Wonderland Review

Title: Wonderland
Author: Joanna Nadin
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: February 22, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 224
Source: Publisher

Sixteen-year-old Jude has to get out of tiny Churchtown. She has to escape her outcast status and her pathetic dad, who hasn’t gotten past her mother’s death. The one bright light is drama, her way out, if only she can get into the Lab, a prestigious program in London. Then Stella, Jude’s childhood best friend, swaggers in after years away.

With bold and magnetic Stella by her side, Jude knows she’s capable of anything. But Stella’s influence extends well beyond the theater. Soon Stella’s wild and dangerous streak begins to cause trouble for Jude -- yet Jude can’t bring herself to abandon Stella and the attention she’s always craved. And besides, now that Stella’s back, there’s no stopping her.

Jude is your everyday girl next door. She’s lonely, she’s an outcast, and she’s desperate to escape the stigma she deals with only a daily basis in her tiny hometown. Her hope is to escape to a prestigious program in London and rid herself of Churchtown forever, but someone throws a wrench in her plans. When Stella, Jude’s childhood friend, returns, Jude is introduced to a stunning new Stella. She’s charismatic, enigmatic, and just a touch dangerous. She’s everything Jude wants to be. Stella takes her under her wing, and suddenly Jude isn’t so lonely anymore, but when Stella goes from unique to untamed, Jude begins to watch everything around her unravel, and she has to decide how much their friendship is worth.

Wonderland is the US debut of UK author, Joanna Nadin, a talent in her own right. Known for stories like My So-Called Life, The Meaning of Life and The Life of Riley, Nadin is no stranger to contemporary fiction – a genre I usually avoid like the plague. Weaving a dark and haunting plot, characters with ulterior motives, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat, Wonderland is a fantastic addition to the world of contemporary fiction. Complicated and messy, twisted and compelling, this is the story of a teenage girl that finds herself when everything around her begins to unravel and fall apart.

I was actually really surprised by Wonderland. When I committed to reading more contemporary fiction in 2011, I was a bit wary because I keep saying time and again that I don’t find too many deviations to the normal contemporary plot on the market today. Wonderland is darkly compelling. Jude was a character I could relate to from the start – a bit of a loner, a touch awkward, and desperate to escape her cramped hometown to find herself. Her character development through the downward spiral of Stella was intriguing to watch and engaging throughout. Even as a secondary character, Stella propels the story forward, adding that touch of darkness to an otherwise sweet story. I was captivated by the characters and they, in turn, fueled every plot point, keeping it moving at a nice, steady pace.

All in all, Wonderland was a fantastic read and really gave me hope for contemporary fiction. While the terminology was a bit English at times (and therefore confused my very blonde brain), the story was beautiful. I give it a 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend it to all fans of YA who enjoy coming of age stories and contemporary fiction. This would probably also be ideal for adults looking for a slim, fast-paced read.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.