Alice With a Why

Description Share Post Alice With a Why Anna James (HarperCollins) Alyce knows her grandmother’s strange stories of a Mad Hatter, dormice and smiling cats. However, that’s all they are, aren’t they? Strange stories? However, what if Alyce falls into this Wonderland after retrieving an invitation intended for her grandmother? It seems Alyce doesn’t have the correct entrance papers in the first instance, yet nobody can explain what these are. In fact, everything is topsy turvy, and there’s distinct hostility toward Alyce from the outset. Why can’t she be her grandmother? Thankfully, a fox at the gates takes pity on her, and she begins the quest she’s set by the Mad Hatter and dormouse. There’s an ongoing war between the Queen of the Moon and the Sun King which has cost stars and caused confusion between day and night. All the creatures are at sixes and sevens. So Alyce is set the task of finding Time Being to put things right. However where and what is Time Being? Although everyone assumes this will be the answer, nobody has any clues, or any sensible questions or leads! Could a paper boat, familiar to Alyce from those her late father made her, be a guide? Alyce recognises signs of war in this place, similar to those with which she has lived. This war has put everything off course for Alyce. Thereafter, Alyce’s spinning through this strange place unlocks familiar moments and feelings, including a deep grieving for her father and an uncertainty for the future. Anna James revisits Wonderland through a tender, insightful story of grief and hope in Alice With a Why. Like The Adventures of Portly the Otter this title is respectful, literate and beautiful. We recommend this book highly to our readers.