poetry with Humpty and Dumpty, the different chess battles throughout the entire book, the wordplay (both physically in the book and in the story in general), and I loved the eerie scenes with the Black Sheep.
Also, I want to mention how much I love the fact that Tyrus has started a book club in this one and that they are reading Inkheart. Makes me want to read that book again. It's one of my favorites, that I first read in ninth grade. And I hope that this will lead even more young readers to pick it up.
What a great follow-up that added so much more to the world and to the characters as a whole! It was great to see Tyrus and Celia learn even more about themselves and grow as young people. I'm glad that young readers get to see such great character growth throughout both books in this series.
This is a series that I love and is a great retelling that I believe young and old readers will both enjoy.
*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC of the book. All opinions are my own.*
September 10, 2022
"If you didn’t want the answer, you shouldn’t have asked the question, nohow. However, having asked the question you asked, it is quite rude to question the answer you received. Or rather, answering the answer with a questioning question. That’s logic."
From Wonderland in the first book to the Looking Glass World in this one, Celia and Tyrus continue to go on an adventure like no other. And when they learn valuable lessons about themselves and life itself, nothing could’ve been better than that. We all are indeed a lot more than just our best qualities and we don’t even really know the limits of our capacities until tested.
"There’s nothing like a good poem to educate the uninformed."
Following the Bandersnatch into the Looking Glass World, these two have a daunting task ahead of them; that of finding their mirror images formed of their logic and imagination. As in Wonderland, we meet a variety of beloved characters in the Looking Glass World too (think Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Humpty and Dumpty, and an unforgettable version of Hatter). The vibe of the original is present as well, and more than anything, the quest of convincing their mirror images to get back with them ensures that curiosity doesn’t leave even for a moment. The last words of a chapter becoming the title of the next is a nice theme followed by the book and it neatly loops back to the title of the first chapter. All of this only adds to the element of curiosity.
Here’s hoping for this one to get all the love it deserves from readers young and not-so-young. Thank you @netgalley for my ‘perfectly sensible in the most nonsensical way’ advance copy.
"Life is a series of wants and needs. The key is learning to balance the two. That, and finding a reliable chocolate chip cookie recipe."
From Wonderland in the first book to the Looking Glass World in this one, Celia and Tyrus continue to go on an adventure like no other. And when they learn valuable lessons about themselves and life itself, nothing could’ve been better than that. We all are indeed a lot more than just our best qualities and we don’t even really know the limits of our capacities until tested.
"There’s nothing like a good poem to educate the uninformed."
Following the Bandersnatch into the Looking Glass World, these two have a daunting task ahead of them; that of finding their mirror images formed of their logic and imagination. As in Wonderland, we meet a variety of beloved characters in the Looking Glass World too (think Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, Humpty and Dumpty, and an unforgettable version of Hatter). The vibe of the original is present as well, and more than anything, the quest of convincing their mirror images to get back with them ensures that curiosity doesn’t leave even for a moment. The last words of a chapter becoming the title of the next is a nice theme followed by the book and it neatly loops back to the title of the first chapter. All of this only adds to the element of curiosity.
Here’s hoping for this one to get all the love it deserves from readers young and not-so-young. Thank you @netgalley for my ‘perfectly sensible in the most nonsensical way’ advance copy.
"Life is a series of wants and needs. The key is learning to balance the two. That, and finding a reliable chocolate chip cookie recipe."
September 18, 2022
“Wittier and wittier” mumbled the book reviewer (as she savored the wonderful new “children’s book” called Secrets of the Looking Glass).
I put quotes around children’s book because, like the original Lewis Carroll book, this book is written for all ages. Like The Simpsons, but literary, you might say. Now that the creativity of the book’s world has totally made me forget how to write good English—or at least consistent tenses, let’s start this book review in earnest. But first, one more side observation, I just reviewed an entire book about play, and now I’m reading one that feels like a giant playdate. Coincidence? I think not!
Secrets of the Looking Glass is a reimagining of the famous Through the Looking Glass. Not only is the book set within the same world, it is written in the same witty style. Words are the characters’ weapons but obviously they are also the author’s playthings. I can’t praise this book highly enough. It’s just a fun, exhilarating ride through the English language, while also including an empowering message for everyone to accept all aspects of themselves—not just the perceived best one.
If you like reading, which I assume you do if you are reading a book review, Secrets of the Looking Glass is a must read! 5 stars and my favorite book of 2022!
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
I put quotes around children’s book because, like the original Lewis Carroll book, this book is written for all ages. Like The Simpsons, but literary, you might say. Now that the creativity of the book’s world has totally made me forget how to write good English—or at least consistent tenses, let’s start this book review in earnest. But first, one more side observation, I just reviewed an entire book about play, and now I’m reading one that feels like a giant playdate. Coincidence? I think not!
Secrets of the Looking Glass is a reimagining of the famous Through the Looking Glass. Not only is the book set within the same world, it is written in the same witty style. Words are the characters’ weapons but obviously they are also the author’s playthings. I can’t praise this book highly enough. It’s just a fun, exhilarating ride through the English language, while also including an empowering message for everyone to accept all aspects of themselves—not just the perceived best one.
If you like reading, which I assume you do if you are reading a book review, Secrets of the Looking Glass is a must read! 5 stars and my favorite book of 2022!
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.
October 3, 2022
Such a great second book for The Lost Wonderland Diaries! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it! I haven't personally read Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. (For Shame, I know!) But I have watched several different movie adaptations of it and read books with many references to it. So I felt like I had a somewhat good feel for Wonderland and The Looking Glass World. Reading these two books was so delightful! I loved diving in and seeing characters that I really enjoyed. I especially loved Hatter in both of them and loved getting to see more of his other half in this one.
If you're looking for a fun middle grade read for yourself, your kids or to read together with your whole family, this is one that can be enjoyed by many!
I loved watching Celia and Tyrus discover more about themselves as they are pulled into this fantastical world. I loved the theme of discovering one's self and trusting and stretching our abilities. So good!!!
Content: Very whimsical and fun and clean. There are some battle scenes and fight scenes but nothing overly graphic. I thought it was all very well written and appropriate for many age groups.
I listened to the audiobook through a subscription service I have. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
If you're looking for a fun middle grade read for yourself, your kids or to read together with your whole family, this is one that can be enjoyed by many!
I loved watching Celia and Tyrus discover more about themselves as they are pulled into this fantastical world. I loved the theme of discovering one's self and trusting and stretching our abilities. So good!!!
Content: Very whimsical and fun and clean. There are some battle scenes and fight scenes but nothing overly graphic. I thought it was all very well written and appropriate for many age groups.
I listened to the audiobook through a subscription service I have. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
May 14, 2022
Graysen (age 9): 10 million/5 stars
I think that Secrets of the Looking Glass was one of my favorite books by far. I think that all of the characters were really cool and I would recommend it to ANYBODY! I love how they get to go on such a cool adventure like the first book. I think anyone reading this review should totally read this book when it comes out in the fall!
Lizzy (age 8): 10 million/5 stars
I love the Jabberwock! Black Sheep was terrifying. I like what the White Queen can do. And Nat was my favorite character! Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were hilarious. And I like word battles!
Asher (age 6):
Mom/Erica:
I didn't think it was possible, but I loved this even more than book 1! So clever and powerful. I read the ARC out loud to my kids and there were several scenes that had me choked up and emotional. So so good!
I think that Secrets of the Looking Glass was one of my favorite books by far. I think that all of the characters were really cool and I would recommend it to ANYBODY! I love how they get to go on such a cool adventure like the first book. I think anyone reading this review should totally read this book when it comes out in the fall!
Lizzy (age 8): 10 million/5 stars
I love the Jabberwock! Black Sheep was terrifying. I like what the White Queen can do. And Nat was my favorite character! Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum were hilarious. And I like word battles!
Asher (age 6):
Mom/Erica:
I didn't think it was possible, but I loved this even more than book 1! So clever and powerful. I read the ARC out loud to my kids and there were several scenes that had me choked up and emotional. So so good!
May 18, 2022
Secrets of the Looking Glass by J. Scott Savage
This was my first Savage series and it’s been a fun ride. I’m about as familiar with Lewis Carroll as the Disney movies, so many of the references were probably lost on me.
Secrets of the Looking Glass is the sequel to The Lost Wonderland Diaries and it makes for a fantastic addition to the story. Thrown into another adventure, Celia and Tyrus must play a massive game of chess and solve riddles in order to try and stop a war between the Red Queen and the White Kingdom.
I loved the adventure and fun in this book but I also loved the growth of the characters and the spooky black sheep.
This was my first Savage series and it’s been a fun ride. I’m about as familiar with Lewis Carroll as the Disney movies, so many of the references were probably lost on me.
Secrets of the Looking Glass is the sequel to The Lost Wonderland Diaries and it makes for a fantastic addition to the story. Thrown into another adventure, Celia and Tyrus must play a massive game of chess and solve riddles in order to try and stop a war between the Red Queen and the White Kingdom.
I loved the adventure and fun in this book but I also loved the growth of the characters and the spooky black sheep.
Read
July 23, 2022As a fan of Alice in Wonderland I always enjoy retelling of these classic. This is the second book in this series where we follow the main characters Celia and Tyrus as they go on Unexpected adventure and encounter a war between the white and red queens. This story has all the favorites including the Cheshire Cat. Fans of Alice in wonderland or retelling will enjoy this.
December 28, 2022
Another wonderful, witty, imaginative take on the Wonderland world, this time using the Jabberwocky poem. So fun!
September 18, 2022
Fun to read! The rhythm of the language is almost poetic at times but in a silly way. There are tons of puns, rhyming and riddles, and nonsense you would expect in a fantasy about Alice in Wonderland, as well as some illustrations. Tyrus loves to read. Celia has dyslexia and loves chess, which is a huge part of the book. They are opposites in many ways but learn to use their different strengths to help each other. Some of the themes are don’t judge based on outward appearance, everyone has weaknesses and strengths, and be proud of who you are. I thought it was clever the last sentence in each chapter is left hanging and finished by the title of the next chapter. Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC to use for my review.
May 30, 2022
I haven't read a J. Scott Savage book I didn't like. That said, book 1 in the Lost Wonderland Diaries was not my favorite of his stories. I was a little hesitant about reading #2, but I did—and I'm so glad! I loved this story so much.
Celia and Tyrus are back, this time in the looking glass world were everything is backwards. The biggest challenge for the two are when they lose access to their talents. Celia no longer has her logic, and Tyrus has lost his imagination. They are forced to learn and grow and develop new strengths. And that's a hard thing to do. When you've always defined yourself by what you're good at, and all you have left are your weaknesses, how do you redefine who you are?
If there's a theme to this story, it's that you are more than your skill. More than your talent. I could really relate to this message. And I think a lot of tween and teen readers can too. Highly recommended for readers 12+.
Celia and Tyrus are back, this time in the looking glass world were everything is backwards. The biggest challenge for the two are when they lose access to their talents. Celia no longer has her logic, and Tyrus has lost his imagination. They are forced to learn and grow and develop new strengths. And that's a hard thing to do. When you've always defined yourself by what you're good at, and all you have left are your weaknesses, how do you redefine who you are?
If there's a theme to this story, it's that you are more than your skill. More than your talent. I could really relate to this message. And I think a lot of tween and teen readers can too. Highly recommended for readers 12+.
September 15, 2022
Plot:
At school Celia and Tyrus are best friends. Their adventure to Wonderland during the summer made these two strangers into besties, who despite being opposite sides of the brain, share the same morals. With Tyrus trying to convince Celia to join his book club, and Celia convincing Tyrus to watch her chess tournament, the two of them almost missed the new girl in their class: Danne Brutsh. Yet Danne was not just any new student, with a keen interest in Celia and Tyrus, the two of them found out that Danne was not from Europe after all - but from the Looking Glass World! Here to steal the diaries, Danne the Bandersnatch, forces Celia and Tyrus onto another adventure, as they explore the Looking Glass World they find themselves being split into two. With identical twins Lia and Ty working for the Bandersnatch, they contain Celia’s logic, and Tyrus’s imagination; leaving Celia, Tyrus, and their old friend Hatter pretty much defenseless. With somewhat strange advice from the Hatter, Celia and Tyrus work together to get their mirror images on their side, stop the Bandersnatch, save a life, save the kingdom, and pretty much save the world, all without their biggest assets, while trying to make it home in time for supper so their parents do not get suspicion.
Thoughts:
J. Scott Savage does it again, creating another epic tale of Celia and Tyrus in one of Lewis Carroll’s famous stories. Already knowing the characters, it was great for Savage to start our characters off as the best friends they were at the end of the first novel, while forcing them to enjoy each other's interest and getting out of their comfort zone. For Celia this was joining Tyrus’s book club, and Tyrus learning chess for Celia. Where the first novel had Tyrus and Celia fighting to see who skill matters most in surviving Wonderland (logic or imagination), this world has the two of them without their best skill. Making Tyrus our logic one as he had to solve the chess board of a battlefield, and Celia had to use her imagination to come up with the rhymes to defeat the enemy in battle. To compare them, we got their mirror images of Lia and Ty, perfect names right, who were all logic and all imagination. Where I love Celia and Tyrus together, the real fun came when they were paired up with their mirror image. Selling Celia battle Lia, her logic, gave great morality to the story, of just because you're really good at one thing, there are whole lots of other parts of you that matter as well. Seeing how brutally Lia was towards Ty and others, made you appreciate the ‘softer’ parts of Celia, and helped grow her character. If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll’s writing, then this book is definitely for you, but if you are not, Savage still does some magic and makes this story work for them with fast pace writing, as an easy to follow plot - although there are some funky spelt words in there. Savage does a fantastic job at continuing this adventure tale of two kids entering a strange world at war and it is up to the two of them to stop it.
At school Celia and Tyrus are best friends. Their adventure to Wonderland during the summer made these two strangers into besties, who despite being opposite sides of the brain, share the same morals. With Tyrus trying to convince Celia to join his book club, and Celia convincing Tyrus to watch her chess tournament, the two of them almost missed the new girl in their class: Danne Brutsh. Yet Danne was not just any new student, with a keen interest in Celia and Tyrus, the two of them found out that Danne was not from Europe after all - but from the Looking Glass World! Here to steal the diaries, Danne the Bandersnatch, forces Celia and Tyrus onto another adventure, as they explore the Looking Glass World they find themselves being split into two. With identical twins Lia and Ty working for the Bandersnatch, they contain Celia’s logic, and Tyrus’s imagination; leaving Celia, Tyrus, and their old friend Hatter pretty much defenseless. With somewhat strange advice from the Hatter, Celia and Tyrus work together to get their mirror images on their side, stop the Bandersnatch, save a life, save the kingdom, and pretty much save the world, all without their biggest assets, while trying to make it home in time for supper so their parents do not get suspicion.
Thoughts:
J. Scott Savage does it again, creating another epic tale of Celia and Tyrus in one of Lewis Carroll’s famous stories. Already knowing the characters, it was great for Savage to start our characters off as the best friends they were at the end of the first novel, while forcing them to enjoy each other's interest and getting out of their comfort zone. For Celia this was joining Tyrus’s book club, and Tyrus learning chess for Celia. Where the first novel had Tyrus and Celia fighting to see who skill matters most in surviving Wonderland (logic or imagination), this world has the two of them without their best skill. Making Tyrus our logic one as he had to solve the chess board of a battlefield, and Celia had to use her imagination to come up with the rhymes to defeat the enemy in battle. To compare them, we got their mirror images of Lia and Ty, perfect names right, who were all logic and all imagination. Where I love Celia and Tyrus together, the real fun came when they were paired up with their mirror image. Selling Celia battle Lia, her logic, gave great morality to the story, of just because you're really good at one thing, there are whole lots of other parts of you that matter as well. Seeing how brutally Lia was towards Ty and others, made you appreciate the ‘softer’ parts of Celia, and helped grow her character. If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll’s writing, then this book is definitely for you, but if you are not, Savage still does some magic and makes this story work for them with fast pace writing, as an easy to follow plot - although there are some funky spelt words in there. Savage does a fantastic job at continuing this adventure tale of two kids entering a strange world at war and it is up to the two of them to stop it.
April 2, 2024
The Bandersnatch has found a crack into Tyrus and Celia's world from the Looking Glass world. She comes and lures them into a trap so she can take their mirror selves to the Looking Glass world to help her win the war between the Red and White Queen. Tyrus and Celia can't stand the thought of losing a part of themselves, so they jump into Looking Glass to retrieve their mirror selves. But it won't be easy. The war has been going on so long no one can remember why they are even fighting. Charles Dodgson went there, and even he was unable to stop the war. But he might have left clues as to how it could be done. That all seems a moot point though, because the Bandersnatch took the strongest parts of their selves, Tyrus's imagination and Celia's logic. Can either of them function without their greatest strength? Are they even themselves without those things?
I really like how this story encourages getting to the root cause of a conflict to figure out a solution and finding value in who you are as a person not purely for what you can do. This message comes through in multiple ways. Tyrus and Celia grow a lot over the process of this book and learn how to work as a team in new ways. They also find some new friends, particularly Mad Hatter's mirror self, Hatta, who was a great addition to the cast. And this was the most creative new twist on the Jabberwock I've ever come across. Overall, a great message wrapped up in an imaginative and entertaining fantasy adventure.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There is a war going on, which mostly means capturing people (it mimics chess) but they do talk about losses and danger is implied. There are battle scenes and some scratches and such are incurred.
Ethnic diversity: Celia is White American and Tyrus is Black America. Many of the other characters are fantasy creatures.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Celia has dyslexia and that is represented respectfully and authentically. Tyrus is socially awkward and grows in confidence over the book. Self-acceptance is a key theme of the book and numerous characters are growing in accepting all aspects of who they are.
I really like how this story encourages getting to the root cause of a conflict to figure out a solution and finding value in who you are as a person not purely for what you can do. This message comes through in multiple ways. Tyrus and Celia grow a lot over the process of this book and learn how to work as a team in new ways. They also find some new friends, particularly Mad Hatter's mirror self, Hatta, who was a great addition to the cast. And this was the most creative new twist on the Jabberwock I've ever come across. Overall, a great message wrapped up in an imaginative and entertaining fantasy adventure.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There is a war going on, which mostly means capturing people (it mimics chess) but they do talk about losses and danger is implied. There are battle scenes and some scratches and such are incurred.
Ethnic diversity: Celia is White American and Tyrus is Black America. Many of the other characters are fantasy creatures.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Celia has dyslexia and that is represented respectfully and authentically. Tyrus is socially awkward and grows in confidence over the book. Self-acceptance is a key theme of the book and numerous characters are growing in accepting all aspects of who they are.
September 22, 2022
I was a little hesitant to read Secrets of the Looking Glass. I've read other Alice in Wonderland retellings or series inspired by the classic and they were just not very good and dark. I decided to try this book because I was familiar with the author's other works, and I was looking for new series for my kids to read. I was pleasantly surprised by this series. It's really well written and the author does a good job at keeping the reader engaged with suspense, twists and turns, and unexpected surprises. There was also a lot of depth to this book and as a parent, I really liked the lessons that the author was teaching...looking at someone's actions rather than appearances and just because one talent is taken away doesn't diminish your other talents and the other wonderful things that make up who you are. The characters in the story were interesting and cleverly written. I felt like it was pretty true to Carroll's story, but yet more approachable for today's readers and audiences. The story was interesting, entertaining, and easy to read. I think readers will enjoy the action and adventure in this story. The story was also clean and age-appropriate for kids. I could also see this book used in the classroom. There were several parts of the story that could lead to an in-depth discussion. There was also a lot of great lines in this book..."In real life, kids didn't defeat dragons or save worlds. But, if there was one thing he'd taught me, it was that stories weren't just a way to hide from the hard things in life. They inspired us to face our troubles with courage and imagination." This book seemed to fulfill that quote in a lot of ways by inspiring kids to use their imaginations, find courage, and believe in themselves. This is a book that you'll want to add to your home library.
Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
October 28, 2022
This is a fun continuation of the story in The Lost Wonderland Diaries! Celia and Tyrus are back at it, but this time they end up in the Looking-Glass World, a place that is very different from Wonderland. They see a few familiar faces, but…something is off with each of them. In fact, something seems off with Celia and Tyrus also. That’s when Celia and Tyrus realize that they’re missing a few significant parts of themselves. Their mirror images are running around somewhere with their best qualities. What they need to do to get those pieces back turns into quite the adventure!
I like the fun with words in this book. Puns, vocab words, and poetry turn into swords, cannons, and arrows. Yes, words can hurt!
The characters in this story learn a lot of lessons about themselves and the world around them. They learn that individuals are not just their best qualities. Yes, we each have qualities that we consider our best qualities, but there is so much more to us than just those things! Another lesson I liked was that they learned to look at situations from different angles and perspectives.
Secrets of the Looking-Glass is a fun and entertaining read that will have middle-graders everywhere wanting to play chess and walking around quoting “Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!” I would rate this book as PG and recommend for middle graders and up. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
I like the fun with words in this book. Puns, vocab words, and poetry turn into swords, cannons, and arrows. Yes, words can hurt!
The characters in this story learn a lot of lessons about themselves and the world around them. They learn that individuals are not just their best qualities. Yes, we each have qualities that we consider our best qualities, but there is so much more to us than just those things! Another lesson I liked was that they learned to look at situations from different angles and perspectives.
Secrets of the Looking-Glass is a fun and entertaining read that will have middle-graders everywhere wanting to play chess and walking around quoting “Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!” I would rate this book as PG and recommend for middle graders and up. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
September 5, 2022
Secrets of the looking glass is the second book in the Lost Wonderland Diaries series inspired by the second book in the Alice in wonderland series. Celia and Tyrus will spend most of this book not being whole as they have been split into mirror images by Lia and Ty and have their logic and imagination. In this second book, we learn more about the Bandersnatch and the Jabberwocky and the absolute truth behind the looking glass war.
This second book is an adventure in discovering that a tiny part of you, like your logic, does not make you any less if you lose it or have to find another way to achieve your goal.
As Hatta said: "So it is with the two of you,
Hatta said, his fingers flying
as he wove the grass into a long, thin rectangle and added more
"Humans--all creatures, for that matter-are far deeper than
any ocean. Every one of them is brimming with talents, ideas, emotions, thoughts, dreams, potential, vision, and infinite possibilities, and stealing one piece away is no more devastating than stealing a drink from the ocean, no more disastrous than pinching a single strawberry seed from a jam tart."
If you a fan of Alice in wonderland, this series will keep you guessing and reading right up to the last page as we explore more of wonderland.
This second book is an adventure in discovering that a tiny part of you, like your logic, does not make you any less if you lose it or have to find another way to achieve your goal.
As Hatta said: "So it is with the two of you,
Hatta said, his fingers flying
as he wove the grass into a long, thin rectangle and added more
"Humans--all creatures, for that matter-are far deeper than
any ocean. Every one of them is brimming with talents, ideas, emotions, thoughts, dreams, potential, vision, and infinite possibilities, and stealing one piece away is no more devastating than stealing a drink from the ocean, no more disastrous than pinching a single strawberry seed from a jam tart."
If you a fan of Alice in wonderland, this series will keep you guessing and reading right up to the last page as we explore more of wonderland.
September 14, 2022
Wandering through Wonderland was wacky, but this time, we get to tag along in the Looking-Glass World, which might just be even crazier! Celia and Tyrus are trying to find out how to save their mirror images, all while figuring out if they have any value without them.
The whole time I was reading this story, bits and pieces of the Jabberwocky kept going through my mind. I never understood the poem (poetry is not my thing) but my oldest memorized it in school and I can still remember him quoting parts of it. This story actually helped me understand the poem a bit more, so thanks for that!
At first glance, this story might seem like just another middle-grade adventure story, but it's much more than that. It deals with self-image, learning to love and accept your whole self, not just the parts of you that seem to be your "best" quality. I enjoyed the quirkyness of the story - all except for ending the last sentence of a chapter with the next chapter heading. That was distracting and kind of annoying. The author explains why he does that at the end of the book, but I still am not a fan.
Other than that, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to having my children read it.
The whole time I was reading this story, bits and pieces of the Jabberwocky kept going through my mind. I never understood the poem (poetry is not my thing) but my oldest memorized it in school and I can still remember him quoting parts of it. This story actually helped me understand the poem a bit more, so thanks for that!
At first glance, this story might seem like just another middle-grade adventure story, but it's much more than that. It deals with self-image, learning to love and accept your whole self, not just the parts of you that seem to be your "best" quality. I enjoyed the quirkyness of the story - all except for ending the last sentence of a chapter with the next chapter heading. That was distracting and kind of annoying. The author explains why he does that at the end of the book, but I still am not a fan.
Other than that, I enjoyed this story and am looking forward to having my children read it.
May 27, 2022
If you are a fan of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass, this is the book for you. This is a very clever retelling that incorporates all the fun elements of Looking Glass. You encounter the Humpty Dumpty, Tweedles Dee & Dum, the Black Sheep, and even the beautiful scented rushes that Alice keeps rowing to collect; yet, they are presented with a very creative twist in a way that you wouldn't expect. There are lot of great puns and quotes from the book, including the Jabberwock poem.
If you're not a huge fan of Lewis Carroll, which I am not, this book is still entertaining. Though, I must admit, since I'm not a fan of Looking Glass, I struggled through the first half of the book. The second half really picked up, and I totally enjoyed the ending. Gratefully, I had read Looking Glass before I read this book, which helped. At the time I finished Looking Glass, I never wanted to read it again. However, Savage's retelling has made me question that decision. At some point in the future, I might venture Through the Looking Glass once again.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you're not a huge fan of Lewis Carroll, which I am not, this book is still entertaining. Though, I must admit, since I'm not a fan of Looking Glass, I struggled through the first half of the book. The second half really picked up, and I totally enjoyed the ending. Gratefully, I had read Looking Glass before I read this book, which helped. At the time I finished Looking Glass, I never wanted to read it again. However, Savage's retelling has made me question that decision. At some point in the future, I might venture Through the Looking Glass once again.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 2, 2022
I don't remember the original Through the Looking Glass well enough to compare, but I really enjoyed this book! It felt true to what I know of Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, and between reading the first book and then this one, it makes me want to reread the originals.
Mr. Savage has truly captured the spirit of Wonderland while making some of the struggles kids go through so relatable. Celia had dyslexia, but after book one is no longer ashamed. She had strategies to help her through her struggles.
In this book, Celia and Tyrus have a big part of them torn away and have to learn that they are made up of so much more. I really loved following on their fun adventure!
Only because it took me an embarrassing amount of chapters to realize it myself am I going to mention this here: each chapter ends with an incomplete sentence followed by an ellipses. To finish the sentence, all you have to do is read the title of the next chapter. 🤦🏼♀️
*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me an advanced review copy of this book!*
Mr. Savage has truly captured the spirit of Wonderland while making some of the struggles kids go through so relatable. Celia had dyslexia, but after book one is no longer ashamed. She had strategies to help her through her struggles.
In this book, Celia and Tyrus have a big part of them torn away and have to learn that they are made up of so much more. I really loved following on their fun adventure!
Only because it took me an embarrassing amount of chapters to realize it myself am I going to mention this here: each chapter ends with an incomplete sentence followed by an ellipses. To finish the sentence, all you have to do is read the title of the next chapter. 🤦🏼♀️
*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me an advanced review copy of this book!*
August 20, 2022
Secrets of the Looking Glass picks up with Charles Dodgson/Lewis Carroll’s 2nd of 4 lost diaries and takes us into another fantasy world filled with fantastical beings that may be familiar, even to those who never read Carroll’s works, and others that are Savage’s interpretations of those works. Celia and Tyrus are back but they have been separated from their greatest skills-logic and imagination-and are finding that just maybe they are more than they thought they were. The pace of the plot is just as fast and in book 1, there are several twists along the way, and at the satisfying end, there is room left for another installment in this fun and very different middle grade fantasy series. No profanity or sexual content and violence/fighting is farcical and entirely bloodless.
Note: I wonder how many readers missed/will miss that the last sentence of every chapter connects to the title of the next? So many don’t even read chapter titles!
Thanks for the print arc, Shadow Mountain.
Note: I wonder how many readers missed/will miss that the last sentence of every chapter connects to the title of the next? So many don’t even read chapter titles!
Thanks for the print arc, Shadow Mountain.
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