Alice With A Why
Alyce has been named after her grandmother, but with a Y. She never thought it would be a problem until one day she is thrown into an adventure that defies
all imagination. The first thing she realises is that her grandmother was telling the truth the whole time. All her stories when Alyce was younger, about a Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and bottles of shrinking potion were all true!
It all begins when Alyce receives an invitation. Well, more like gets slapped in the face with it. It’s wet and blows in from who knows where? It’s also a plea for help, and at first Alyce isn’t sure what to do.
Life has been difficult the past few years. She lost her beloved father in the war, and her home was turned into a hospital for soldiers for some time. Most of Alyce’s time is spent alone now, so she makes a decision herself….
The Mad Hatter is not actually happy to see her. Alyce is not the Alice the invitation was meant for. His friend (a giant Hare) also seems perplexed, but the Dormouse with them looks as if it’s going to fall asleep on the spot.
The strange world Alyce has found herself in is ruled by a King and Queen – they rule the light and the dark but are squabbling. Night and Day changes constantly, leaving everyone discombobulated and upset. The Mad Hatter and Alyce’s grandmother’s old friends decide Alyce will have to do, and she must convince their King and Queen to stop fighting and sort something out.
Alyce finds this strange world confusing, frustrating and entirely illogical, but she does the best she can with illegal potions, contrary characters of her grandmother’s past, sinking tubs, a sad stripy cat and a pipe smoking caterpillar. All the while she is worried about how she will ever get home again.
This (sort of) sequel to the classic Alice in Wonderland is equally peculiar, funny and filled with clever word play, and of course – a little bit bonkers!
The reader is invited into the curious way of Wonderland thinking, by the way the author introduces the main character Alyce, to them. This is entertaining and fun and gives the reader an insight of what to expect once Alyce slips into the curious world of Wonderland.
I often laughed out loud at the way the author flipped conversations on their head – following the distinctive style of the original Alice in Wonderland.
Readers will recognise all the characters of the original classic. In fact, the language of the original (1865) is a little difficult for young readers, so beginning with this book might allow a doorway, backwards so to speak – into Wonderland, as reading skills develop.
Either way, Alice with a Why is a great read and I can imagine it being a great bedtime read aloud. It will certainly kick off wonderful imaginations!
Will you accept the Invitation and explore Wonderland for yourself?
Author – Anna James
Illustrator – Matthew Land
Age – 7+
Find other great reads by Anna James here
(2025, Harper Collins, Alice in Wonderland, Peculiar, Bonkers, Word Play, Curious, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, King & Queen, Cheshire Cat, Adventure, Wise Caterpillar, Grandmother, Not the right Alice, Fox, Paper Boats, Adventure, Humour, Animals, Fantasy, Family, Courage, Historical)
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