Something monstrous has been found in the magic world of Wonderland and it wants to get out. Lewis Carroll created a curious and fantastical world in his classic book Alice in Wonderland, but he secretly recorded the true story of his actual travels to Wonderland in four journals which have been lost to the world…until now. Celia and Tyrus discover the legendary Lost Diaries of Wonderland … legendary Lost Diaries of Wonderland and fall into a portal that pulls them into the same fantasy world as the White Rabbit and the Mad Hatter. However, Wonderland has vastly changed. A darkness has settled over the land, and some creatures and characters that Tyrus remembers from the book have been transformed into angry monsters.
Celia and Tyrus make their way through this unpredictable and dangerous land, helped by familiar friends including the Cheshire Cat and a new character, Sylvan, a young rabbit. Together, they desperately work to solve puzzles and riddles, looking for a way out of Wonderland. But the danger increases when the Queen of Hearts begins hunting them. Believing the two young visitors hold the key to opening multiple portals to multiple worlds, she will stop at nothing to capture them.
It’s up to Celia and Tyrus to save Wonderland and the real world. It’s a race against time before they are trapped in Wonderland forever.
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This is the best book.
My 11 year old daughter read this and loved it. Here is her review:
This book was funny and exciting! I had so much fun reading it. If you read and enjoyed The Land of Stories series then you will love this book too. I would recommend this book for sure!
Celia and Tyrus are both different from other kids their age. When they discover four mysterious diaries belonging to Charles Dodgson, aka Lewis Carroll, they learn that Wonderland is a real place. But the Wonderland they’ve been transported to is different than the one they have read about. Things are not well in Wonderland, and this pair must work together, each using their special gifts, to turn things around before it’s too late.
This is a fantastic fantasy for middle-graders or anyone who loves children’s fantasy. It has all the fun characters and lovely nonsense of Wonderland. I loved all the word and logic riddles. It takes full advantage of all the potential in Lewis Carroll’s writing in such an enjoyable, creative way. And apparently scholars really are missing four of his diaries!
Celia and Tyrus are relatable characters. Watching them grow through this journey was such a pleasure. There are some scary moments of peril, and it gets dark in some places. I felt that those made the message that much more poignant, however. And it’s such an important message. This book is going on the recommend list for all my kids and their friends.
4.5 stars
J. Scott Savage charms and delights with a trip back to a changed Wonderland. Two unlikely friends face an unfamiliar world with familiar characters and encounter almost impossible odds.
Savage’s trip through Wonderland had me laughing with his inventive characters and witty dialogue. His vivid descriptions drew a portrait of the world in my mind while the rapid-fire action kept me reading nonstop. I loved the Vagaries, Antipathies, and Apathies especially.
One of Savage’s strengths is his understanding of the middle-grade mind and his message of hope, acceptance, worth, and understanding. As a parent, I can’t wait to hand this book to my daughter, who is begging for her turn to read it. I know she’ll not only enjoy a thrilling and imaginative tale, but she’ll learn good life lessons as well.
And, for fans of Jane Austen, there is one Easter egg quote you’ve got to find.
I received a copy of this book from the author as a giveaway on Facebook.
Such a fun adventure! Celia and Tyrus are not like other kids and both have trouble fitting in. Imagine their surprise when they find a portal to a place where nothing seems to make sense or fit in! Wonderland, however, is in danger and only through working together can the two new friends save it.
I loved how the author stayed true to Lewis Carroll’s way of writing – the logic, the puns, the unexpected, the imagination – it only added to the wonderfulness that is Wonderland. I really enjoyed the main characters and the lessons they learned about themselves and about the power of friendship.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as an adult but plan on having my three kids ages 10-14 read it – it is a fantasy adventure I know they will enjoy!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher but it in no way affected my opinion.
First off, you have to read this new book. The Lost Wonderland Diaries by J. Scott Savage is such a fun book. I read Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland many years ago. Reading this new book brought back so many memories of that first read, but honestly, I loved The Lost Wonderland Diaries even better! You must also know that this is not a retelling but an adventure back in Wonderland many years later. The main characters Celia and Tyson are so relatable to kids nowadays. They are normal but also have unique situations as Celia is dyslexic and often feels alone in her struggles and Tyson is an avid reader who is often bullied because of his love of books. I love how their “oddness” turns out to be their greatest assets during the novel as they use their strengths to problem solve.
Another thing I loved so much in the novel were all of the rhymes, riddles, and math problems. As I was reading, I kept thinking about how much kids are going to love reading this book. I was absolutely intrigued and delighted with trying to figure out the puzzles. The author is so brilliant with everything he has written in this book and showcases what a wonderful writer he truly is.
This charming book will take children and adults on a great new epic episode in the land where we first met the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat. The beautiful thing is, anyone can pick up this book and have a great read without never having read or heard of Alice in Wonderland before. The Lost Wonderland Diaries brings a fresh new experience that will enchant Middle-Grade readers and teach some great lessons about tolerance, friendship, and believing in yourself.
Wow, this was a fun book to read. I read it with my fourth grader, who loved it and hopes there will be a second book. Celia and Tyrus seemed like complete opposites, but I love how they came together. It was fun to be in Wonderland even if it wasn’t the same Wonderland that Alice visited. I loved that in this one we finally got the answer to how a raven is like a writing desk. I loved that part of the story. This was a fun adventure with lots of surprises along the way.
It isn’t often that I pick up a middle grade book that I can’t put down. This book by J Scott Savage was one of those for me. I loved everything about it!
Celia is dyslexic. She’s been forced by her mom to move across the country. And her mom has a list of things she’s supposed to do every day. At the top of that list is reading. Celia’s brain doesn’t work so well for that, but she can do tough math, in her head. Stuck in the library where her mom works, one day she meets Tyrus.
Tyrus is a book worm. I had to laugh at these two. They seemed as opposite as night and day, but they complimented each other perfectly. They were both nerds and outcasts. But they shared this amazing adventure. And they were able to see past their limitations to who they really were.
I loved the adventure of this one. There’s plenty of danger and magic. The plot really kept me enthralled. Like I said earlier, I did not want to put this one down. There is plenty of adventure, danger and magic. But there’s also self discovery. That’s a really important plot point for books for middle grade kids. And this author did it fabulously.
I’m really hoping, based on the ending of this book for more books in this series. It’s a fabulous book!
I was sent a copy of The Lost Wonderland Diaries as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would (and I really shouldn’t have been surprised, because I loved the Mysteries of Cove series, I just wasn’t in the mood for a middle grade book when I picked this one up.) At any rate, it didn’t take me long to become invested in the story at all. The author does a wonderful job of bringing his characters to life, and I really felt invested in how the story turned out. I will say that Celia bugged me for probably 3/4 of the book though. That girl needed a major attitude adjustment! Thankfully, that didn’t last throughout the entire story, because I was about ready to start cheering for one of the crazed creatures instead of her. I’ve never read Through the Looking Glass, so I might have to do that before reading the next installment in this series (I’m assuming that is what the next book will be based off of) so I can be somewhat familiar with the characters involved.