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wordsofclover 's review for:
Wonderland
by Juno Dawson
I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CW: Attempted date rape, mental health decline (bipolar episodes/hallucinations/ intrusive thoughts), suicidal ideation, talk about previous suicide attempt and witnessed suicide. A lot of drug use and casual sex.
When Alice ends up finding a mysterious invitation to an elite party called Wonderland in her search to find the missing Bunny, she knows she must go and ends up in a world of trouble and highly privileged teenagers. Avoiding ending up on social media site Caterpillr, getting high with the Tweedle twins and being followed around by a mysterious girl she calls Cat is a lot of work - and Alice has her own issues to be dealing with, and keep hidden as well.
Juno Dawson honestly can't do any wrong. Once again, she brings forward a character who is so likeable yet tough, and has so much depth to her. I really enjoyed following Alice through her time in Wonderland (the part takes place over a long weekend so the pacing of the novel is fast which I also liked) and her thought process around different things. All of Alice's fears and then the joys she takes by plunging over the edge were all so sharp and kept me gripped to the end.
There was also some fun mentions and cameos of other characters from other Juno Dawson's books in this one. Lexi from Clean is mentioned a few times, as Alice's school crowd ran with her or knew of her, and Felicity from Margot & Me is actually Alice's therapist which was a small scene but it was SO lovely seeing Felicity again!
Alice is a transwoman, and is pansexual in this book, and I really loved seeing this representation and how Alice talked about her gender identity, and the ups and downs she's had to go through and then also her slow realisation on her sexuality and realising she is also pan. She has sexual relationships with both men and women in this book, and we love to see it! There were some real discussions about the daily upkeeps and things trans girls have to think about when they have transitioned but haven't had an operation such as tucking and I haven't seen that I a book before.
I also loved how accepting everyone was and really do think and hope that the way most people react when Alice confirms she's trans, is how people will continue to react in the future and it won't actually be a real deal. And Alice's realisation that she can meet people who are attracted to her and the genitalia she has, or doesn't have, doesn't actually make a difference to the desire and the sexual relationship she can have with people.
There was one small chapter in this book which was a bathroom scene, and a list of questions Alice was asked about her trans identity and it was so much but also so enlightening. It was exhausting to read and I really wish people, certain people who shall remain nameless, could read such a chapter and realise the type of questions the trans community deal with on a daily basis when all they want to do is urinate in peace.
The Alice in Wonderland references and connections in this book are very in your face but I really liked it, and it was just a fun thing throughout the book. And even though the connections were really obvious, I still felt clever when I connected them up with the classic tale.
I really felt like Alice had a lot of growth in herself and her confidence in her own identity and continuing to travel the world as a proud, beautiful woman and not being afraid to step up and be seen.
Juno Dawson's books are YA but are aimed at mature teenagers rather than 13/14 year olds and I love that. I really feel like Juno understands the teenagers who are reading her books and created characters that while are going through so much, can be really relatable and are good people. She knows that teenagers will understand and be able to handle the darker parts of her stories and doesn't condescend or try and cocoon them in fluff and bubble wrap like precious beings that could break at the slightest mention of a penis or popping pills.
Juno Dawson remains one of my favourite writers and I CANNOT recommend her books enough.
CW: Attempted date rape, mental health decline (bipolar episodes/hallucinations/ intrusive thoughts), suicidal ideation, talk about previous suicide attempt and witnessed suicide. A lot of drug use and casual sex.
When Alice ends up finding a mysterious invitation to an elite party called Wonderland in her search to find the missing Bunny, she knows she must go and ends up in a world of trouble and highly privileged teenagers. Avoiding ending up on social media site Caterpillr, getting high with the Tweedle twins and being followed around by a mysterious girl she calls Cat is a lot of work - and Alice has her own issues to be dealing with, and keep hidden as well.
Juno Dawson honestly can't do any wrong. Once again, she brings forward a character who is so likeable yet tough, and has so much depth to her. I really enjoyed following Alice through her time in Wonderland (the part takes place over a long weekend so the pacing of the novel is fast which I also liked) and her thought process around different things. All of Alice's fears and then the joys she takes by plunging over the edge were all so sharp and kept me gripped to the end.
There was also some fun mentions and cameos of other characters from other Juno Dawson's books in this one. Lexi from Clean is mentioned a few times, as Alice's school crowd ran with her or knew of her, and Felicity from Margot & Me is actually Alice's therapist which was a small scene but it was SO lovely seeing Felicity again!
Alice is a transwoman, and is pansexual in this book, and I really loved seeing this representation and how Alice talked about her gender identity, and the ups and downs she's had to go through and then also her slow realisation on her sexuality and realising she is also pan. She has sexual relationships with both men and women in this book, and we love to see it! There were some real discussions about the daily upkeeps and things trans girls have to think about when they have transitioned but haven't had an operation such as tucking and I haven't seen that I a book before.
I also loved how accepting everyone was and really do think and hope that the way most people react when Alice confirms she's trans, is how people will continue to react in the future and it won't actually be a real deal. And Alice's realisation that she can meet people who are attracted to her and the genitalia she has, or doesn't have, doesn't actually make a difference to the desire and the sexual relationship she can have with people.
There was one small chapter in this book which was a bathroom scene, and a list of questions Alice was asked about her trans identity and it was so much but also so enlightening. It was exhausting to read and I really wish people, certain people who shall remain nameless, could read such a chapter and realise the type of questions the trans community deal with on a daily basis when all they want to do is urinate in peace.
The Alice in Wonderland references and connections in this book are very in your face but I really liked it, and it was just a fun thing throughout the book. And even though the connections were really obvious, I still felt clever when I connected them up with the classic tale.
I really felt like Alice had a lot of growth in herself and her confidence in her own identity and continuing to travel the world as a proud, beautiful woman and not being afraid to step up and be seen.
Juno Dawson's books are YA but are aimed at mature teenagers rather than 13/14 year olds and I love that. I really feel like Juno understands the teenagers who are reading her books and created characters that while are going through so much, can be really relatable and are good people. She knows that teenagers will understand and be able to handle the darker parts of her stories and doesn't condescend or try and cocoon them in fluff and bubble wrap like precious beings that could break at the slightest mention of a penis or popping pills.
Juno Dawson remains one of my favourite writers and I CANNOT recommend her books enough.