I received this book from the publishers via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This captured the nonsense of the original Alice really well but fell a little short on the adventure and difficulty for me. Though I will say I haven’t read the original in a good long while!

The vibe was top notch though, and it’s still a lot of fun. I hope this is a gateway for others to try both the original and Anna’s other amazing books!

3.25 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks for this eCopy to review

I’ve always had a soft spot for Wonderland, so when I heard Anna James was reimagining it, I dove in with curiosity and a bit of scepticism. Turns out, Alice With a Why is a whimsical triumph—equal parts nostalgic and refreshingly new.

🫖Plot Summary🫖
Set in England, 1919, the story follows Alyce (with a Y), granddaughter of the original Alice. After losing her father in the Great War, she’s sent to live with her eccentric grandmother, who spins tales of a magical land called Wonderland. Alyce doesn’t believe a word—until a mysterious tea party invitation smacks her in the face and she tumbles into a world that’s far more chaotic than she imagined. Wonderland is now caught in a war between the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon, battling over a stolen hour. Alyce must restore balance with help from familiar faces like the Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat, plus new allies like a Sailor Fox.

🌟 What enchanted me:🌙
- The writing is clever and lyrical, full of delightful nonsense and heartfelt moments.
- Alyce is a brilliant character—curious, brave, and just the right amount of sceptical.
- The illustrations by Matthew Land are stunning and add so much charm to the story.
- It’s a love letter to Lewis Carroll, but with its own voice and emotional depth.

Alice With a Why is a magical journey that honours the original while carving out its own identity. It’s perfect for readers young and old who want to fall down the rabbit hole all over again.

ALICE WITH A WHY is a return to the world of a classic that captures its tone while being a new tale.

This book absolutely captures the whimsical nonsense of the original. There are conversations that go in circles and a hunt for the Time Being and more. It's delightfully silly and makes so little sense at times that it makes perfect sense. Anna James has captured the essence of Wonderland perfectly.

There are returning character of course - the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Dormouse, the Cheshire Cat, the Gryphon and the Mock Turtle (who get an all new poem to declaim), and more. It's so much fun to be reunited with these beloved childhood characters, all as utterly unhelpful and yet adorable as before. The Dormouse is still probably my favourite (and I still feel sorry for him.)

Alongside these beloved characters are new ones. The main character following Alyce on her trips is the Sailor Fox who was such a nice addition to the story. He's actually helpful and is a great guide for Alyce. There are also inclusions from other pieces of British literature - like the three men in the boat, whose rhyming speak was a lot of fun. I liked the balance between new and old, letting Anna James put her own mark on this children's classic.

The book is illustrated by Matthew Land. It's quite deliberately not following the original book's iconic illustrations, with their dark, woodcut feel. These are much lighter in tone (taking advantage of the change in printing technologies that can allow for various line colours!) It really helps the book feel modern.

As a fan of the original Alice books, I approached this with a mix of curiosity and nostalgia. From the first page, the story brims with the same sense of wonder that made the original so well loved. I loved the familiar faces and the plot full of surprises, and the addition of questioning.

Anna James is one of the few middle grade authors who I am always guaranteed to read and so while this book didn’t immediately catch my eye I did know I had to read it just to experience her writing again.

Alice With a Why follows Alyce who lives with her grandmother, Alice, and when a mysterious invitation to a tea party arrives Alyce realises her grandmother's strange stories of Wonderland might be real.

This was a really fun book that I read in one sitting and had a good time with. The writing was really engaging and continues to be my favourite part of Anna James’s book, while her books are all different and her writing changes to each book they all have a similar feel to them which I always love and look forward to reading more of.

Alyce was a really interesting character to read about as she explored Wonderland and realised that her grandmother likely had met many of those she was coming across and that her stories were true. I loved reading about and following her, the way the story was told made it so that I was interested in reading more about her and I felt it gave me a good idea of who she was. I would have definitely been happy to read a full length novel following her.

I haven’t read Alice in Wonderland before but after reading this I would be open to reading it in the future. It was cool to see characters who I am aware of throughout this book and I can definitely see how it would appeal to those who love the original story and bring new readers to the world of Wonderland.

Overall this was a fun short middle grade read that I enjoyed and it was really nice to see another form of Anna James’s writing and I have been reminded of exactly why I am highly anticipating the Chronicles of Whetherwhy book 2 The Season of Flames releasing in September I think.

Thank you to Harper Collins Childrens Books and Netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful adventure back into wonderland. It was such a fun and quirky book and captured the heart of wonderland so well. I really liked Alyce and thought she was such a fab character. This book is perfect for younger readers and those young at heart!

I have a special spot in my heart for Alice in Wonderland and always enjoy the whimsical stories it has inspired since. This one has definitely lived up to the legacy and will be one that I would read again and again. It is tinged with sadness and grief but also has all the whimsy and nonsense you would expect in a Wonderland style story.

The story starts with Alyce being left with her grandmother Alice while her mother (and young brother) goes to care for her other grandmother who isn't well. The house and her grandmother Alice have been changed since the war and her father's death and she is left chatting with the cat and the paintings. When an unexpected invitation comes, Alyce is brought to Wonderland and realizes her grandmother's stories about her childhood adventures are not so made up after all. What follows is a strange and wonderful journey though a place you have visited before with some familiar characters and some new as well that you will fall in love with and remember from now on while Alyce tries to find the Time Being to help stop a war between the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon.

I love the hidden or subtle mentions in the writing like the names of the stars and all of the funny word play these types of stories are known for. I also really loved the Sailor Fox holding her hand and guiding her through her adventure. The ending is bittersweet and touching and might have made me tear up just a bit.

I hope Anna James will treat us with more exploration of Wonderland sometime soon as I quite enjoyed this book and her interpretation. A classic for sure.

I received an advanced digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

This is a brilliant reimagining of Alice’s adventures in wonderland where Alyce (our Alice’s granddaughter) returns to wonderland after intercepting an invitation intended for her grandmother. Once in wonderland she discovers that the inhabitants of wonderland are suffering due to a war being fought between the Sun King and The Queen of The Moon. Alyce’s real life has been upended by the loss of her father, and her childhood home being turned into a medical ward for injured soldier because of the very real war happening in her world. Through her adventure into wonderland she explores the topics of grief, trusting in her own abilities, and the innocent lives ruined by wars they didn’t start. Beautifully done. Absolutely just as whimsical as the originals.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read an earc of this book in order to give my honest thoughts about it.

For anyone who knows anything about Alice in Wonderland, this charming story, about Alyce, the granddaughter of the original Alice, will be a delight.
Anna James sets Alyce with a Y, and a WHY, for that matter, off on a journey of self discovery in the topsy turvey world of Wonderland.
Well known characters from the original stories, such as the Hatter, the caterpillar and even a guest appearance, at the very end of a very important character indeed, all appear at various points in Alyce's journey, subtly changed from Carroll's originals by Anna James clever imaginings. New characters, the Moon Queen and Sun King, for instance, have the same DNA as many of the Wonderland beings, but are pure Anna James inventions.
Rather than a cold Cheshire Cat, however, Alyce is guided and helped by a warm and thoughtful fox whose gentle guidance finally brings Alyce back to her rightful home. This character is Anna James at her best, and seals the book as being a very touching and healing story which may well speak to children travelling through their own grief journey.
As the book closes, we undoubtedly have our answer as to Alyce's why.
This is an Alyce for twenty first century bookish children and would make an excellent story to read to an upper primary school class.
Thankyou to NetGalley and the publisher for an earc in return for this, my honest review

We are back in Wonderland but with a different Alyce. Like her grandmother before her, Alyce is met with strange and befuddling creatures who send her on a puzzling quest. This time: to forge a truce between a warring Sun and Moon. Of course, along the way, Alyce processes the grief of the loss of her father during the war and starts to reframe her grandmother's stories. Is there a moral, as The Duchess demands? Yep. But don't worry about it - just enjoy getting swept back up in this ode to Lewis Carroll's wonderful world.

I should have paid more attention when requesting this as I entirely missed the fact it was a middle grade children's book. That said it was a good revisit/continuation of the well known and beloved story of Wonderland with a new Alyce taking over as the main character and new inhabitants to interact with. There is the same confusing riddle/play on words communication present from the classic story but with new locals and lore. I really liked the story of where stars came from. A good book for younger readers who enjoyed the CS Lewis original story. The main problem with reading this as an ARC is that the illustrations were missing but highlighted as to where they were due to go - I can only imagine they add another layer to the story.

Whimsical and true to the original.
Wonderful characters (old and new).
Adorably daft rhymes.
Chapter 14 is absolutely beautiful. 🦊
A gorgeous ending too. ☀️
And, of course, the best illustrations possible. They are so cute and quirky. 🥰

A physical copy is a must as it would be a wonderful keepsake. And a story you’ll love and cherish forever. 😍

I honestly don’t think I need to say anymore.

Alyce (with a "y") has always loved listening to her grandmother Alice's stories—tales that seemed far too magical to be real. But when a mysterious invitation quite literally hits her in the face, Alyce begins to wonder if her grandmother’s stories were more than just bedtime tales. Before she has a chance to ask, she is whisked away to Wonderland. Yet, this Wonderland is not the whimsical world she had imagined—it is torn by war, and somehow everyone is relying on Alyce to set things right.

Though it has been a long time since I last read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, this book instantly rekindled that nostalgia. James has struck the perfect balance with the writing style—fanciful, delightfully nonsensical, and decidedly playful. The child like logic woven throughout will particularly resonate with younger readers, making for an entertaining and immersive experience.

Alyce and her companions are wonderfully likable, each adding depth and charm to the adventure. Even the opposing forces—the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon—are endearing in their own right.

I received an advance review copy (ARC), which, unfortunately, did not include illustrations. However, once the book is officially published, I fully intend to pick up a copy or borrow one from my local library so I can experience the artwork firsthand.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, Children's for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

ha just the joy you get even from the cover! then to see who wrote this book...because Anna knows how to write her stories. this book had me all kind of excited.and it played up to all my excitements. its a re-imagining of the original Alice in Wonderland. this book gives us Alyce( with a why, get it?) who is the granddaughter of the original. and its now her own turn to have adventures in Wonderland. Anna James found the same whimsy and slightly weird tone as the books and films lol. and i mean weird in the best ways. it had that ditty, witty and sparkly feel to it where you feel settle but unsettled all at once. i also like how now reading as an adult i somehow felt i understand the little parts more and got the 'in jokes' more. or maybe i just got it differently from an adult mind and felt still just as good to do so no matter the reason why.
but this wont be the same adventure for Alyce as her grandmother because there is a war going on between the characters in Wonderland and with the help of some of the same ones we met before Alyce must help but also get herself through to the other side. the uses of things like the "time being" had me in a same smiley childlike state. and meeting both new and old characters did similar.
i enjoyed this book so much and feel lucky to, year later, come back to it and get to feel the same joy as an adult.
it felt loyal to the original book but definitely like it was completely part of it. and could be now seen alongside it is a perfect due series.

A magical and heartfelt return to Wonderland! Set in 1919 England, this enchanting tale follows Alyce—granddaughter of the original Alice—as she’s swept into a Wonderland at war. With the Sun King and Queen of the Moon battling over a stolen hour, Alyce must restore balance with help from the Hatter, Cheshire Cat, and a mysterious Sailor Fox. A beautifully imagined adventure full of wonder, wit, and heart. An absolute pleasure to return to Wonderland.

What a wonderful return to Wonderland! Staying with her grandmother who was the original Alice, Alyce is mistakenly transported to Wonderland as the inhabitants need her help. A wonderful mix of both old and new characters the author has caught the tone of Lewis Carroll perfectly and this book is a classic in the making. I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and can’t wait until I have grandchildren of my own to share it with. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for an honest review.

Anna James is a superb writer and this homage to Alice in Wonderland on the 160th anniversary of the original Alice proves that the madness and menace of Wonderland remains as fresh as ever. Fans of the original books will enjoy revisiting old friends, but my favourite character has to be the wonderfully loyal and wise fox. James deals with loss with the lightest and most poignant of touches, just beautiful!

This is an absolutely delightful homage to Alice in Wonderland, written in a way that beautifully captures the nonsensical tone of Carroll’s original without feeling derivative. James’ Alyss (with a y) is reminiscent of her grandmother Alice but brings enough distinction and her own circumstances - being left to live with a strange relative, the loss of her father, the horrifying reality of being a child during the First World War. It touches on sad and serious themes while remaining an accessible read for children and absolutely full of joy and whimsy.
My only disappointment was that the electronic review copy I was reading didn't include the illustrations, which I'm sure bring an extra dimension to the story.

A great addition to the Alice in Wonderland canon. Full of the same quirky characters you know and love with the addition of more of the same. True to the original tales. A fun quick read.

TBH, this is my first time reading a book from this author. It’s about a girl named Alyce, who turned out to be Alice’s granddaughter (THE Alice, you know!). The story itself was quite simple: Alyce needs to stop the war between the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon. Along the way, Alyce met the legendary Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. Not to forget the Sailor Fox who helped Alyce on her journey. Actually, I was hoping that this Alyce would have more adventures like her grandmother, so for me, the book was kinda boring. Nevertheless, some of the conversations made me laugh. Maybe if you loved Alice in Wonderland, then you’ll enjoy this one too.