Alice with a Why by Anna James with illustration by Matthew Land

Alice With a Why by Anna JamesLewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourite books, originally read to me by my mother and later studied as part of my degree, not to mention reading it to my own daughter. So it was with trepidation that I picked up Alice with a Why. I should have known there was no need to worry as I have loved Anna James' Pages and Co series.

It's England, 1919. Alyce – with a Y – lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War and her mother has taken baby brother to the other grandmother who's ill. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party materialises, Alyce realises her grandmother’s strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

Falling into the pond, Alyce sinks but finds she can breathe as she discovers a rather different Wonderland from the one of her grandmother’s stories. Wonderland is trapped in its own war. The Sun King and the Queen of the Moon are fighting over a stolen hour, and soon Alyce is tasked with setting it right. In this adventure you'll meet some old favourite characters like the Mad Hatter, March Hare and Dormouse not forgetting the Cheshire Cat.  A charming Sailor Fox, helps Alyce navigate this curious world as she tries to solve Wonderland’s problems before she can find her way back home.

Alice with a Why by Anna James with illustration by Matthew Land is published by HarperCollins Children's Books and is available from bookshops and Amazon. 

Amelia, if onlyAmelia, if Only by Becky Albertalli

It felt like a rejection when Walter Holland, moderately famous, chaotically bisexual YouTuber, didn't acknowledge Amelia Applebaum's to invite to to the prom. After all she isn't in love with him, is she? Her friends say she's slightly parasocially infatuated. But Amelia just knows sparks would fly―if only she could meet Walter for real.

But what if Amelia’s butterflies aren’t for Walter at all?

Written in the first person, Amelia's wit and humour are enchanting with wit in this heartwarming romance/

Amelia, if Only by Becky Albertalli is published by Harper Fire and is available from bookshops and Amazon.

 

Rewind to Us by Molly MorrisRewind to us by Molly Morris

Dixie only has one plan for her annual summer trip to the little Californian town of Cielo Springs – to finally tell her best friend Sawyer that she’s in love with him. But she soon realises Sawyer has moved on... 

Luckily Dixie’s family have each been gifted with a Rewind – a single opportunity to redo one moment from the last 365 days. All Dixie has to do is use hers to replay the one fatal conversation that doomed her and Sawyer’s relationship, and give them a happily ever after this time.

But when secrets start pouring out, Dixie realises there might be some things even a Rewind can’t save. Can she turn back the clock and give them one more chance, or is the damage already done?

Rewind to us by Molly Morris is published by Harper Fire and is available from bookshops and Amazon.

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