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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I enjoyed it a lot but the narrator change really bothered me and then I lost my interest.
I thoroughly enjoyed this revisit of a classic. There were parts that, arguably, were not my cup of cocoa, but this is a book that a lot of kids are going to find a lot to love about. I honestly can't wait to book talk this one!
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
This was a neat retelling of Alice in Wonderland, one of my favorite classics. I really liked how it addressed the topic Of misfits, something that I really related to when I first picked up Alice in Wonderland, and seeing it gave me serious nostalgia. The writing and characterization through a modern lens is really well handled and true to the original at the same time. You can tell the author really is a fan of the original. I also thought it was very clever how dyslexia was tied into the book, something that isn't seen very often in middle grade aside from the Percy Jackson series. I hope there are sequels, which the author leaves room for, because I would absolutely read them.
slow-paced
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
I couldn't wait to read Savage's newest middle-grade book because I LOVED The Mysteries of Cove series. He's an author that always has me rooting for his characters.
Would The Lost Wonderland Diaries live up to both Savage's reputation and the genius of the original? That might seem like a lot to ask of one man.
Here's the skinny - I think Savage is brilliant. Not only does he play with the original scenes we all know, he adds to Wonderland with a twist and new storyline. As soon as I saw the tricky numbers and hungry crocodile, I knew I'd entered Wonderland. Some of my highlights without giving big spoilers include a white rabbit (I want to pet you), a mad tea party (definitely an elbows on the table affair), Cheshire (he can come live with me anytime - I'm sure we'd get along because he knows what it takes to be a good friend), the ball (books with dancing are awesome whether you keep your head or not) , the twisty twist at the end (oh, you clever, clever author - I'll read more to see how you pull off the magic tricks again).
Outside of the fanciful plot, I loved the characters. Both Celia and Tyrus with their different interests and strengths are the perfect avatars to take us on this unique journey to save Wonderland. Don't we all live a line between logic and imagination? These two ideas come into play throughout the story as the characters work through who they are and what Wonderland needs.
I've experienced some characteristics of dyslexia: mixing up words, sentence structure, and a couple of letters. Because of this mild experience, I really enjoyed Celia who is dyslexic and great at math (True confession: I am not great at math). I worked in an elementary school art program at the class level which included children who experience neurodiversity. They have so many strengths not seen in traditional learning environments and often excelled in art. This book is a celebration of our differences. I believe Celia is a character all children can cheer for and love.
Tyrus is equally delightful because of his love of books, acceptance of others, and enthusiasm. The two kids complement one another. He is excited to be in Wonderland and anxious to save it no matter the cost. Celia is hesitant and focused on logic, ready to get home. Books are built on great characters even more than clever ideas. As Celia and Tyrus work their way through Wonderland's problems, they build a friendship of give and take. They value and respect one another. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all learned these same lessons?
Savage handles the heart of the story with a deft hand. He lets the readers draw their own conclusions. I believe children will adore the adventure, and tuck the lessons away in their heart, not even knowing they learned while having fun.
I highly recommend this book, but only if you want a fun adventure.
How will you save Wonderland?
I couldn't wait to read Savage's newest middle-grade book because I LOVED The Mysteries of Cove series. He's an author that always has me rooting for his characters.
Would The Lost Wonderland Diaries live up to both Savage's reputation and the genius of the original? That might seem like a lot to ask of one man.
Here's the skinny - I think Savage is brilliant. Not only does he play with the original scenes we all know, he adds to Wonderland with a twist and new storyline. As soon as I saw the tricky numbers and hungry crocodile, I knew I'd entered Wonderland. Some of my highlights without giving big spoilers include a white rabbit (I want to pet you), a mad tea party (definitely an elbows on the table affair), Cheshire (he can come live with me anytime - I'm sure we'd get along because he knows what it takes to be a good friend), the ball (books with dancing are awesome whether you keep your head or not) , the twisty twist at the end (oh, you clever, clever author - I'll read more to see how you pull off the magic tricks again).
Outside of the fanciful plot, I loved the characters. Both Celia and Tyrus with their different interests and strengths are the perfect avatars to take us on this unique journey to save Wonderland. Don't we all live a line between logic and imagination? These two ideas come into play throughout the story as the characters work through who they are and what Wonderland needs.
I've experienced some characteristics of dyslexia: mixing up words, sentence structure, and a couple of letters. Because of this mild experience, I really enjoyed Celia who is dyslexic and great at math (True confession: I am not great at math). I worked in an elementary school art program at the class level which included children who experience neurodiversity. They have so many strengths not seen in traditional learning environments and often excelled in art. This book is a celebration of our differences. I believe Celia is a character all children can cheer for and love.
Tyrus is equally delightful because of his love of books, acceptance of others, and enthusiasm. The two kids complement one another. He is excited to be in Wonderland and anxious to save it no matter the cost. Celia is hesitant and focused on logic, ready to get home. Books are built on great characters even more than clever ideas. As Celia and Tyrus work their way through Wonderland's problems, they build a friendship of give and take. They value and respect one another. Can you imagine what the world would be like if we all learned these same lessons?
Savage handles the heart of the story with a deft hand. He lets the readers draw their own conclusions. I believe children will adore the adventure, and tuck the lessons away in their heart, not even knowing they learned while having fun.
I highly recommend this book, but only if you want a fun adventure.
How will you save Wonderland?
I'm not a big fan of Lewis Carroll or fantastical stories in general, so I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed THE LOST WONDERLAND DIARIES. It has a fun premise, which leads to an entertaining plot that is exciting, comical, and clever. Celia and Tyrus are sympathetic, likable heroes who are caring and concerned enough about their fellow beings to take on the fight to save Wonderland, which feels impossible. They find success as they learn to combine their strengths, solving puzzles that allow them to help needy creatures, escape from danger, and triumph over evil. The story teaches some great lessons about friendship, cooperation, embracing—even celebrating—the things that make each of us different, helping others, etc. Overall, I found THE LOST WONDERLAND DIARIES to be a quick, entertaining read that I very much enjoyed. I'm reading the next book right now.
The Lost Wonderland Diaries by J. Scott Savage
Background:
This is the second time I have released a review for this novel, and I would like to take some time to explain why that is. I didn’t finish this novel originally. I wrote a review based on the first forty pages or so and was disappointed from the perspective of an educator. I received a comment on my review soon after posting - it was from the author. He tactfully asked me to email him regarding my concerns.
I won’t go into my concerns with the novel at this time - they don’t matter anymore. What matters is the author’s response. J. Scott Savage genuinely wanted to write a novel with his middle grade readers in mind. He wanted it to be accurate and meaningful. He had a very specific audience in mind while he was writing, and he was absolutely determined to do right by them.
The two of us continued to email each other. He took my concerns and immediately set out to make changes which made my concerns disappear completely. After receiving an email about an updated version of the novel through NetGalley, I downloaded the novel again. Here is my modified review of J. Scott Savage’s The Lost Wonderland diaries.
Summary
Celia has always struggled to fit in, mostly because of her dyslexia. She often distances herself from her peers because of her struggles with reading. Unfortunately, her mother has recently accepted a new job as a head librarian, and Celia has no choice but to entertain herself in said library. She soon finds herself acquainted Tyrus, who finds himself an outcast because he would rather read than spend time with his peers.
At first, Celia wouldn’t consider herself friends with Tyrus. She just can’t get him to leave her alone. Together the two discover something called The Lost Wonderland Diaries written by Charles Dodgson or Lewis Carroll and are swept off to Wonderland to meet The Duchess, The Mad Hatter, and many others. Celia and Tyrus soon find out that they may be the only ones able to save Wonderland.
Thoughts:
It’s very important for me to state that I am a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. I love the original story, and I love how creative authors and film-makers have gotten with the original concept. That was the reason I originally requested an advanced copy of this novel. One of the most important concepts of the novel is identity. Alice is constantly questioning her identity in Carroll’s novels. She is confused because of her constantly changing size and her inability to remember things. At one point, she even convinces herself that she is someone else entirely. Savage couldn’t have utilized this concept in a better way. It isn’t just Celia who is having an identity crisis in this novel, everyone is.
Target Audience:
This is definitely a middle grade novel that will attract YA readers and adult readers as well. Students who are excelling at reading will love the adventure of this novel too.
Conclusion:
Yes, my rating of this novel is absolutely biased. It is not just about the book itself, but about my interactions with the author. J. Scott Savage is a genuinely great human being. We have had some great conversations about public education and public libraries.
My rating is also based on the novel though. This is a quick read because the action never stops. Celia and Tyrus don’t have time to slow down and neither do the readers. Creativity oozes out of this novel.
I can’t wait for this novel to officially be released so I can recommend it to others.
Rating: 5 Stars
A special thanks to NetGalley for jumpstarting this crazy journey I have found myself on. And of course, special thanks to J. Scott Savage, who writes with the intent of making the world a better place for readers of all ages.
Background:
This is the second time I have released a review for this novel, and I would like to take some time to explain why that is. I didn’t finish this novel originally. I wrote a review based on the first forty pages or so and was disappointed from the perspective of an educator. I received a comment on my review soon after posting - it was from the author. He tactfully asked me to email him regarding my concerns.
I won’t go into my concerns with the novel at this time - they don’t matter anymore. What matters is the author’s response. J. Scott Savage genuinely wanted to write a novel with his middle grade readers in mind. He wanted it to be accurate and meaningful. He had a very specific audience in mind while he was writing, and he was absolutely determined to do right by them.
The two of us continued to email each other. He took my concerns and immediately set out to make changes which made my concerns disappear completely. After receiving an email about an updated version of the novel through NetGalley, I downloaded the novel again. Here is my modified review of J. Scott Savage’s The Lost Wonderland diaries.
Summary
Celia has always struggled to fit in, mostly because of her dyslexia. She often distances herself from her peers because of her struggles with reading. Unfortunately, her mother has recently accepted a new job as a head librarian, and Celia has no choice but to entertain herself in said library. She soon finds herself acquainted Tyrus, who finds himself an outcast because he would rather read than spend time with his peers.
At first, Celia wouldn’t consider herself friends with Tyrus. She just can’t get him to leave her alone. Together the two discover something called The Lost Wonderland Diaries written by Charles Dodgson or Lewis Carroll and are swept off to Wonderland to meet The Duchess, The Mad Hatter, and many others. Celia and Tyrus soon find out that they may be the only ones able to save Wonderland.
Thoughts:
It’s very important for me to state that I am a huge Alice in Wonderland fan. I love the original story, and I love how creative authors and film-makers have gotten with the original concept. That was the reason I originally requested an advanced copy of this novel. One of the most important concepts of the novel is identity. Alice is constantly questioning her identity in Carroll’s novels. She is confused because of her constantly changing size and her inability to remember things. At one point, she even convinces herself that she is someone else entirely. Savage couldn’t have utilized this concept in a better way. It isn’t just Celia who is having an identity crisis in this novel, everyone is.
Target Audience:
This is definitely a middle grade novel that will attract YA readers and adult readers as well. Students who are excelling at reading will love the adventure of this novel too.
Conclusion:
Yes, my rating of this novel is absolutely biased. It is not just about the book itself, but about my interactions with the author. J. Scott Savage is a genuinely great human being. We have had some great conversations about public education and public libraries.
My rating is also based on the novel though. This is a quick read because the action never stops. Celia and Tyrus don’t have time to slow down and neither do the readers. Creativity oozes out of this novel.
I can’t wait for this novel to officially be released so I can recommend it to others.
Rating: 5 Stars
A special thanks to NetGalley for jumpstarting this crazy journey I have found myself on. And of course, special thanks to J. Scott Savage, who writes with the intent of making the world a better place for readers of all ages.
I enjoyed this book from page one all the way to the end of the book! If you love Alice in Wonderland, then this is the book for you! Celia and Tyrus are outcasts that meet in a library, which forces them to go on an adventure similar to the movie Page Master. But in Wonderland. I was engaged through the entire book as wonderland's character came into contact with Celia, the math buff, and Tyrus, the bookworm.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated