Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor
Click on the cover to find a library copy.

SUMMARY: The Myth: Alice was an ordinary girl who stepped through the looking glass and entered a fairy-tale world invented by Lewis Carroll in his famous storybook. The Truth: Wonderland is real. Alyss Heart is the heir to the throne, until her murderous aunt Redd steals the crown and kills Alyss’ parents. To escape Redd, Alyss and her bodyguard, Hatter Madigan, must flee to our world through the Pool of Tears. But in the pool Alyss and Hatter are separated. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Yet he gets the story all wrong. Hatter Madigan knows the truth only too well, and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts. (from the back cover)

OPINION: As I librarian, I am ashamed to admit it, but I have never read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carrol. I am familiar with the characters and some plot elements, of course, mostly from the Disney movie. Now I have to go back and read the real books. Why? Because I thoroughly enjoyed Frank Beddor's reimagining of Wonderland and want to find out more about the original. The card solders were definitely my favorite part of Beddor's Wonderland, especially because he included drawings of how they worked. The engaging action/adventure plot kept me turning the pages, and the hint of romance kept me hopeful throughout the story. If you are the type of reader who likes to get lost in a fantasy world, this one's for you.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: Frank Beddor maintains a great site devoted to The Looking Glass Wars, including sections devoted to fan art, fan fiction, and even fan videos! There are screensavers and wallpapers to download, e-cards to send, flash-animated games to play, and forums where you can talk to other fans.

FUTHER READING: This is the first book in a trilogy, followed by Seeing Redd and ArchEnemy. There is also a graphic novel series following the adventures of Hatter Madigan as he searches for Alyss in our world. This series includes Hatter M: The Looking Glass Wars and Hatter M: Mad with Wonder so far. The third volume, Hatter M: The Nature of Wonder, is scheduled for release later this year.

FURTHER WATCHING: A new Alice in Wonderland movie comes to the big screen this March, and I have heard that it has some parallels to The Looking Glass Wars (even though a movie of this book has been optioned as well). IMDB's plot summary says, "19-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror." Hmmm. The rumors may be true! Plus, it is directed by Tim Burton and has Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, so it can't be all bad.