Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Zany, poignant tale of Alice's granddaughter in Wonderland.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
World War I has just ended, her beloved father was killed, and Alyce (that's ALICE WITH A WHY) is suddenly alone with her grandmother—the original Alice of Wonderland fame—in the family house that, up till very recently, served as a hospital for wounded soldiers. Alyce has heard Alice's adventure stories many times, so when a mysterious invitation that's more like a cry for help arrives from Wonderland, she's not completely unprepared for another tea party with the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, and the Dormouse. The conversation is soon off the rails and characters burst into song and verse frequently, but it's clear there's a bigger problem: the sun god and the moon goddess are at war, killing off people and celestial beings. Alyce sets out on a dangerous quest to end the conflict, aided by a helpful riverboat captain who's also a fox.
Is It Any Good?
World War I's just ended, so a poignant thread of grief and loss runs through Alice's granddaughter's own Wonderland adventure of unhinged conversation, clever wordplay, wacky verse, and warring gods. Starting from about the point where the title character, Alyce, introduces herself as "Alice with a Why," launching nonsense dialogue recalling "Who's On First?", there's a whole lot of silliness as the story unfolds, and readers who found it all a bit hard to follow in the original may feel the same. Alyce is cheer-worthy and relatable as she tries to cut through the distractions and save Wonderland before warring gods destroy it, and it's a good thing she listened to her grandmother's tales as well as she did... Anna James gets into the groove of Lewis Carroll's quirky style, and Matthew Lane's plentiful black and white illustrations add engaging charm to the tale.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Alice, and how her Wonderland adventures have appealed to kids and adults for almost 200 years—with lots of sequels and spinoffs like Alice With a Why. Do you have any favorite Alice stories? What do you like best about them?
World War I has just ended in the story, with tragic loss and life-changing events for Alice and Alyce's family. Has war had a big impact on people you know? What happened, and how are they doing?
If you got to make a trip to Wonderland, what would you do and who would you visit?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Matthew Land
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Flamingo Books
- Publication date : January 6, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : January 23, 2026
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