Continuing the Halloween theme (Halloween is by far my favorite season, and I didn't have time to read as many Halloweenesque books this year as usual, but I did try to squeeze some in that would fit the bill for this assignment), I went with a retelling this time. Well, at least I thought it was a retelling. This one had me scratching my head a little bit. I think this (already established, although not in YA) author was trying to milk the YA trends with this one. Zombies were still a really popular trend in YA when this novel came out in 2012. Retellings are still popular, and Alice in Wonderland always seems to find an audience. Unfortunately, this book ended up bearing only the slightest semblance to any of these elements. The main character has nothing in common with Alice in Wonderland apart from the name Alice. There is a connection to dreams, but this is much more literal than in Alice in Wonderland. The "wonderland" that the main character Alice Bell explores possesses no wonderful, only horrible qualities, and it is not a separate land but more like a plane or dimension that most people can't see. It's the same world, but with the inclusion of "zombies." I put the word zombies in quotes because these zombies are more like ghosts. They are transparent and most people can't see them at all. However, they do bite like zombies...yeah, I don't think it really adds up either...
As I mentioned the author is established, but not in young adult fiction. Ms. Showalter is an established author of both contemporary and paranormal romance, and it shows. However, I’m not sure that’s a good thing. Teen angst is taken to a whole new level in this novel. Alice and the male protagonist, Cole, are constantly lusting after each other in a way that pushes that reads more like fully grown-up paranormal romance rather than a more tame and starry-eyed young adult puppy love. The romance dominated this book in an unpleasant way. I mean, how many people open a book claiming to be Alice in Wonderland meets zombies looking for a steamy romance? Neither one of those things sets itself up for romance, and with good reason. I feel like this book had potential, but it tried to be too many things. Although the romance was too adult, the actual writing style and characters were very juvenile like they were written for 14 and 15-year-olds. I think that the author should stick to romance; I have a feeling she’s a better writer in that genre. Obviously some people (maybe mostly fifteen-year-olds) disagree with me, because this book is the first in a four book series. However, this just wasn’t for me. I would attempt to describe the plot more, but it’s honestly a jumbled mess. To sum it up: apparently crazy dad + family tragedy + trying to hard to be ‘hip’ grandparents + wisecracking best friend + alpha male love interest + pseudo zombies + stereotypical female lead + awkward, juvenile writing style = this book in a nutshell. I gave this book three stars, and I think that was quite generous.
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