First told to Alice Liddell on a sunny July afternoon, rowing down the river Thames, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has grown from that story into a seminal work of literature that has influenced books, movies, fashion, and more. The themes of traveling through an unlikely portal into a topsy-turvy world are found throughout folklore and mythology, but Lewis Carroll's off-beat adventure with growing potions, living playing cards, and flamingo croquet has left its stamp on the world of fantasy.
You can of course, enjoy the book across all mediums--book, eBook, audiobook--as well as the many filmed adaptations of the story. But read on below for some recommendations of stories shaped by Alice's adventures--either twists on the tale, or new worlds altogether, informed by the story's themes of discovery, transformation, and personal growth. We hope you enjoy your tumble down the rabbit hole!
The Matrix Series, dir. the Wachowskis
In this seminal sci-fi/action series, Keanu Reeves plays the "Alice" as he is accidentally awoken to the truth that all of humanity is enslaved by machines, with their consciousnesses ported directly into a digital reality, created and controlled by those same machines. Moving from the "real" world to the real world and back again, Reeves learns kung fu (unusual for the Alice archetype) and fights for the rights of humanity. References to Alice and the White Rabbit abound in this series that's due for another cultural renaissance.
Wonderland: An Anthology of Works Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, ed. Marie O'Regan
"Within these pages you'll find myriad approaches to Alice, from horror to historical, taking us from nightmarish reaches of the imagination to tales that will shock, surprise, and tug on the heart-strings. So it's time now to go down the rabbit hole, or through the looking-glass or ... But no, wait. By picking up this book and starting to read it you're already there, can't you see?"--provided by publisher
Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes
"As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah's days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts -- and the love of her life. When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she's ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It's up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe." --provided by publisher
Follow it up with the sequels, Blood of Wonderland and War of the Cards!
Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire
In the Home for Wayward Children, every kid has been through a Door to another world; everything from candy kingdoms, to arachnid empires, to the Underworld. All the kids want to go back--or to learn how to survive in the mundane world they came back to. But when kids start dying, Nancy and her friends have to figure out who has a world worth killing for.
Rabbit Chase by Elizabeth LaPensée
Rabbit Chase is a middle-grade graphic novel that follows Aimée, a non-binary and indigenous middle schooler who steps into another dimension while on a school field trip. Anishinaabe figures of legend and Alice in Wonderland combine as Aimée tries to find their way back to reality.
Wonderland: Alice Through a Whole New Looking Glass: Original Broadway Cast Recording
Into a modern Wonderland steps single mom Alice Stetson, looking to find meaning in a Wonderland that's grown with the times, in this Broadway musical from 2011.
"Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen. At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the King's marriage proposal, she meets handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into a secret courtship. Cath is determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans." --provided by publisher
A Blade so Black by L.L. McKinney
"The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew. Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she's ever gone before." --provided by publisher
First book in the Nightmare-verse series!
Wonderland by Joyce Carole Oates
"Joyce Carol Oates's Wonderland Quartet comprises four remarkable novels that explore social class in America and the inner lives of young Americans. Spanning from the Great Depression to the turbulent Vietnam War era, Wonderland is the epic account of Jesse Vogel, a boy who emerged from a family tragedy with his life spared but his world torn apart." --provided by publisher
Alice in Borderland series by Haro Aso
Ryohei Arisu is bored of his life..but when he and his friends are transported to another world, they get more excitement than they bargained for. Now, they're in a game to save their own lives.