What do you think?
Rate this book
Wonderland
Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent - which means finding herself a best friend.
Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy - and find someone who really understands her.
Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort - and doesn’t know where to look for them.
When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect - and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.
Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy - and find someone who really understands her.
Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort - and doesn’t know where to look for them.
When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect - and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.
282 pages, Unknown Binding
Published August 28, 2018
4 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 1, 2021
I like the writing style of this author, but I didn’t love this book. I felt there were almost too many stories going on, that the main plot got a little pushed around, and nothing got the full attention it deserved.
However, it’s still an enjoyable book. Kids can learn how to get out of their comfort zones, and stand up for what they believe in.
Probably my biggest takeaway from this book, however, is the notion of “beat friends”. Mavis and Rose must each learn how to be a good friend by thinking of the other persons feelings. It takes a fair amount of the book, but I believe that helps us see how it is in real life too.
However, it’s still an enjoyable book. Kids can learn how to get out of their comfort zones, and stand up for what they believe in.
Probably my biggest takeaway from this book, however, is the notion of “beat friends”. Mavis and Rose must each learn how to be a good friend by thinking of the other persons feelings. It takes a fair amount of the book, but I believe that helps us see how it is in real life too.
Read
August 11, 2022This book was so good.I chose it because I like the author's other book. I thought it would take me at least two weeks to read. But I used my free time to read and liked the book so much that I literally read it in 2 days..........how. I really don't know but I enjoyed so much!
October 5, 2024
Why I chose this book: I was attracted to the cover, which isn't showing on Goodreads; it features two young girls on bikes riding through a grassy field with a dog alongside them, and there's a big blue sky behind them. I also liked Wish by the same author.
Brief summary: Mavis and Rose come from different worlds, but are thrust together when Mavis's mom goes to work for Rose's mom. Mavis is committed to making Rose her best friend because she has moved around so much in her life and wants to feel settled down and have a best friend. When they find out about a stray dog, Mavis takes Rose on a journey to find the dog and give him a companion. Along the way, will Mavis and Rose's differences break their friendship? This book is a good read-alike recommendation for fans of Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo or Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes.
What I didn't like about this book: The writing in this book does not feel particularly elevated, and the plot moves fairly slow. The book is a little more of a slice-of-life with an adventure including a dog thrown in than it is a book about a place called Wonderland. The moms in this book are stereotypically bad in different ways. Rose's mom presents as elitist, stuck up, and neglectful while Mavis's mom presents as selfish and flighty. Rose's dad shares a few brief, tender moments with Rose, but is otherwise the stereotypical detached father figure who "puts up" with his wife and family. I would have liked to see a little more depth from the families, which would have made the ending more satisfying. Lastly, I unfortunately don't have too much to write about the dog because while he had his own intermittent POV, he doesn't feature prominently in the book; he feels more like a plot device than his own character.
What I like about this book: I like the juxtaposition between Rose and Mavis. The book is dual POV, and the character growth belongs primarily to Rose, who struggles with confidence while Mavis is strong, assertive, and adventurous. Rose gains her voice by the end of the book and is able to assert her needs. The end of the book provides hope without being *too* pat (although it is a little).
Brief summary: Mavis and Rose come from different worlds, but are thrust together when Mavis's mom goes to work for Rose's mom. Mavis is committed to making Rose her best friend because she has moved around so much in her life and wants to feel settled down and have a best friend. When they find out about a stray dog, Mavis takes Rose on a journey to find the dog and give him a companion. Along the way, will Mavis and Rose's differences break their friendship? This book is a good read-alike recommendation for fans of Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo or Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes.
What I didn't like about this book: The writing in this book does not feel particularly elevated, and the plot moves fairly slow. The book is a little more of a slice-of-life with an adventure including a dog thrown in than it is a book about a place called Wonderland. The moms in this book are stereotypically bad in different ways. Rose's mom presents as elitist, stuck up, and neglectful while Mavis's mom presents as selfish and flighty. Rose's dad shares a few brief, tender moments with Rose, but is otherwise the stereotypical detached father figure who "puts up" with his wife and family. I would have liked to see a little more depth from the families, which would have made the ending more satisfying. Lastly, I unfortunately don't have too much to write about the dog because while he had his own intermittent POV, he doesn't feature prominently in the book; he feels more like a plot device than his own character.
What I like about this book: I like the juxtaposition between Rose and Mavis. The book is dual POV, and the character growth belongs primarily to Rose, who struggles with confidence while Mavis is strong, assertive, and adventurous. Rose gains her voice by the end of the book and is able to assert her needs. The end of the book provides hope without being *too* pat (although it is a little).
November 14, 2021
There were so many emotionally difficult issues in this book that the two girls who are the main characters had to navigate - an unstable parent on one side, an overachieving and pressuring parent on the other, an aging friend dealing with grief/depression, animal abuse, bullying, frequent moving, challenges of finding "best friends - and all presented in a rushed adventure story format! It was all a bit much.
November 9, 2021
Cute story about a dog, a girl and friendships. Would be enjoyed by middle and upper elementary kids. I enjoyed previewing this for my kids as an audiobook.
June 29, 2023
This was one of my favorite books as a child and i loved her work and this truly made me happy
June 18, 2024
This was such a good book and was a little sad but great book for young readers and teens
October 7, 2025
so cute and sad
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews