The Looking Glass Wars
By Frank Beddor
Dial Books, 2006.
358 pages. Fantasy.
ISBN:
9780803731530
Reading/Interest Level: 10+
Curriculum ties: Fairy tales,
retellings
Booktalk Ideas: Twisted tales: Start by describing Alice in Wonderland, then
completely discount the story and explain that “Alyss” completely disapproved
of the story and this is the truth about Wonderland, which wasn’t quite as
innocent as “Alice’s” Wonderland.
Challenge Issues: Violence
Challenge Response: First
Defense File
Reader’s Annotation:
What you thought
you knew about Wonderland is all lies. Alyss is a princess, Wonderland is her
home, and being stuck in London hasn’t been an easy experience.
Plot Summary:
When Alyss tells
the tale of her life to a family friend she expects him to be faithful to her
story, but instead she turns it into a lovely fairy tale that is so far from
the truth Alyss is disgusted and refuses to speak to him again. The actual
story of what happened to Alyss of Wonderland was far different than what was
depicted in Alice in Wonderland.
Alyss is the
Princess in Wonderland has several friends, but when her evil Aunt Redd leads a
coup and kills Alyss’s mother, the Queen in a bloody battle, Alyss and her
allies must leave Wonderland if they want to survive. Alyss ends up in London,
while her friend Hatter is in Paris. Hatter spends 13 long years searching for
Alyss, but Alyss has been adopted by the Liddell family and has come to believe
that her memories are mere fantasy. When she’s finally found and returned to
Wonderland, will she be the ruler necessary to defeat her evil Aunt Redd?
Critical Evaluation:
With a basis in
the original Alice in Wonderland tales, this is a unique spin on the story yet
also stands entirely independent of the works. It’s so independent in fact,
that readers unfamiliar with the Alice in Wonderland story will still be able
to enjoy the Looking Glass Wars. Though the significance of many of the
references may be lost, there is enough context and explanation within the
Looking Glass Wars to the Alice in Wonderland story that readers won’t be lost
if they haven’t read the original.
The characters
themselves as compared to the original have been drastically changed. Alyss
Heart is a strong princess, and shows that she is easily adaptable to whatever
situation she is in. For example, when she is thrown into London she starts
living and acting like a Londoner. Her new life is so separate and distinct
from her past life that she almost completely forgets it. However, when she is
brought back to Wonderland falls into the position of leader for the Alyssians,
she also adapts to that position and wins her battle with Redd. Perhaps that is
my favorite theme in this book,that we can succeed and excel by being willing
to adapt to our circumstances.
About the Author:
In addition to
being an author with a penchant for retelling Alice in Wonderland, he is also a
champion freestyle skier, a film producer, stuntman, actor, and CEO of
Automatic Pictures Production Co.
Beddor grew up in
Excelsior in Minnesota. His parents often travelled and by age 12 Beddor already
knew how to barefoot-ski. Beddor's father set the world record skiing the
length of Mississippi river. Beddor began skiing professionally and in
competitions. After winning nationals Beddor was invited to join the Olympic
ski team. He went on tour in Europe for competitive skiing. Beddor was World
Champion freestyler skier in 1981 and 1982. When Beddor was 23 he retired from
skiing and became involved in the entertainment industry and later writing.
Justification of Selection:
This book is a
fun reimagining of the Alice in
Wonderland tale that can easily be discussed by teens with their parents or
other adults, and perhaps inspire them to reimagine the stories they enjoy in
new, unique ways.
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