Meyer, Marissa. Heartless. (Lunar Chronicles)

Meyer, Marissa. Heartless. (Lunar Chronicles)   Macmillan/Feiwel & Friends    2016  453p  $19.99  ISBN 978-1-250-04465-5      Hardback    ms/hs  Fantasy  VG-BN  

What was the Red Queen like before she ascended the throne? Catherine may be one of the most desired young women in Wonderland. The (unmarried) King favors her.  The handsome, mysterious “Jest” intrigues her. Catherine’s ambitious mother is determined that her daughter will become Queen. Catherine would rather open a bakery and create delectable confections than marry, but her fate is out of her hands.

Meyer skillfully balances her fairytale retellings with her trademark twist on familiar tales. She manages to make the characters easily recognized but uniquely her own, in tales that go beyond retelling, into original flights of storytelling. 

Cath (short for Catherine) rails against her fate. She is the daughter of a Marquess, a talented baker, and (if her mother gets her way) the future Queen to the King of Hearts.  Readers will feel Cath’s frustration as her desires are consistently thwarted by the expectations of society and family. They will not be disappointed by the ending, even though it is apparent that Heartless is intended to be a stand-alone. Fans of The Lunar Chronicles will also enjoy Heartless, as Meyer continues to draw engaging characters (the humorous Cheshire, forbidden love-interest) and reveal the seamy back story that molded Alice’s nemesis.             

Summary: What was the Red Queen like before she ascended the throne? Catherine may be one of the most desired young women in Wonderland.

Alice In Wonderland-Fiction                                 —Hilary Welliver

Howard, A.G. Splintered.

Howard, A.G.  Splintered.     Amulet see Abrams, Harry  371p  $17.95    

978-1-4197-0428-4 2013  ms/hs   E-BN  Fantasy  

Alyssa Gardner hears the thoughts of plants and animals.  Her great-great-great-grandmother was Alice Liddell, who told her magical stories to Lewis Carroll, who in turn spun them into the novel Alice in Wonderland.  This is Alyssa’s story about why she went back down the rabbit’s hole to free her family from the curse of insanity.   Alyssa’s home life was centered on visiting her mother in an insane asylum.  She also had to work for spending money because of the expenses paid out for her mother’s support.

Alyssa’s hobby is collecting bugs, moths, and butterflies to make beautiful mosaics.  And as a typical teenager she has a crush on Jeb, the boy next door.  However, things are not right between Alyssa and her mother because of the curse from Wonderland.  Alyssa decides to go down the rabbit hole with Jeb as her trusty companion.

While Alyssa is in Wonderland she finds that all is not what she thought. The characters are different from what they were in Carroll’s novel (for example, Rabid White and Queen Grenadine), and it was all a game in which the characters played the parts from a book written by a human.  She also learns that the original Alice did not come back to the real world. Instead, the exiled Queen Grenadine escaped Wonderland and returned to the human world to marry and give birth to netherlings (half human, half magical).  The magic only passes through the female line, and since queens rule Wonderland, that makes Alyssa heir to the lost throne of Wonderland.

The author has written an alternate magical interpretation of the Alice In Wonderland story.  Readers will love the characters’ antics and outlandish behavior.  The magical wonders of Wonderland and the unique abilities of the fantasy characters will encourage many a reader to wonder about the magical world of plants and animals in their own gardens.        

Fantasy–Fiction, Alice in Wonderland–Spinoffs              --Linda McNeil

Carroll, Lewis (adapted by Lewis Helfand). Alice in Wonderland

Carroll, Lewis (adapted by Lewis Helfand) Alice in Wonderland
Campfire 2010 72p 9.99
978-93-80028-23-1 elm/ms VG-BN


Alice retold in graphic style. Alice was an ordinary girl until she who wanted adventure. She got her wish as she dived down a rabbit hole into a magical world.
Lewis Helfand has retold Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll in graphic style. His choice of wording is apropos to the story as well as the age group. Readers will enjoy the intermingling of words and graphics as they progress through the book.
The illustrator, Rajesh Nagulakonka, has created crisp and dynamic watercolors to accompany the text. The blended palette of colors effectively relate the context of the wordings in the story and present the reader with a suspense filled experience.
This is a great book for young readers and non-readers. It’s distinctive and expressive watercolors will enticed the active minds of young children.
The format and layout of the book is beautifully placed for the most effective enjoyment of the readers. The additional materials at the back of the book coordinated the book with the website containing further activities.. Graphic novel McNeil(3), Linda

Benjamin, Melanie Alice, I Have been

Benjamin, Melanie Alice, I Have been
Delacorte see Random 2010 351p 25.00
978-0-385-34413-5 ms/hs Historical E-BN
This is a portrayal of the world of the real Alice In Wonderland that expertly blends fact with fiction. The author had written a many faceted novel that presents a compelling mystery that surrounds the girl behind the story of Alice in Wonderland.
At the same time the novel provides the readers with a insight into the Victorian mores that were prevalent at the time.
The story is told from the perspective of Alice and her thoughts. The blend of the literary Alice in contrast to the actual Alice and her striving to understand her place in the world. All of Alice’s emotions, loves, and failures are woven into a emotionally paced story that will be enjoyed by the readers.

The historical novel offers both realistic and suspenseful action in a well-paced plot and with engaging characters. The story is engaging and full of interesting details, the locations are believably described, and the characters are very three-dimensional. This is a well written book that is recommended as a Books of Note. It would be an excellent addition to any secondary school library. McNeil, Linda
Alice In Wonderland