Alice With a Why

Return to Wonderland in this extraordinary reimagining of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by one of our most brilliant storytellers

'Spectacular!' Kiran Millwood Hargrave

'An absolute masterclass' Hannah Gold

'Enchanting' Tamzin Merchant

'Wonderful' Cressida Cowell

England, 1919. Alyce - with a Y - lives with her grandmother, the original Alice, having lost her father during the Great War. When a mysterious invitation to a tea party hits her square in the face, Alyce realises her grandmother's strange stories of a place called Wonderland might have some truth to them after all.

But the land Alyce finds herself in feels different from the Wonderland of her grandmother's stories - for it 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. With the help of the Hatter, the Cheshire Cat and a Sailor Fox, Alyce will have to solve Wonderland's problems and, eventually, find her way back home.

Enter an enchanting adventure through Wonderland, featuring stunning illustrations by Matthew Land. Starring new characters and old favourites, Alice With a Why is both a celebration of Lewis Carroll's beloved original story, and a modern masterpiece.

*Includes bonus chapters from Anna's epic fantasy, Chronicles of Whetherwhy and the original Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*

Under the skilled pen of Anna James, the world of Wonderland is reimagined for a new age. This is a book for the best and most reluctant readers alike, a testament to the enduring power of fairy tales.

For fans of Katherine Rundell (The Explorer), Robin Stevens (Death Sets Sail), Tamzin Merchant (The Hatmakers), Shannon Messenger (Unravelled.5), and James Ponti (City of the Dead).

HarperCollins Children's 2025