Wonderland: A Novel (Hardcover)
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Staff Reviews
Told in three voices: two young girls and a dog, the reader begins not knowing what Wonderland means. This reader was imagining it to be a mythical kingdom where the two girls from such diverse backgrounds could be together. Mavis is a plucky girl who has moved many times with her mother who has problems keeping a job. Rose has stability but a mother who is demanding and fussy. Mavis decides they might stop moving if she finds a best friend quickly so she immediately asks Rose to be her best friend. It’s a difficult friendship as neither one has much experience being a friend. Henry, the dog found in the woods, and Mr. Duffy, the gatekeeper, provide the missing pieces that bring the girls together and to Wonderland which is a complete surprise.
Wonderland is a book read quickly but with trepidation fearing the ending won’t be happy. Will the girls find friendship and what will happen to a dog found in the woods?
— Shirley MullinDescription
Don't miss Barbara O'Connor's other middle-grade work—like Wish; How to Steal a Dog; Greetings from Nowhere; Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia; The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester; and more!
From Barbara O'Connor, the New York Times-bestselling author of Wish, comes a big-hearted story about the meaning of friendship, the challenges of growing up, and one lovable runaway dog.
Mavis Jeeter is fearless and bold, but she has never lived in one place long enough to have a real best friend. Her flighty mother has uprooted them again to another new home and taken a job as a housekeeper for the Tully family. Mavis wants this home to be permanent—which means finding herself a best friend.
Rose Tully is a worrier who feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with the other girls in her neighborhood. Her closest friend is Mr. Duffy, but he hasn’t been himself since his dog died. Rose may have to break a few of her mother’s many rules to help Mr. Duffy—and find someone who really understands her.
Henry has run away from home, but he craves kindness and comfort—and doesn’t know where to look for them.
When Mavis and Rose hatch a scheme to find Mr. Duffy a new dog, their lives and Henry’s intersect—and they all come to find friendship in places they never expected.
About the Author
Barbara O’Connor was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She has written many award-winning books for children, including the New York Times–bestselling Wish, Wonderland, How to Steal a Dog, Greetings from Nowhere, and Fame and Glory in Freedom, Georgia.
Praise For…
“Featuring sympathetic characters and a gratifying resolution, this novel by O’Connor celebrates friendship human and canine alike.” —Publishers Weekly
“A richly satisfying exploration of the logic and determination with which children work to make things right.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Mavis, Rose, and Henry all find that true, lasting friendship develops with time, trust, and a number of setbacks to overcome along the way. . .The honest but awkward new friendship between Rose and Mavis is heartwarming, but Henry’s story is the one that will break sensitive readers’ hearts and keep them turning the pages to get to the happy ending.” —School Library Journal
“What distinguishes this novel is its depth of characterization, how O’Connor shows readers who the characters are rather than telling them. . .This heartwarming novel also demonstrates that while dogs may be revered as man’s best friend, there’s no substitute for the human kind.” —The Horn Book