ALEX IN WONDER LAND REVIEW
𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐈𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
𝐁𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫: 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜
𝐏𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: 𝟒𝟎𝟎
𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 𝟐𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐁𝐨𝐲 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬/ 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐/ 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐+
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
Alex, 16, has just completed Year 11. He is in that long summer break between finishing his GCSEs and starting A Levels, marked by significant change. This book is fundamentally about change. Alex lives in Newsands, a seaside town that feels as if it is awakening after years of poverty and neglect. The city has benefited from fresh investment, attracting Londoners buying cheap properties. Suddenly, the town boasts sourdough pizza places, art galleries, and street food stalls. As the city transforms, so does Alex.
Alex begins the summer feeling lost and alone. His two best friends have started dating and are going on holiday without him, leaving him feeling abandoned. Alex's sense of isolation is further exacerbated by Kendra, his dad's new partner, whose passive-aggressive attitude toward Alex becomes almost intolerable. Rather than moping around and clashing with Kendra, Alex decides to get a summer job.
He finds work at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade on the seafront, run by the feisty Maggie. There, Alex meets two new friends, Efia and Ben. Alex spends much of the book pining for Ben, who he believes is straight and has a girlfriend. The trio forms an unbreakable bond, and their friendship is sweet, charming, and occasionally very funny. The camaraderie is partly fueled by a mystery subplot. Wonder Land is having severe financial difficulties. Alex, with his new friends, sets out to attract new customers and devise a plan to save the arcade. Additionally, they start receiving threatening notes, leading them to believe that some people would be happy to see Wonderland shut down. The story intrigues, as plenty of suspects might want to destroy Maggie and Wonderland.
The writing was easy to follow. Sweet and humorous, you can't help but enjoy the antics of the diverse cast of characters and the unique bond of friendship they form in their very own Wonderland. At times, I was sceptical about who Alex would end up with, but I was happy with how it all worked out in the end. The supporting cast is wonderfully drawn, with each character well-developed. Maggie is a strong woman and quickly develops a soft spot for Alex, leading to tender moments between her and the Wonderland staff.
In addition to being adorable and guaranteed to make you smile, this book is also the perfect Pride Month read! There is a charming mix of romance and humour, but Alex is very relatable. There is a story beneath the surface about finding your people and embracing your quirks. Trying too hard to fit in won't work. No matter who you are or what wild situations you find yourself in, people will always appreciate you for who you are. If you need a fun read for the summer, this is the one for you!
My Rating:
4/5
NOTE: In this blog, the CONTENT and PICTURES are owned by Samayra Singh, and cannot be used or distributed without permission. Strict legal action will be taken against any infringement.
