Alice with a Why

By: Anna James

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Alice’s granddaughter finds herself tumbling down the rabbit hole in this magical modern retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—from the beloved author of the Chronicles of Whetherwhy and Pages & Co. series.

⋆"This homage sparkles. Delightful in every way."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

⋆"A cleverly constructed return to Wonderland...a winner through and through."—Booklist (starred review)

Journey back to Wonderland . . .

England, 1919. Alyce—with a Y—is sent to live with her grandmother, the original Alice, after having lost her father in war. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realizes that her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

Soon Alyce is tumbling down into Wonderland herself, but the place she finds is not the colorful world she's heard stories of, but a world trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. With the help of the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland’s problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

An enchanting adventure through Wonderland, Alice with a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll’s beloved original story and a modern masterpiece.

Critic reviews

*"James brings modern readers a cleverly constructed return to Wonderland...Readers new to the story and setting will be taken on a fantastical, tumble-down adventure, and those who have already visited Wonderland will experience a deeper appreciation of both tales. With its Monty Pythonesque flavor and quirky intelligence, this is a winner through and through." --Booklist (starred review)

*"Land’s exquisite, detailed black-and-white illustrations feel updated while evoking John Tenniel’s original artwork. With confident writing that manages to be both archly British (“How dreadfully impertinent”) and whimsical (“The Things You Need To Know Before We Begin”), this homage sparkles. Delightful in every way."--Kirkus reviews (starred review)


*"James has proven her talent at reimagining classic stories and characters, and this book is no exception. She deftly navigates the bizarre realities of Wonderland, paying homage to Lewis Carroll while expanding with new characters, places, and problems. Land’s black-and-white illustrations enhance the novel’s classic feel and connection to its predecessor. A worthy reimagined follow-up to Alice in Wonderland, this story will delight new and old fans alike." --School Library Journal (starred review)


"This upbeat ode by James (the Chronicles of Whetherwhy series) faithfully captures the essence of the inspiration material’s wild logic, sharp wordplay, and extensive whimsy. Land’s black & white illustrations . . . recall the warmth of John Tenniel’s fluid artwork." --Publishers Weekly


"A fun follow-up for Alice lovers, an homage that Carroll likely would have approved." --BCCB

"Familiar characters from Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland reappear in James’s
imaginative story about Alice’s granddaughter . . . James does an admirable job filling the dialogue with clever nonsense à la Carroll and even includes a few new poems. Land’s occasional illustrations evoke Tenniel’s original Alice art but feel more contemporary. James’s homage gives Alyce additional backstory, providing depth and meaning to her journey." --The Horn Book

Delightful!

What a charming story—perfect in every way. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but it turned out to be so much more than I could have imagined. I love Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, so I was excited to see what Anna James would do with those beloved characters. Many Wonderland retellings or riffs take a much darker turn than the original; this one, however, felt like catching up with an old friend—new details, but with the same delightful tone and familiar setting. I also loved the way Anna James handled loss so beautifully and gently. Highly recommended for readers of any age who love the original Alice in Wonderland. ❤️