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Wonderland
Jude must get away. She has to ace her exams and an audition at a prestigious drama school or she'll never escape her small town life and follow her dream of becoming an actor. But then her best friend Stella returns, bringing excitement and danger to Jude's boring existence. For the first time, Jude can be who she wants to be.
213 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Nadin
135 books125 followersJoanna Nadin is an English author of juvenile fiction best known for the Rachel Riley series of teenage novels Based on Nadin's own childhood, the series follows the comedic narration of a 13-year-old girl.
Nadin has also written several books of juvenile fiction. These include two books for the Oxford University Press "Project X" series designed to encourage boys to read.
Nadin previously worked as a policy writer for the Labour Party (UK).In 2001, she became a special adviser to Tony Blair.
As a child I buried myself in books both at home in Essex and at my grandparents’ houses in Cornwall, where I spent a large part of my time, and where many of my stories are now set. Books and later films were an escape not just from where I was but who I was, which, as I saw it, was pretty much a geek. They gave me the freedom to become someone else, from George in the Famous Five to Velvet Brown winning the Grand National to Baby dancing the Chachacha with Johnny Castle.
Nadin has also written several books of juvenile fiction. These include two books for the Oxford University Press "Project X" series designed to encourage boys to read.
Nadin previously worked as a policy writer for the Labour Party (UK).In 2001, she became a special adviser to Tony Blair.
As a child I buried myself in books both at home in Essex and at my grandparents’ houses in Cornwall, where I spent a large part of my time, and where many of my stories are now set. Books and later films were an escape not just from where I was but who I was, which, as I saw it, was pretty much a geek. They gave me the freedom to become someone else, from George in the Famous Five to Velvet Brown winning the Grand National to Baby dancing the Chachacha with Johnny Castle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
November 27, 2011
Sometimes, I feel kinda bad, guys. Not for not enjoying the book, but for featuring this review. Nadin is a fresh face on the YA contemps shelves, and even though this book is total bullshit a miss, Nadin still accomplished publishing across seas in an ocean full of cash-sharks like Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti and Elizabeth Scott.
I feel kinda bad, but then I think about the complete and utter DISASTER that is Wonderland. And then I just feel pissed beyond belief.
Wonderland seems to be a pretty innocent addition to literature, even if seemingly a direct copy of, say, Sweethearts. Aspiring actress Jude is abandoned by her best friend Stella around the same time of her mother’s death, but suddenly Stella is back and is totally wreaking havoc over Jude’s broken life. Jude changes into a troublemaking disaster as the course of the book goes on, yet there’s this boy who brings her back to herself and questions all she’s giving up.
Sounds normal, yes? It even sounds like it could be well done, given a proper service. But then Nadin goes and she does this:
Aside from this HUGE problem – and I have a feeling I didn’t express my thoughts with justice – the pacing was off, the characters were dry, and there were a million clichés. It took me longer to read the 224 pages of this book than it did for me to read Breaking Dawn. It dragged and left my attention behind. The writing was choppy – what was with the three-word sentences? – disorganized and too clingy to Dessen’s style. A flaw within every page, as much as I’d like to say otherwise.
I will now avoid everything with Nadin’s name on it, and I think it’s in your best intentions if you do, too, no matter how tempting a fresh author in the contemporary section may be.
I feel kinda bad, but then I think about the complete and utter DISASTER that is Wonderland. And then I just feel pissed beyond belief.
Wonderland seems to be a pretty innocent addition to literature, even if seemingly a direct copy of, say, Sweethearts. Aspiring actress Jude is abandoned by her best friend Stella around the same time of her mother’s death, but suddenly Stella is back and is totally wreaking havoc over Jude’s broken life. Jude changes into a troublemaking disaster as the course of the book goes on, yet there’s this boy who brings her back to herself and questions all she’s giving up.
Sounds normal, yes? It even sounds like it could be well done, given a proper service. But then Nadin goes and she does this:
Aside from this HUGE problem – and I have a feeling I didn’t express my thoughts with justice – the pacing was off, the characters were dry, and there were a million clichés. It took me longer to read the 224 pages of this book than it did for me to read Breaking Dawn. It dragged and left my attention behind. The writing was choppy – what was with the three-word sentences? – disorganized and too clingy to Dessen’s style. A flaw within every page, as much as I’d like to say otherwise.
I will now avoid everything with Nadin’s name on it, and I think it’s in your best intentions if you do, too, no matter how tempting a fresh author in the contemporary section may be.
January 24, 2016
This was absolutely amazing! I was so shocked by the ending, but at the same time, I knew it was going to happen. Purely amazing!
January 13, 2011
Jude is your everyday girl next door. She’s lonely, she’s an outcast, and she’s desperate to escape the stigma she deals with only a daily basis in her tiny hometown. Her hope is to escape to a prestigious program in London and rid herself of Churchtown forever, but someone throws a wrench in her plans. When Stella, Jude’s childhood friend, returns, Jude is introduced to a stunning new Stella. She’s charismatic, enigmatic, and just a touch dangerous. She’s everything Jude wants to be. Stella takes her under her wing, and suddenly Jude isn’t so lonely anymore, but when Stella goes from unique to untamed, Jude begins to watch everything around her unravel, and she has to decide how much their friendship is worth.
Wonderland is the US debut of UK author, Joanna Nadin, a talent in her own right. Known for stories like My So-Called Life, The Meaning of Life and The Life of Riley, Nadin is no stranger to contemporary fiction – a genre I usually avoid like the plague. Weaving a dark and haunting plot, characters with ulterior motives, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Wonderland is a fantastic addition to the world of contemporary fiction. Complicated and messy, twisted and compelling, this is the story of a teenage girl that finds herself when everything around her begins to unravel and fall apart.
I was actually really surprised by Wonderland. When I committed to reading more contemporary fiction in 2011, I was a bit wary because I keep saying time and again that I don’t find too many deviations to the normal contemporary plot on the market today. Wonderland is darkly compelling. Jude was a character I could relate to from the start – a bit of a loner, a touch awkward, and desperate to escape her cramped hometown to find herself. Her character development through the downward spiral of Stella was intriguing to watch and engaging throughout. Even as a secondary character, Stella propels the story forward, adding that touch of darkness to an otherwise sweet story. I was captivated by the characters and they, in turn, fueled every plot point, keeping it moving at a nice, steady pace.
All in all, Wonderland was a fantastic read and really gave me hope for contemporary fiction. While the terminology was a bit English at times (and therefore confused my very blonde brain), the story was beautiful. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to all fans of YA who enjoy coming of age stories and contemporary fiction. This would probably also be ideal for adults looking for a slim, fast-paced read.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Wonderland is the US debut of UK author, Joanna Nadin, a talent in her own right. Known for stories like My So-Called Life, The Meaning of Life and The Life of Riley, Nadin is no stranger to contemporary fiction – a genre I usually avoid like the plague. Weaving a dark and haunting plot, characters with ulterior motives, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Wonderland is a fantastic addition to the world of contemporary fiction. Complicated and messy, twisted and compelling, this is the story of a teenage girl that finds herself when everything around her begins to unravel and fall apart.
I was actually really surprised by Wonderland. When I committed to reading more contemporary fiction in 2011, I was a bit wary because I keep saying time and again that I don’t find too many deviations to the normal contemporary plot on the market today. Wonderland is darkly compelling. Jude was a character I could relate to from the start – a bit of a loner, a touch awkward, and desperate to escape her cramped hometown to find herself. Her character development through the downward spiral of Stella was intriguing to watch and engaging throughout. Even as a secondary character, Stella propels the story forward, adding that touch of darkness to an otherwise sweet story. I was captivated by the characters and they, in turn, fueled every plot point, keeping it moving at a nice, steady pace.
All in all, Wonderland was a fantastic read and really gave me hope for contemporary fiction. While the terminology was a bit English at times (and therefore confused my very blonde brain), the story was beautiful. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to all fans of YA who enjoy coming of age stories and contemporary fiction. This would probably also be ideal for adults looking for a slim, fast-paced read.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
January 18, 2011
2.5 stars
Ohhh boy. At first the premise did not intrigue me, but I am more than willing to give books the benefit of the doubt and started it with an open mind. That quickly faded.
The main relationship here is between Jude and her best friend Stella. Without summarizing the plot too much, what annoyed me the most was Jude’s complete and utter lack of personality. She knows and admits this, but it doesn’t make it any less irritating to have to read. The story kind of putters along as we see this dynamic barely build and hear a lot about Jude’s sucky life.
The big shift was the last 30 pages. No, I won’t spoil them for you, but it shifted everything so dramatically that it has to be mentioned. I’ll start with a basic reaction. HOLY COW, THAT HAPPENED WAY TOO FAST. If I was kidding in the slightest, it wouldn’t be in caps. I would really love to make a pop culture reference to compare it, but if you know the reference, it’ll spoil it completely. That unnamed pop culture reference pulled the same trick but did it masterfully well. This was more on the lines of cheap knock off. Looking back on it, everything led up to what it barely suggested, but it was more of a “wait, what?” moment than a “ahh, that makes sense moment”. I think if had actually taken a bit more time to go into that plot twist it would have made it more believable instead of a strange cop out that it was. I really wish I could say more, but I personally hate spoilers and would not push them on you, dear innocent review reader..
Overall, I got the story. I got what the author was attempting and was kind of okay with it in the end. I’ll admit, she does have a nice style with really gorgeous descriptions, and I even had a few laughs and smiles, etc., but that just wasn’t enough. Personally, I wouldn’t read this again and don’t see the need to buy it. I’m not even sure who to recommend to this book because I don’t think it explored any one issue enough to be about anything other than a girl’s crappy teenage life.
Ohhh boy. At first the premise did not intrigue me, but I am more than willing to give books the benefit of the doubt and started it with an open mind. That quickly faded.
The main relationship here is between Jude and her best friend Stella. Without summarizing the plot too much, what annoyed me the most was Jude’s complete and utter lack of personality. She knows and admits this, but it doesn’t make it any less irritating to have to read. The story kind of putters along as we see this dynamic barely build and hear a lot about Jude’s sucky life.
The big shift was the last 30 pages. No, I won’t spoil them for you, but it shifted everything so dramatically that it has to be mentioned. I’ll start with a basic reaction. HOLY COW, THAT HAPPENED WAY TOO FAST. If I was kidding in the slightest, it wouldn’t be in caps. I would really love to make a pop culture reference to compare it, but if you know the reference, it’ll spoil it completely. That unnamed pop culture reference pulled the same trick but did it masterfully well. This was more on the lines of cheap knock off. Looking back on it, everything led up to what it barely suggested, but it was more of a “wait, what?” moment than a “ahh, that makes sense moment”. I think if had actually taken a bit more time to go into that plot twist it would have made it more believable instead of a strange cop out that it was. I really wish I could say more, but I personally hate spoilers and would not push them on you, dear innocent review reader..
Overall, I got the story. I got what the author was attempting and was kind of okay with it in the end. I’ll admit, she does have a nice style with really gorgeous descriptions, and I even had a few laughs and smiles, etc., but that just wasn’t enough. Personally, I wouldn’t read this again and don’t see the need to buy it. I’m not even sure who to recommend to this book because I don’t think it explored any one issue enough to be about anything other than a girl’s crappy teenage life.
November 2, 2011
Jude is invisible, Jude is obscure. Her mother killed herself years ago, and all Jude wants is to be like her--beautiful, someone who stands out in a crowd and isn't afraid to be seen. That's not Jude though. But it is Stella. Stella was Jude's friend when they were eight years old, and she moved away, to London, after Jude's father got angry, shouted at Stella to leave. Now she's back, and she's changing Jude's world, changing Jude--making her that peson that has the right comebacks and isn't afraid to walk into a party uninvited. But Jude starts to wonder whether she really wants to be like Stella, after all, and then the question becomes: Will Stella let her go?
An enjoyable read, well-written and no longer than it needed to be. I saw the twisty twist coming from--what, page 10? It's not well hidden, but I'm not sure that it's supposed to be, and it doesn't need to be a shock to be effective. I didn't like Jude, but again, I don't really think that's necessary, and it's certainly not the point. No one ever really likes people that are trying too hard, and Jude was very much trying too hard. I was embarrassed for her, and sad for her, and concerned for her, and that was enough to keep me reading.
An enjoyable read, well-written and no longer than it needed to be. I saw the twisty twist coming from--what, page 10? It's not well hidden, but I'm not sure that it's supposed to be, and it doesn't need to be a shock to be effective. I didn't like Jude, but again, I don't really think that's necessary, and it's certainly not the point. No one ever really likes people that are trying too hard, and Jude was very much trying too hard. I was embarrassed for her, and sad for her, and concerned for her, and that was enough to keep me reading.
May 21, 2019
One of the worst books I’ve read in a while. Some of it was so cliche and tacky which made it hard to get through. I personally didn’t like this book syntactically either. The short choppy sentences were weird to me and I struggled with Jude’s narrative voice. I thought so much of this book was confusing. At first I liked the plot twist with Jude having multiple personalities disorder because it gave awareness to this mental illness; however, it felt like such an after-thought to me. It was so rushed and made me feel like I wasted time with the first half of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2022
I am infatuated with this book, it’s one of my all time favorites. This book embodies the theme of mind, mental health, and trauma because of the main character, Jude, having DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) and creating up a person who she wanted to be, Stella, and being able to see her. Her trigger of DID stems from her mother’s suicide. The book is very much a young adult novel that is fairly relatable. 10/10 recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2017
Brilliantly realised. Page turner and painful because you see what she can not.
December 6, 2017
I did like the concept of this book but unfortunately I could already tell what was going on long before it was revealed
June 23, 2022
Woah!! A YA authors way of bringing light to mental health. And done brilliantly. I was completely invested in this story right to the very end.
March 13, 2023
I had the twist figured out very early on but still enjoyed it. Not a huge fan of the short sentences though, this grated on me the whole way through.
March 9, 2017
i love the plot twist and i love how she wrote it. I also like how it was a short read i read it in 1 day. i'll give it a 3.9✨
March 7, 2011
Giving away my copy at zee blog:
I have intentionally not read other reviews because I wanted to be surprised while reading this story. In fact, I tend not to read the entire synopsis of a book so I won't be spoiled. But today, there is no way around a spoil free review. To say, "I called it!" would be an understatement. I knew exactly what the hook was in this book at page 26. Yes, page 26. This may have happened because I watch way too much television, but there you have it. Would this be true for a teen reader? Would they be able to figure out what was happening so early on in the story? Hm, maybe not. If I take out the hook, I am still not wowed. I know I am supposed to feel sorry for Jude - she is motherless, bullied, and basically misunderstood by everyone that has anything to do with her (which aren't a lot of people). Problem was, I didn't connect with Jude at all. She has one heck of sad story, but I wasn't distracted with her pain to ignore the clues and hints as to where the story was going. Hence, 26 pages.
Stella, Jude's friend that returns, is what kept the pages turning. I wanted to see what kind of train wreck she would turn out to be, what kind of mischief she would stir up. I was definitely not disappointed in that area. To say this character was self destructive would be an understatement. Jude, having no personality whatsoever (she admits this), goes right along with Stella and her wild ways. Jude's father tries to (finally) connect with Jude, but it seems he is too late. Jude is on the fast train to McWrecklifeville.
The setting, quiet village a few hours outside of London, is described in detail, and it's amusing to me to read the language and slang provided. I grew up with a Limey mother so I wasn't thrown off by the jargon. I don't think young readers will have a hard time with it either. Due to some hot and heavy scenes (hot for teacher?), drinking, and language, I would be cautious recommending this to a young teen reader.
2 Stars
Here are some quick thoughts from other readers on the Wonderland Banned Book Tour. I encourage you to follow the links and read/comment on their thoughtful reviews.
"This book has a great opening." ~ Lisa's World of Books
"This book is so well-crafted that although I had my suspicions as to where the story was going, I still couldn't quite believe it when I got my answer. This is one of those books where you have to flip back and read scenes again to see if you really missed it the first time. " ~ Logan E. Turner
"...she does have a nice style with really gorgeous descriptions, and I even had a few laughs and smiles, etc." ~Jennifer D
"Nadin does a great job with the writing; the descriptions are vivid." ~Annette's Book Spot
Thank you Candlewick Press for providing the tour book.
I have intentionally not read other reviews because I wanted to be surprised while reading this story. In fact, I tend not to read the entire synopsis of a book so I won't be spoiled. But today, there is no way around a spoil free review. To say, "I called it!" would be an understatement. I knew exactly what the hook was in this book at page 26. Yes, page 26. This may have happened because I watch way too much television, but there you have it. Would this be true for a teen reader? Would they be able to figure out what was happening so early on in the story? Hm, maybe not. If I take out the hook, I am still not wowed. I know I am supposed to feel sorry for Jude - she is motherless, bullied, and basically misunderstood by everyone that has anything to do with her (which aren't a lot of people). Problem was, I didn't connect with Jude at all. She has one heck of sad story, but I wasn't distracted with her pain to ignore the clues and hints as to where the story was going. Hence, 26 pages.
Stella, Jude's friend that returns, is what kept the pages turning. I wanted to see what kind of train wreck she would turn out to be, what kind of mischief she would stir up. I was definitely not disappointed in that area. To say this character was self destructive would be an understatement. Jude, having no personality whatsoever (she admits this), goes right along with Stella and her wild ways. Jude's father tries to (finally) connect with Jude, but it seems he is too late. Jude is on the fast train to McWrecklifeville.
The setting, quiet village a few hours outside of London, is described in detail, and it's amusing to me to read the language and slang provided. I grew up with a Limey mother so I wasn't thrown off by the jargon. I don't think young readers will have a hard time with it either. Due to some hot and heavy scenes (hot for teacher?), drinking, and language, I would be cautious recommending this to a young teen reader.
2 Stars
Here are some quick thoughts from other readers on the Wonderland Banned Book Tour. I encourage you to follow the links and read/comment on their thoughtful reviews.
"This book has a great opening." ~ Lisa's World of Books
"This book is so well-crafted that although I had my suspicions as to where the story was going, I still couldn't quite believe it when I got my answer. This is one of those books where you have to flip back and read scenes again to see if you really missed it the first time. " ~ Logan E. Turner
"...she does have a nice style with really gorgeous descriptions, and I even had a few laughs and smiles, etc." ~Jennifer D
"Nadin does a great job with the writing; the descriptions are vivid." ~Annette's Book Spot
Thank you Candlewick Press for providing the tour book.
February 11, 2011
First impressions: Jude and Stella open the book in a Thelma and Louise situation: cigarettes, lipstick, and a car at the edge of a cliff. Can you say "Grab on and don't let go?" I read this book in one sitting, because I just had to know how these girls got there.
Lasting impressions: This book is so well-crafted that although I had my suspicions as to where the story was going, I still couldn't quite believe it when I got my answer. This is one of those books where you have to flip back and read scenes again to see if you really missed it the first time.
Conflicting impressions: The ending is a bit trite and overplayed, but the story was so captivating and well done that I got over it. I mean, there are only so many plots in the world, and if I discarded every new book for having an element done before, I wouldn't be reading very long.
Overall impressions: This book had real heart. I loved Jude and her complicated relationships with her dead mother and distraught father. She feels trapped in her small town, but scared to pursue her acting dream for fear she will end up just like her mother. Her mom was a bright star that faded to nothing when they moved to their small town, and watching the depression wash over her was too much for Jude and her father to bear.
Jude feels ignored and invisible, with few friends and not much going for her...until Stella comes back. Stella was a childhood friend who had pulled Jude out of her shell until she disappeared and moved away. Now she's back, and Jude gets caught up in Stella's whirlwind energy and bad influence. With Stella, Jude starts partying, dressing sexier, and getting interested in boys. When she lands an audition at the prestigious Lab, her dream theater school in London, she and Stella take the train together and Jude nearly blows her chance.
Watching Jude's life get bolder and more outrageous is exciting until you see the scale tip in the wrong direction. When Jude goes to her audition, Stella is no longer the fun friend out to ensure they have a good time, she's an enabler who is controlling Jude's actions and dragging her down. It's heartbreaking to see Jude realize that Stella may not be the best thing in her life. This definitely struck a chord with me - the idea that sometimes your friends can harm you more than help you. Welcome to adulthood, Jude!
This story is quickly paced and full of all the pains of adolescence: first love, wild friends, dreams of grandeur, and absent parenting. Jude rises to the challenges presented by all of these, finding her own voice and strength of spirit to reclaim the hold on her life that Stella threatens to steal from her. Dramatic, harrowing, and real, Jude's tale will definitely make an impression.
Lasting impressions: This book is so well-crafted that although I had my suspicions as to where the story was going, I still couldn't quite believe it when I got my answer. This is one of those books where you have to flip back and read scenes again to see if you really missed it the first time.
Conflicting impressions: The ending is a bit trite and overplayed, but the story was so captivating and well done that I got over it. I mean, there are only so many plots in the world, and if I discarded every new book for having an element done before, I wouldn't be reading very long.
Overall impressions: This book had real heart. I loved Jude and her complicated relationships with her dead mother and distraught father. She feels trapped in her small town, but scared to pursue her acting dream for fear she will end up just like her mother. Her mom was a bright star that faded to nothing when they moved to their small town, and watching the depression wash over her was too much for Jude and her father to bear.
Jude feels ignored and invisible, with few friends and not much going for her...until Stella comes back. Stella was a childhood friend who had pulled Jude out of her shell until she disappeared and moved away. Now she's back, and Jude gets caught up in Stella's whirlwind energy and bad influence. With Stella, Jude starts partying, dressing sexier, and getting interested in boys. When she lands an audition at the prestigious Lab, her dream theater school in London, she and Stella take the train together and Jude nearly blows her chance.
Watching Jude's life get bolder and more outrageous is exciting until you see the scale tip in the wrong direction. When Jude goes to her audition, Stella is no longer the fun friend out to ensure they have a good time, she's an enabler who is controlling Jude's actions and dragging her down. It's heartbreaking to see Jude realize that Stella may not be the best thing in her life. This definitely struck a chord with me - the idea that sometimes your friends can harm you more than help you. Welcome to adulthood, Jude!
This story is quickly paced and full of all the pains of adolescence: first love, wild friends, dreams of grandeur, and absent parenting. Jude rises to the challenges presented by all of these, finding her own voice and strength of spirit to reclaim the hold on her life that Stella threatens to steal from her. Dramatic, harrowing, and real, Jude's tale will definitely make an impression.
April 6, 2011
Reviewed by Christin for Between the Covers
It's fairly rare that I actually end up reading contemporary YA books, but this one, set just outside of London and involving a theatre student, seemed too good to pass up. While the book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was still a good read, though at times seemingly more of a psychological portrait than a story.
Jude has never been one to stand out - Jude the Obscure, she calls herself. Always the brunt of her classmates' jokes, stuck in a dreary small-town existence, motherless, Jude's one escape is drama. She dreams of going to the Lab in London. There's only one problem - she can't bring herself to mail the application. Enter Stella, stage right. Stella is everything Jude wishes to be: confident, respected, able to stand out and shine. But Stella is also wild and reckless, dragging Jude into schemes that she'd never dream of. Jude feeds on Stella's strength, pushing her limits, unconsciously changing herself. Then Stella disappears for a few days, and Jude has to answer some tough questions. Is Stella really who Jude wants to be? What's so wrong with being herself? And most importantly - who is Jude?
Wonderland was, in a way, more edgy than a lot of books I've read recently. Perhaps that's because it is contemporary, or because so much of it is inner monologue. Either way, the book draws you in from the very beginning, and it goes fairly quickly from there. Jude is a very relatable character - who hasn't felt overshadowed at some point, longed to be someone else, had their nerves get the better of them? Jude and Ed were always so sweet together, which was a refreshing change from the usual intensity of teenage relationships in YA books. Jude's relationship with her father was so sad; it was easy to see how much her mother had been part of her life, and how her mother's death affected her so much. And then there was Stella. Stella with her crazy yet entertaining antics. Stella, whom at times I wanted to slap and at times I wanted to applaud. She kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.
At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story, a teenage girl trying to find her way. Sometimes, Wonderland seemed a bit disjointed, but I think that's the nature of the narrating voice, because this book does come full circle, from prologue to conclusion. I had my suspicious throughout the book, and it was nice to see that I had been right. The story until the ending is perfectly fine, but the ending truly does give it that much more impact.
Wonderland was Nadin's US YA debut, and I think it's safe to say it won't be her last novel. I'll look forward to reading more from her in the future!
It's fairly rare that I actually end up reading contemporary YA books, but this one, set just outside of London and involving a theatre student, seemed too good to pass up. While the book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was still a good read, though at times seemingly more of a psychological portrait than a story.
Jude has never been one to stand out - Jude the Obscure, she calls herself. Always the brunt of her classmates' jokes, stuck in a dreary small-town existence, motherless, Jude's one escape is drama. She dreams of going to the Lab in London. There's only one problem - she can't bring herself to mail the application. Enter Stella, stage right. Stella is everything Jude wishes to be: confident, respected, able to stand out and shine. But Stella is also wild and reckless, dragging Jude into schemes that she'd never dream of. Jude feeds on Stella's strength, pushing her limits, unconsciously changing herself. Then Stella disappears for a few days, and Jude has to answer some tough questions. Is Stella really who Jude wants to be? What's so wrong with being herself? And most importantly - who is Jude?
Wonderland was, in a way, more edgy than a lot of books I've read recently. Perhaps that's because it is contemporary, or because so much of it is inner monologue. Either way, the book draws you in from the very beginning, and it goes fairly quickly from there. Jude is a very relatable character - who hasn't felt overshadowed at some point, longed to be someone else, had their nerves get the better of them? Jude and Ed were always so sweet together, which was a refreshing change from the usual intensity of teenage relationships in YA books. Jude's relationship with her father was so sad; it was easy to see how much her mother had been part of her life, and how her mother's death affected her so much. And then there was Stella. Stella with her crazy yet entertaining antics. Stella, whom at times I wanted to slap and at times I wanted to applaud. She kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.
At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story, a teenage girl trying to find her way. Sometimes, Wonderland seemed a bit disjointed, but I think that's the nature of the narrating voice, because this book does come full circle, from prologue to conclusion. I had my suspicious throughout the book, and it was nice to see that I had been right. The story until the ending is perfectly fine, but the ending truly does give it that much more impact.
Wonderland was Nadin's US YA debut, and I think it's safe to say it won't be her last novel. I'll look forward to reading more from her in the future!
January 30, 2019
Jude the Obscure, Jude the outcast, Jude the washout. Sixteen-year-old Jude, who loves theatre but can't bring herself to post the application to the Lab in London. Jude, who would give anything to get out of her life in tiny Churchtown, England. Jude, who wants more than anything to escape her father, who still hasn't gotten over her mother's death. Who wants to be her mother, a fabulous actress and model.
If all the world's a stage, Jude is an extra, the girl half-obscured by props who wishes to be centre-stage playing Ophelia.
And then Stella comes back.
Stella is Ophelia. Brash, brave and bold, she was Jude's best friend before she left, and now that she's back, all full of glitter and danger. Stella smokes, Stella drinks, Stella is everything that Jude wishes she could be and then some. Stella posts Jude's letter for her, Stella defends her against the school's native it-girls, Stella introduces her to alcohol and sex and as much as Jude loves her, she scares her as well. Stella makes Jude into someone else, someone confident and sexy and unafraid. With Stella, Jude can do anything.
As such, Jude does do anything. Anything and everything she never believed she could do before, she does now, be it parties or drinking or finally posting that application... Stella beside her through it all, as even when Stella disappears, she always, always returns, just as Jude needs her most.
Let me just say, this book was fabulous.
That said, it took me a while to get into it. I'm not really a fan of the writing style, which is a little more detached than I generally prefer, and I spent a decent amount of time wondering where the book was going with one plotline or another. Emily, the head mean-girl at Jude's stuck-up private school, seemed to me more than a little overdone. Much of the book was spent wondering why characters weren't recognising Stella's presence, erm, at all, or at least as much as they should have been.
The ending, however, made it all worth it, tying together all the loose ends in a neat package that has left me reeling. I could not put the book down for the last seventy pages or so, reading through the attempts at conversation by anyone and everyone around me. The ending, if you can make it that far, makes the rest of the book worth it. The shivers down my spine, the sudden BANG as a million puzzle pieces fit together all at once--the ending makes the waiting and confusion worth it.
In short, it's not bad, but I'm not really into the writing style (personal choice, I guess); it's not that slow dry or confusing, but the ending is miles better anyway.
April 6, 2011
It's fairly rare that I actually end up reading contemporary YA books, but this one, set just outside of London and involving a theatre student, seemed too good to pass up. While the book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it was still a good read, though at times seemingly more of a psychological portrait than a story.
Jude has never been one to stand out - Jude the Obscure, she calls herself. Always the brunt of her classmates' jokes, stuck in a dreary small-town existence, motherless, Jude's one escape is drama. She dreams of going to the Lab in London. There's only one problem - she can't bring herself to mail the application. Enter Stella, stage right. Stella is everything Jude wishes to be: confident, respected, able to stand out and shine. But Stella is also wild and reckless, dragging Jude into schemes that she'd never dream of. Jude feeds on Stella's strength, pushing her limits, unconsciously changing herself. Then Stella disappears for a few days, and Jude has to answer some tough questions. Is Stella really who Jude wants to be? What's so wrong with being herself? And most importantly - who is Jude?
Wonderland was, in a way, more edgy than a lot of books I've read recently. Perhaps that's because it is contemporary, or because so much of it is inner monologue. Either way, the book draws you in from the very beginning, and it goes fairly quickly from there. Jude is a very relatable character - who hasn't felt overshadowed at some point, longed to be someone else, had their nerves get the better of them? Jude and Ed were always so sweet together, which was a refreshing change from the usual intensity of teenage relationships in YA books. Jude's relationship with her father was so sad; it was easy to see how much her mother had been part of her life, and how her mother's death affected her so much. And then there was Stella. Stella with her crazy yet entertaining antics. Stella, whom at times I wanted to slap and at times I wanted to applaud. She kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.
At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story, a teenage girl trying to find her way. Sometimes, Wonderland seemed a bit disjointed, but I think that's the nature of the narrating voice, because this book does come full circle, from prologue to conclusion. I had my suspicious throughout the book, and it was nice to see that I had been right. The story until the ending is perfectly fine, but the ending truly does give it that much more impact.
Wonderland was Nadin's US YA debut, and I think it's safe to say it won't be her last novel. I'll look forward to reading more from her in the future!
Jude has never been one to stand out - Jude the Obscure, she calls herself. Always the brunt of her classmates' jokes, stuck in a dreary small-town existence, motherless, Jude's one escape is drama. She dreams of going to the Lab in London. There's only one problem - she can't bring herself to mail the application. Enter Stella, stage right. Stella is everything Jude wishes to be: confident, respected, able to stand out and shine. But Stella is also wild and reckless, dragging Jude into schemes that she'd never dream of. Jude feeds on Stella's strength, pushing her limits, unconsciously changing herself. Then Stella disappears for a few days, and Jude has to answer some tough questions. Is Stella really who Jude wants to be? What's so wrong with being herself? And most importantly - who is Jude?
Wonderland was, in a way, more edgy than a lot of books I've read recently. Perhaps that's because it is contemporary, or because so much of it is inner monologue. Either way, the book draws you in from the very beginning, and it goes fairly quickly from there. Jude is a very relatable character - who hasn't felt overshadowed at some point, longed to be someone else, had their nerves get the better of them? Jude and Ed were always so sweet together, which was a refreshing change from the usual intensity of teenage relationships in YA books. Jude's relationship with her father was so sad; it was easy to see how much her mother had been part of her life, and how her mother's death affected her so much. And then there was Stella. Stella with her crazy yet entertaining antics. Stella, whom at times I wanted to slap and at times I wanted to applaud. She kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.
At its heart, this is a coming-of-age story, a teenage girl trying to find her way. Sometimes, Wonderland seemed a bit disjointed, but I think that's the nature of the narrating voice, because this book does come full circle, from prologue to conclusion. I had my suspicious throughout the book, and it was nice to see that I had been right. The story until the ending is perfectly fine, but the ending truly does give it that much more impact.
Wonderland was Nadin's US YA debut, and I think it's safe to say it won't be her last novel. I'll look forward to reading more from her in the future!
April 16, 2014
You can find this review on my blog here.
Before you read anymore of this post, be warned that I will be posting spoilers because I have to in order to talk about how truly awful this book really is.
I'm not going to be too mean because, as a YA author with a lot of work to do on my own writing, I'm not really one to judge. But man, this book was awful. It was one of those literally everything goes wrong kind of books. It was irritating.
All right. First of all, the plot twist was a goddamn dead giveaway. If you got to the part where Jude was like "OMG Stella is just my imaginary friend and now I'm going to list off famous books about multiple personalities because WORDS" and you didn't realize it already, please see yourself out. It was obvious. This was no "Sixth Sense" plot twist. So not only was that the main point of the book, it was dead obvious.
In addition to the bleeding obvious plot twist that we were barreling toward, the first half of the book was like "OMG these popular girls at my fancy school all hate me because I'm not rich and I'm smart and OMG they, like, totally do coke and drink Diet Cokes and are just, like, super mean. I call them plastics because that's totally the most original name ever." Fuck's sake. We got it. Popular kids, like, totally suck. Thanks. Can we move on?
The thing about the end of the book that had me rolling on the floor laughing, however, was when she's all "OMG I'm pregnant LAWLS" and then she tries to kill herself by driving off a goddamn cliff. Then there's the far too convenient "my boyfriend knew what I was going to do because he's a goddamn psychic and managed to borrow some random person's car and reach me in time to magically pull me out of a car I'm LITERALLY DRIVING OFF A CLIFF." Then she was injured but the baby died so life is normal and both her and her boyfriend's fancy London schools hold their spaces for a year so they can spend time together while she recovers from her OMG ordeals.
What the fuck did I read that for? Christ, it was awful, but so, so guilty pleasure worthy. I'm a sucker for a bad YA book (hence why "Ghost Girl" is still sitting on my bookshelf laughing its way to the NYT best seller's list.) If you want to roll your eyes a lot, go ahead and read "Wonderland." Otherwise, do yourself a favor and read something else.
Before you read anymore of this post, be warned that I will be posting spoilers because I have to in order to talk about how truly awful this book really is.
I'm not going to be too mean because, as a YA author with a lot of work to do on my own writing, I'm not really one to judge. But man, this book was awful. It was one of those literally everything goes wrong kind of books. It was irritating.
All right. First of all, the plot twist was a goddamn dead giveaway. If you got to the part where Jude was like "OMG Stella is just my imaginary friend and now I'm going to list off famous books about multiple personalities because WORDS" and you didn't realize it already, please see yourself out. It was obvious. This was no "Sixth Sense" plot twist. So not only was that the main point of the book, it was dead obvious.
In addition to the bleeding obvious plot twist that we were barreling toward, the first half of the book was like "OMG these popular girls at my fancy school all hate me because I'm not rich and I'm smart and OMG they, like, totally do coke and drink Diet Cokes and are just, like, super mean. I call them plastics because that's totally the most original name ever." Fuck's sake. We got it. Popular kids, like, totally suck. Thanks. Can we move on?
The thing about the end of the book that had me rolling on the floor laughing, however, was when she's all "OMG I'm pregnant LAWLS" and then she tries to kill herself by driving off a goddamn cliff. Then there's the far too convenient "my boyfriend knew what I was going to do because he's a goddamn psychic and managed to borrow some random person's car and reach me in time to magically pull me out of a car I'm LITERALLY DRIVING OFF A CLIFF." Then she was injured but the baby died so life is normal and both her and her boyfriend's fancy London schools hold their spaces for a year so they can spend time together while she recovers from her OMG ordeals.
What the fuck did I read that for? Christ, it was awful, but so, so guilty pleasure worthy. I'm a sucker for a bad YA book (hence why "Ghost Girl" is still sitting on my bookshelf laughing its way to the NYT best seller's list.) If you want to roll your eyes a lot, go ahead and read "Wonderland." Otherwise, do yourself a favor and read something else.
February 23, 2011
I just want to start out by saying that WONDERLAND blew me away. Joanna Nadin‘s writing is flawlessly constructed, the words beautifully pieced together to create a story and a voice that is not only ridiculously readable but impossible to look away from.
That said, WONDERLAND will throw you for a loop. It’s a quiet beach town on the coast of England where most of the townies are poor and where those who aren’t are boarders at the fancy school where Jude is bullied relentlessly by a group of girls that she and her best guy friend, Ed, call “The Plastics.” Jude can’t seem to escape her tortured feelings — both from the bullying and the grief of losing her mom years ago. That’s when Stella walks back into her life. Stella was Jude’s best friend when they were younger. Stella was brave and bold, stood up to the mean girls, dared Jude to do things she’d never do. Jude’s dad said Stella was a bad influence, and even if Jude knew she was right, she wanted to be Stella.
With an audition at a prestigious London theatre program on the horizon, Jude is more desperate than ever to change herself, and start anew. She knows there can’t be room in her life for both wild Stella and sweet Ed, and she finds herself torn between her two selves — the person she’s always been with Ed and the person she is trying to be with Stella. It’s not long before Jude knows that she’s in too deep, though, to back away from Stella’s influence. And as with any toxic relationship, there will be consequences whether she stays or goes.
WONDERLAND is unputdownable, a book that keeps you guessing from page one and only reveals its secrets at the very end, just in time for you to close the book and take a deep breath. I absolutely loved every minute of reading WONDERLAND, and am so impressed by Nadin‘s ability to capture the instability of teenage girlhood, of first love, of self-discovery. This is a fast-paced, beautiful novel that is sure to be a hit with fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Elizabeth Scott.
That said, WONDERLAND will throw you for a loop. It’s a quiet beach town on the coast of England where most of the townies are poor and where those who aren’t are boarders at the fancy school where Jude is bullied relentlessly by a group of girls that she and her best guy friend, Ed, call “The Plastics.” Jude can’t seem to escape her tortured feelings — both from the bullying and the grief of losing her mom years ago. That’s when Stella walks back into her life. Stella was Jude’s best friend when they were younger. Stella was brave and bold, stood up to the mean girls, dared Jude to do things she’d never do. Jude’s dad said Stella was a bad influence, and even if Jude knew she was right, she wanted to be Stella.
With an audition at a prestigious London theatre program on the horizon, Jude is more desperate than ever to change herself, and start anew. She knows there can’t be room in her life for both wild Stella and sweet Ed, and she finds herself torn between her two selves — the person she’s always been with Ed and the person she is trying to be with Stella. It’s not long before Jude knows that she’s in too deep, though, to back away from Stella’s influence. And as with any toxic relationship, there will be consequences whether she stays or goes.
WONDERLAND is unputdownable, a book that keeps you guessing from page one and only reveals its secrets at the very end, just in time for you to close the book and take a deep breath. I absolutely loved every minute of reading WONDERLAND, and am so impressed by Nadin‘s ability to capture the instability of teenage girlhood, of first love, of self-discovery. This is a fast-paced, beautiful novel that is sure to be a hit with fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Elizabeth Scott.
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Jude has always tried to be invisible. Ever since her best friend, Stella, left, Jude tries to avoid any confrontation. Then her drama teacher announces that Jude should apply to the prestigious drama school, the Lab, in London. In the meantime, Jude gets noticed at her current school, and mocked by the cool girls. Drama is the only thing Stella feels she is any good at.
Then, out of nowhere, Stella returns. Stella is everything Jude is not. She's outgoing, she's cool, and she is able to stand up to the girls who taunt her. And she catches the eye of the popular boys. Stella immediately encourages Jude to buy some new clothes, to start talking to the boys, and begin partying with the other kids.
But things are not all perfect. Life with her father is strained. Her mother died when Jude was younger. She keeps her other childhood friend, Ed, at arms' length. But Jude manages to snag an audition at the Lab, and Stella and Jude head into London for the day.
At this point, I can't really elaborate more on what happens in the story because I have to admit, I was quite surprised with the plot twist that occurs. I so didn't see it coming! Jude and her father have some words, and Jude makes a startling realization that brings about some changes and understanding of herself.
WONDERLAND is a heavy story, and may not be for everyone. But it's an insightful look at one's own situation and how they can change themselves to be what they are meant to be. Originally released in the United Kingdom in 2009, the reader will definitely notice the British feel of the story. Some of the slang may be foreign, but overall, the story is easy to follow and conveys the strong moral of being true to oneself.
***Note: There are some sexual situations in this novel that may not be appropriate for younger readers.
Jude has always tried to be invisible. Ever since her best friend, Stella, left, Jude tries to avoid any confrontation. Then her drama teacher announces that Jude should apply to the prestigious drama school, the Lab, in London. In the meantime, Jude gets noticed at her current school, and mocked by the cool girls. Drama is the only thing Stella feels she is any good at.
Then, out of nowhere, Stella returns. Stella is everything Jude is not. She's outgoing, she's cool, and she is able to stand up to the girls who taunt her. And she catches the eye of the popular boys. Stella immediately encourages Jude to buy some new clothes, to start talking to the boys, and begin partying with the other kids.
But things are not all perfect. Life with her father is strained. Her mother died when Jude was younger. She keeps her other childhood friend, Ed, at arms' length. But Jude manages to snag an audition at the Lab, and Stella and Jude head into London for the day.
At this point, I can't really elaborate more on what happens in the story because I have to admit, I was quite surprised with the plot twist that occurs. I so didn't see it coming! Jude and her father have some words, and Jude makes a startling realization that brings about some changes and understanding of herself.
WONDERLAND is a heavy story, and may not be for everyone. But it's an insightful look at one's own situation and how they can change themselves to be what they are meant to be. Originally released in the United Kingdom in 2009, the reader will definitely notice the British feel of the story. Some of the slang may be foreign, but overall, the story is easy to follow and conveys the strong moral of being true to oneself.
***Note: There are some sexual situations in this novel that may not be appropriate for younger readers.
September 29, 2015
I'm struggling to write this review because Wonderland has such a complex plot, I wouldn't want to taint, ruin, or spoil anyone's reading experience with my review. I'm going to veer away from analysing plot logistics and just stick to my favourite parts.
As someone who's pursuing theatre studies post-secondary I deeply empathized with Jude and her confusion about the future. Joanna Nadin perfectly captured the struggle arts students encounter when asked "Are you sure you want to do this forever?" While I wished that more drama rehearsal scenes had been included I still felt satisfied with how accurately the world of theatre schools and auditions was portrayed.
One aspect of Wonderland I didn't like was the bullying. Many authors these days choose to write their protagonists as bullied yet uber cool teenagers who need to overcome their insecurities in order to finally stand up to their bullies. Seeing as this novel was so different from many that I'd read I had expected the bullying scenes and scenarios to be unique or original but instead followed the same beautiful-popular-girl vs boring-protagonist-girl. Hopefully other authors in the future will branch out and look at other ways of writing bullying.
I love novels that cover so many different topics without being "about" any single one of them. Some people would classify Wonderland as a contemporary novel but I disagree because it could have been set at any time and still been as effective. Other would say it's a novel about suicide or teen sexuality or romance or death, but those are all just things that Jude experiences rather than things that her life revolves around. In truth Wonderland is just a book about a girl and what happens to her one summer in England.
As someone who's pursuing theatre studies post-secondary I deeply empathized with Jude and her confusion about the future. Joanna Nadin perfectly captured the struggle arts students encounter when asked "Are you sure you want to do this forever?" While I wished that more drama rehearsal scenes had been included I still felt satisfied with how accurately the world of theatre schools and auditions was portrayed.
One aspect of Wonderland I didn't like was the bullying. Many authors these days choose to write their protagonists as bullied yet uber cool teenagers who need to overcome their insecurities in order to finally stand up to their bullies. Seeing as this novel was so different from many that I'd read I had expected the bullying scenes and scenarios to be unique or original but instead followed the same beautiful-popular-girl vs boring-protagonist-girl. Hopefully other authors in the future will branch out and look at other ways of writing bullying.
I love novels that cover so many different topics without being "about" any single one of them. Some people would classify Wonderland as a contemporary novel but I disagree because it could have been set at any time and still been as effective. Other would say it's a novel about suicide or teen sexuality or romance or death, but those are all just things that Jude experiences rather than things that her life revolves around. In truth Wonderland is just a book about a girl and what happens to her one summer in England.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2011
This book had a great opening. The flash to what is the end of the book draws you in and make you want to know more. Jude, after the song, is struggling to make it through school, without a mother, and at the butt of the Plastics jokes. Just when things are looking terrible, Jude's friend, Stella, reappears seemly out of nowhere. Jude knows that her father and good friend, Ed, will not approve of Stella returning as she always leads to trouble. Stella encourages Jude to do things she never would have done, smoke, drink and just get into a lot of trouble. Jude is torn between Stella and Ed. Sometime she just needs one of the other and Stella has the tendency to just disappear for days at a time. Jude applies for The Lab, her dream of drama school, but once she gets there she can't go on and Stella goes in her place. Once accepted, she tells Ed and their romance begins to bloom. Jude realizes that her relationship with Stella must end, but can she make this happen or will Stella suck her back in as always.
I thought that this was an okay book. The most frustrating part for me was that I knew at least part of the ending about half way through the book. While there were still a few twists and turns in the story line, I was disappointed that I figured part of it out. Despite this, I still enjoyed the story and the depth of the characters in the story. There is a lot of drink drugs and sex in this story. More than I would have expected from a YA book. This should be kept in mind when making decision for who should read this book.
I thought that this was an okay book. The most frustrating part for me was that I knew at least part of the ending about half way through the book. While there were still a few twists and turns in the story line, I was disappointed that I figured part of it out. Despite this, I still enjoyed the story and the depth of the characters in the story. There is a lot of drink drugs and sex in this story. More than I would have expected from a YA book. This should be kept in mind when making decision for who should read this book.
April 3, 2014
Imagination can be many things but can be more powerful than anything. It can set up a time frame of memorable events. A young teenage girl by the name of Jude goes through a tragedy where her mom dies. She struggles to make life easier for herself making decisions with any thought in them. Then Stella appears she’s the one who caused to be like this to change. Jude met her after the loss of her mom and right then and there they became best friends. Stella always left but she always came back to Jude, letting her know she’ll always be there. In the times that she wasn’t there Jude became close to her other friend. Ed is two years older than and even though he goes out he knows what the word responsibility means. He looks after Jude when Stella is around because with her around there’s always trouble. Not only does Jude lose herself but everyone else too. She tries to fit in and make everything easier but things just get out of control. The quiet, innocent Jude has turned into a heartless rebel thanks to Stella. Now that she’s back in her life there’s no stopping her or not knowing what might happen next. As things turn for the worst Jude decides its best for her to be alone with ed. she finds herself and realizes that Stella was fragment of her imagination a protection trying to shield her from everything like when she was young a girl and her mother used to do before she died. In the end she lets go of the past and only looks out for her future.
February 25, 2011
This is Joanna Nadin’s first YA debut in the U.S. You can bet that there will be plenty of readers watching out for her next book also. Wonderland was just released on February 22, 2011. The book kept me on my seat questioning what would happen next. The cover is fantastic and makes the reader want to eplore the inside of the book.
This story centers around Jude. Jude feels like she is a nothing and that she disappears into the shadows while everyone else is standing in the limelight. The only time she had any self esteem was when she had her best friend, Stella. Stella is nothing like Jude, she is sassy and beautiful. She is not afraid of anything. Jude dreams of the times she and Stella have spent together and only wishes that she could have her back in her life. One day, she gets her wish and Stella is back.
The book takes the reader through a maze of twists and turns while Jude regains her self esteem and changes into a completely different person. The ending will shock you and you will not see it coming.
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to others written by this author. The book was an easy read.
This book was an ARC from Candlewick Press.
This story centers around Jude. Jude feels like she is a nothing and that she disappears into the shadows while everyone else is standing in the limelight. The only time she had any self esteem was when she had her best friend, Stella. Stella is nothing like Jude, she is sassy and beautiful. She is not afraid of anything. Jude dreams of the times she and Stella have spent together and only wishes that she could have her back in her life. One day, she gets her wish and Stella is back.
The book takes the reader through a maze of twists and turns while Jude regains her self esteem and changes into a completely different person. The ending will shock you and you will not see it coming.
I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to others written by this author. The book was an easy read.
This book was an ARC from Candlewick Press.
February 25, 2012
Jude’s life is at a standstill. The invisible girl whose mother is dead, with no friends and the target of all the ‘in’ girls, she is slowly dissolving away. In walks Stella, her friend from long ago. Stella is bold, self-assured and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her. Stella transforms Jude into a bad girl, doing what she wants when she wants. But there’s more - Stella is also shaping Jude in ways that Jude can’t seem to control. Will Jude break away or turn into someone else altogether?
Joanna Nadin paints an excellent picture of friendship gone dark - and more. We see the relationship deteriorate bit by bit, and we WANT to save Jude, but she just doesn’t see it..!
This was a great book with many biting, painful scenes. If you’ve ever watched a friend go down hill and been hesitant to intervene, this book will hit home in so many ways. The ending is worth the wait - although it happens a bit TOO fast for my taste (the only thing keeping this from a 5 star rating!).....
Joanna Nadin paints an excellent picture of friendship gone dark - and more. We see the relationship deteriorate bit by bit, and we WANT to save Jude, but she just doesn’t see it..!
This was a great book with many biting, painful scenes. If you’ve ever watched a friend go down hill and been hesitant to intervene, this book will hit home in so many ways. The ending is worth the wait - although it happens a bit TOO fast for my taste (the only thing keeping this from a 5 star rating!).....
August 1, 2011
This book had an EXTREMELY boring start (which lasted for about 3/4 of the book, mind you). The last few chapters is really when it took off, almost too suddenly. The author only gives one or two subtle hints as to who Stella really is before you come to the explosive ending.
What I liked:
The last few chapters tied all loose ends and answered any questions I had. EVERYTHING the author was talking about in the beginning makes sense finally, and you can see the reasons why she wrote the way she did.
What I didn't like:
The style of writing; Nadin's sentences were literally 2 words long. It was honestly torture to read this way, pausing so much. I hated it. I don't know if it was done purposely for some sort of effect, but I don't like reading pages and pages of EXTREMELY short sentences. Read the first chapter and you'll see what I mean- the whole book's like that.
All in all, it was generally O.K.- I have to give Nadin some credit, the ending was very interesting.
What I liked:
The last few chapters tied all loose ends and answered any questions I had. EVERYTHING the author was talking about in the beginning makes sense finally, and you can see the reasons why she wrote the way she did.
What I didn't like:
The style of writing; Nadin's sentences were literally 2 words long. It was honestly torture to read this way, pausing so much. I hated it. I don't know if it was done purposely for some sort of effect, but I don't like reading pages and pages of EXTREMELY short sentences. Read the first chapter and you'll see what I mean- the whole book's like that.
All in all, it was generally O.K.- I have to give Nadin some credit, the ending was very interesting.
June 15, 2014
Jude lives in small-town Churchtown and she longs to leave to go to a program in London. Yet, Stella, her bubbly childhood friend, shows up and spins Jude's life around.
Jude is an outcast to say the least. She is shy and just wishes to disappear from her small town and shine in the program in London.
After disappearing from Jude's childhood, Stella comes back to Jude's dismal life. Stella is fashionable, daring, and everything Jude wishes she could be. Stella adds the perfect amount of spice to this novel.
This book is one of my favorite books. It's full of twists and turns and was impossible for me to put down. Through each crazy antic Stella puts Jude through, Stella seems to become more dark and mysterious. Jude begins to resent Stella for being everything she isn't.
With love interest and a dark plot, Wonderland is the YA novel i would recommend to anyone. It doesn't fit the usual mold of the teen books. It's wonderfully and daringly different.
Jude is an outcast to say the least. She is shy and just wishes to disappear from her small town and shine in the program in London.
After disappearing from Jude's childhood, Stella comes back to Jude's dismal life. Stella is fashionable, daring, and everything Jude wishes she could be. Stella adds the perfect amount of spice to this novel.
This book is one of my favorite books. It's full of twists and turns and was impossible for me to put down. Through each crazy antic Stella puts Jude through, Stella seems to become more dark and mysterious. Jude begins to resent Stella for being everything she isn't.
With love interest and a dark plot, Wonderland is the YA novel i would recommend to anyone. It doesn't fit the usual mold of the teen books. It's wonderfully and daringly different.
January 13, 2011
Wonderland is a mix of young adult romance and psychological suspense. Jude was a very innocent, and mindful young girl. Sadly, she is trying to survive in a life with the lack of a mother. Since losing her mother it seems she is completely alone; when he father falls to the dangerous grasp of alcohol. At seventeen years old Jude is on the brink of life changing decisions; as they begin to grow overwhelming she finds herself desperately craving the return of her childhood friend Stella. The wild and carefree Stella would never question major decisions such as the ones that Jude seems to be facing. As if a granted wish from her Fairy Godmother; Stella returns and life does not seem to resolve itself quite as easier as Jude at anticipated. When things begin to grow out of control Jude must find a way to separate herself from her friend, although this may prove to be impossible.
December 12, 2015
Okay, so I had a back story with this one. I was always going to the book store with my friends and every time I saw it, I just looked at it intrigued. Something about it that made me want to read it, so after a couple of times I saw it, I bought it and man! Was it worth it. It wasn't what I expected it to be at first, actually. Like I was expecting more of a friendship tale and all, but in the middle I realized, it was more of A Fight club style. Still loved it. I read 30 pages before final exams and then I finished it today, which I finished exams! I absolutely adore it! Can compare to Jude to some extent, but ye~ Not that much xD Anyway, I would rate it a 4.5 out 5 because of some things I didn't like, but since I don't see that option, I give a 5 because it was so amazing! Definitely want to read more from this author!
January 27, 2015
(IM TRYING NOT TO SPILL ANYTHING. NO GARUNTEES!!!) Jude and Stella. Stella and Jude. Two complete opposites, yet one in the same. Stella is the out there, hard ass that takes nothing from anyone. Jude is the quiet, invisible girl. Jude cant stand up for herself...until Stella shows up...again. Now Jude is the outgoing, sexy dressing girl that takes nothing from anyone. Until Stella starts to ruin Jude's life, and Jude uses the skills Stella has taught her to stand up to the monster that invades her life and tears her apart, casting that monster out to sea(punpunpun! read it and youll get the pun xD). The ending was a little open as to what will happen to Jude in the future but most books are that way. Overall I loved this book! Great read and glad I found it. :3
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