⋆"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)
From #1 New York Times 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.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 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.
On sale: January 6, 2026
Age: 8-12 years
Grade: Grades 3-7
Page count: 240 Pages
ISBN: 9780593691991
Reading level: Lexile: 920L
Anna James (she/her) is a writer and journalist, as well as the author of the Pages & Co. series and Chronicles of Whetherwhy series. She was a school librarian before joining
The Bookseller as their book news editor. She now writes for a variety of newspapers and magazines, and chairs events at bookshops and literary festivals across the UK. She lives in north London, in a flat full of books.
"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)
"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
