Review of Splintered by A. G. Howard

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My reviews won’t ever be in-depth literary critiques, but I’ll let you know my general thoughts on the books I read. Reading is a de-stressor for me so I don’t want to get too analytical about it...

Summary: Alyssa Gardner’s great-great-great grandmother is the Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, and Alice’s antics in Wonderland set a curse upon her family. Alyssa must go back to Wonderland to right Alice’s mistakes in order to break the curse and prove that her mother, Allison, is not insane. Alyssa goes through the rabbit hole with her real-life crush, Jeb, and the adventure begins. Their Wonderland guide is the mysterious Morpheus who has a long history with Alyssa. Twists and turns ensue, and many of the beloved characters make an appearance, including the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter’s tea party guests.

Assessment: Overall, I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a really inventive take on Wonderland, and was not just a straight retelling of Alice in Wonderland. I felt like the characters, especially Morpheus, could have used a little more development. The relationship between Alyssa and Morpheus definitely needed more development—it did not feel real to me. The ending got a little confusing because a lot was jammed into a few pages. There was also some parts that really made you think that what is weird to us may actually be preferable for others. For example, when the characters in Wonderland were chasing around a goose to eat it, Morpheus (I think) told a disgusted Alyssa that the goose actually wants to be eaten but that the goose enjoys a good chase first. I really enjoyed the new take on a classic, while still tying in the original story.

Rating and Recommendation: I would recommend this book if you like young adult adventure/fantasy type books. It’s not in the utopia/dystopia realm (thankfully, I’m a little dystopia-d out), but there is a love triangle. I would give this book a 4 out of 5.

What I’m Currently Reading: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. It’s supposed to be the next Gone Girl so I’ve been waiting to read it. The main character, Rachel, rides the train everyday and people-watches those who live near the tracks. One day, she sees something concerning and goes to the police. She becomes involved in the investigation and in the lives of all those involved. From what I’ve read so far, it is really catchy and all the characters tie in nicely together.

After I finish The Girl on the Train, I’ll dive into the second book of the Splintered series called Unhinged.