You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
unchainedreader 's review for:
The Lost Wonderland Diaries
by J. Scott Savage
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.