Seeing Redd: The Looking Glass Wars, Book 2 - Frank Beddor

More violent battles, less clever than the first.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Read the book?
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Book details
  • Author:Frank Beddor
  • # of pages: 371
  • Publisher:Dial Books
  • Original Publication Date: 08/14/2007
  • Genre: Fiction - Fantasy
  • Hardcover: $17.99
  • Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 10
  • Read Aloud: 10
  • Read Alone: 11

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a violent series, which, of course, is part of its appeal. There are many battles and deaths, and some gruesome moments with fingers bitten off. There's some drinking, cigarette smoking, and drug use.

Families can talk about the idea of imagination used as a weapon. What would be its limits? What makes Redd's more powerful than Alyss'? How could it be overcome?

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Drinking and drunkenness, smoking cigarettes and a hookah, drugs are used as weapons, and imaginary recreational drugs are referred to.

Violence

Lots, some gruesome, including fingers being bitten off, many battles, many deaths.

Sex

A kiss.

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Matt Berman

Having defeated her evil aunt Redd in the previous book, Alyss hardly has time to settle into her rightful role as queen of Wonderland before she is beset on all sides. The king of Boarderland is scheming against her, Homburg Molly is kidnapped, and Hatter Madigan has disobeyed orders and may be a traitor.

Meanwhile, Redd is planning a new assault, and gathering a new army on Earth and in Boarderland, where she may be teaming up with the king. And she has discovered a way to enhance her powers of Black Imagination far beyond Alyss' own formidable White Imagination.

Is it any good?

4
The Looking Glass Wars was a terrifically original and thrilling new entry in the fantasy field. This second book in the series suffers from the dreaded sophomore slump. Of course those who loved the first book will want to read it, and they'll enjoy it well enough. But it doesn't have that thrill of the new; the clever literary playing with the Alice in Wonderland story that made the first book so much fun.

Instead we get nearly nonstop battles and scheming, which, of course, some readers will love. Redd's sojourn on Earth, where she gathers the dregs of humanity (many of whom turn out to be exiled Wonderlanders) is amusing, and the climactic battle is epic and exciting. But there's a flatness to much of the proceedings that would seem to indicate an author who used much of his best ideas in the first book. Let's hope he has a few more surprises up his sleeve for the next one.

Other choices

First Book in this Series:
The Looking Glass Wars

More Reimaginings of Classic Literature:
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg by Gail Carson Levine
Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by James V. Hart

Books by Screenwriters:
Abarat by Clive Barker
Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce
The Merchant of Death: The Pendragon Series, Book 1 by D. J. MacHale
Seeker: Noble Warriors, Book 1 by William Nicholson

This Is Based On:
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Related Web Sites:
Official site
MySpace site
Trailer

Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/14/08 by MasterHatter Kid contributor, age 12

Awesome book

One of the best books iv ever read; but very violent. i would reccomend it for 11+ not 10. There is a very dark, almost disturbing scene where a bunch of aristocrats drinking alchohol and smoking gather, a man performs a black magic spell, and the skeletons come to life, biting off the fingerss of a man. Later, the bloody remains of the people are swept up into piles on the corner. another bit about a man who can create blisters. he puts his finger on a man's head, a huge blister develops and explodes, blood and pus gushes out, and the man falls over dead. Besides this, the violence isnt very heavy but very consistent. The book shows good moral values, too.
3


Posted on 10/16/07 by wickeddude Kid contributor, age 13

Great Book but the first was better

This book is very violent. People are killed, children are drugged, and evil is everywhere. This book retells alice and wonderland but the first one is soo much cleaner.

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 04/14/08 by MasterHatter Kid contributor, age 12

Awesome book

One of the best books iv ever read; but very violent. i would reccomend it for 11+ not 10. There is a very dark, almost disturbing scene where a bunch of aristocrats drinking alchohol and smoking gather, a man performs a black magic spell, and the skeletons come to life, biting off the fingerss of a man. Later, the bloody remains of the people are swept up into piles on the corner. another bit about a man who can create blisters. he puts his finger on a man's head, a huge blister develops and explodes, blood and pus gushes out, and the man falls over dead. Besides this, the violence isnt very heavy but very consistent. The book shows good moral values, too.
3


Posted on 10/16/07 by wickeddude Kid contributor, age 13

Great Book but the first was better

This book is very violent. People are killed, children are drugged, and evil is everywhere. This book retells alice and wonderland but the first one is soo much cleaner.
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