Alice with a Why
Anna James
241 pages · Released Jan 6, 2026 · Penguin Group
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
This is a thoughtful retelling of Alice in Wonderland set in post-WWI England, where Alyce (Alice's granddaughter) inherits her grandmother's connection to Wonderland and discovers it trapped in conflict. The story addresses themes of loss, courage, and problem-solving in age-appropriate ways, with references to war but no graphic violence. The adventure encourages resilience and empathy, making it suitable for middle-grade readers who enjoy classic literature reimaginings and can handle light fantasy conflict.
Analyzed by AI · 18 hours ago
From the publisher
A New York Times bestseller! • From bestselling author of the Chronicles of Whetherwhy and Pages & Co. series, comes a retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland wherein Alice’s granddaughter finds herself tumbling down into Wonderland. ⋆"A cleverly constructed return to Wonderland...a winner through and through." -... A New York Times bestseller! • From bestselling author of the Chronicles of Whetherwhy and Pages & Co. series, comes a retelling of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland wherein Alice’s granddaughter finds herself tumbling down into Wonderland. ⋆"A cleverly constructed return to Wonderland...a winner through and through." --Booklist (starred review) ⋆"This homage sparkles. Delightful in every way."--Kirkus reviews (starred review) ⋆"A worthy reimagined follow-up to Alice in Wonderland, this story will delight new and old fans alike." --School Library Journal (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.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
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ISBN 9780593691991 · Penguin Group