The Looking Glass Wars

by: Frank Beddor

Published by: Dial Books for Young Readers

Reviewed by Alex McGilvery

The Looking Glass War by Frank Beddor is the first in a trilogy that sets the world of Alice in Wonderland on its head. In this book Alyss is the heir to the throne of Wonderland, a kingdom where imagination rules. Her Aunt Redd, a master of black imagination, takes over Wonderland, killing Alyss’s parents and sending Alyss fleeing through the Pool of Tears.

Redd, who delights in cruelty and destruction, rules Wonderland while Alyss is in exile in our world learning to fit in. She tells her story to Charles Dodgson, but he gets it all wrong. She is just about to give up when she is returned to Wonderland to battle with Redd.

This book starts on the slow side as we are introduced to the alternate vision of Wonderland. The way that Beddor uses the characters from the Alice in Wonderland in his novel adds a surreal aspect to the story in places. Once the characters have been introduced, the story picks up its pace until it is a wild ride to a great showdown at the conclusion.

The characters themselves are well done and believable. They struggle with what has happened to them and their world. All of them learn and shift in their understanding of themselves and their place in the world.

The second book, Seeing Redd is out, and I will be looking forward to the release of the final book in the series.

Armchair Interviews says: This is terrific beginning to this fantasy trilogy.

Author’s Web site: http://www.LookingGlassWars.com