| Title | : | Beware the Little White Rabbit |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1616030429 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781616030421 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 370 |
| Publication | : | First published April 10, 2015 |
Thirteen powerful voices in young adult fiction invite you to journey into startling new Wonderlands in this nod to the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s timeless character, ALICE.
Mystery. Madness. Mayhem. Each story in this collection will intrigue, bewitch, and enchant. Through rich historicals, castles and keeps, wild wormholes, secret workshops, deadly plagues, and gritty urban explorations, we present new tales of Alice and her white rabbit.
Whether an intrepid reporter, a would-be car thief, or the last human in a world ruled by machines, at the heart of each story Alice is a girl discovering who she really is in worlds that never fail to surprise.
What wonders await, oh curious reader? Leap down the rabbit hole and discover the truth...
Beware the Little White Rabbit Reviews
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I can't wait for this anthology to launch. Fans of Alice, horror, romance, thriller, sci-fi, historical fiction, steampunk...it's got just about every reader covered. But BEWARE, once you follow the little white rabbit...you might not want to come back.
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Oh, so that's why I've been seeing Alice so often lately: it's the 150th anniversary.
I hate to admit it – but I've never been entirely enamored of Alice. It's another childhood classic that I somehow never read, like The Wizard of Oz - just never had a copy, or something.
The call for entries for this collection seems to have specified that there be a young main character named Alice, a white rabbit, and a fall. Another theme running through a lot of the stories is that parents can be perilous, unreliable, sometimes dangerous. As with all collections of stories by various authors, there is a wild variety of style, quality, and subject matter, but the variety of things done with the basic elements in this baker's dozen of stories is pretty impressive.
I just wish I liked Alice in Wonderland more. I should, I suppose; I'd like to; I don't. Oh well. Happily, I have more than enough enthusiasms without Alice.
I also wish I liked this book more.
Alice, Through the Wormhole – Charlotte Bennardo – Alice in space, in a trippy chase after stolen tea, which is more than just tea. Meh; kind of clever, but kind of annoying - ***
They Call Me Alice – C. Lee McKenzie – blend of Chinese mythology, young adult romance, and Alice; really kind of lovely. Though it focused more on the Chinese mythology than on Alice; the heroine could have been called anything, and the rabbit had no relation to Wonderland. Still, it fits well enough, and had an effect on me. ****
Alice, Last of the Bleeding Hearts – David Turnbull – I wasn't thrilled with this one; where the last story's connection to A-in-W seemed distant, here it felt forced, a science fiction story hammered into an Alice mold. Flaws in the narration showed up here – unless the text actually read "soldiering iron" twice? I wasn't enamored of this version of the Cheshire Cat; I wasn't impressed with the intelligence of the "last of the bleeding hearts" (announcing her weapons to the Red Queen? Wouldn't they be more effective as surprises? And Alice knows how to play chess but wonders at the knights moving in "an odd, L-shaped manner"? ** Meh.
The Watchmaker's Ball – Christine Norris – Here the narrator used a very nice British accent, fitting the Alice-contemporary setting. It was an interesting idea (except how did that mechanic know to give a warning?), interestingly executed – fun. ****
Rabbit Fever – Jackie Horsfall – I don't know. I just don't know. I like the concept of an Alice from another time period, but she seemed a little too prescient. I didn't love it. **
Mustang Alice – Medeia Sharif – My initial comment was simply "oh you have got to be kidding". It's not often I DNF a short story – but I skipped most of this one after Alice stole the car. Nope. (If it had been a Volkswagen Rabbit, now…) *
White Is a Human Construct – Laura Lascarso – Read with a Southern accent – very good and rather intense story of abuse and madness and what it takes to get out of both. I liked what was not said as much as what was. *****
Alice and Her Shadow – Tom Luke – Told in the second person present tense: "None of the streetlamps are working, and your shadow is beginning to worry you." – NICE. I didn't like it – it's a very disturbing story – but I appreciated it to pieces. Creepy as all hell. And in light of a recent (possible)(unconfirmed)(oh please no) major character death on The Walking Dead and how Damon Lindelof, producer of other shows, talked about it … story arcs and taking the show in a direction and that sort of thing. Yeah. *shiver* ****
Alice in Wilderland – Jessica Bayliss YA love story – which should have annoyed me, to be honest – but my initial reaction was (again) "NICE". ****
The Aviary – Crystal Schubert -Uh oh: "ok" ... I love the idea of rescuing someone who doesn't want to be rescued. Oh, I really don't care about the inside of her belly button. I really don't. "Her ribbon arms"? I get selfishness, but while she was off enjoying her love nest her family was dying. **
Broken Tethers – Holly Odell – Chick talks to herself a whole hell of a lot. I mean, I do too, but not in text. As such. Was this supposed to be funny? **
Undercover Alice – Jennifer Moore – Aussie (why?) Cute enough story, but not great. ***
Follow the Steam Rabbit – Liam Hogan – parachute? Not awful; not great. ***
The book is introduced as having "dazzling silhouette pieces for the interior title page of each Alice tale" – not exactly a plus to the audible book listener; it's a shame that line isn't deleted from the audio edition.
This audiobook was provided by the narrator at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com.
ETA: It took a remarkably long time to get on Goodreads to post a review here. And come to find out three of the authors and both editors involved in this book not only reviewed it but gave it five stars. The first word that comes to mind on that subject is 'tacky' - but it's worse than that. It's drastically skewing the rating of a book which not so many people have reviewed. It's worse than getting family and friends to rate and review - they would have fewer horses in the race. I *was* giving this three stars, as a rough average of my opinion of the stories. Under the circumstances, I feel the rating needs a bit of realistic balancing out. Pity.
My rating is balanced by those of:
Judith Graves
Shannon Delaney
Jackie Horsfall
Medeia Sharif
Jessica Bayliss
With just a couple of exceptions, this was not a good experience. -
BEWARE THE LITTLE WHITE RABBIT has short stories for all types of YA lit lovers. Steampunk, fantasy, romance, science fiction, history, and horror help round out this book. Instead of crafting a single genre homage to Lewis Carroll's Alice, Leap Books BEWARE strives to echo the diversity found in Carroll's Wonderland with a wide selection of story genres.
Many people (from around the world) submitted stories, and the vast majority of them were rejected. The stories that were chosen demonstrated well-constructed worlds, heartfelt characters, and resourceful women cast in the role of Alice. We invite you to find your favorites and let their authors know.
As a note, the book will not release to any readers or reviewers (other than our editing staff) until 4/14/15 and there was no ARC.
Full Disclosure: I am a co-editor and co-publisher of this anthology and only publish books I firmly believe readers will love. These authors gave a fresh take on Alice their all. -
Even though I'm the author of one story included in this anniversary anthology, I couldn't let the opportunity pass without commenting on the other 12 stories. A unique mix of genres covering historical, fantasy, sci-fi, steampunk, contemporary, each story featuring a bold Alice and her Otherworld guide -- that pesky white rabbit. As much as I love the original Alice, it was fun to see her in new settings, eras, and incredible new conflicts. Kudos to my talented co-authors!
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What a ride! Each Alice adventure left me a little shifted. So much fun.
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This was an amazing collection of short stories; all unique new twists on a classic tale.
Alice Through the Wormhole by Charlotte Bennardo is the first story in the Beware the Little White Rabbit anthology. I have to admit that I squee'd a little when I saw Char's name listed with the authors for this. I absolutely loved her Sirenz books (penned with Natalie Zaman) and was excited to see how her solo work would compare.
From the very first line, I was absolutely hooked-the Sci-Fi element was genius and I loved it. The story was full of action, tension and humor--it was fantastic from beginning to end. I loved the detail and creativity Bennardo wove into every scene and I was so sad when the story was over. I look forward to reading even more from this fabulous author in the future!
They Call Me Alice by C. Lee McKenzie-
There was an air of sadness throughout the majority of this story that pulled on my heartstrings. An orphaned girl in a new country-a whole new culture and name. So much change all at once would be difficult for anyone to bear. I was immediately rooting for this incarnation of Alice to get some sort of happy ending.
While this tale seemed steeped in heartbreak, there was also the bittersweet joys of moving forward and embracing new things. I really enjoyed this story and will be looking for more from this author.
Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts by David Turnbull -
Story number three from this collection was 'Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts' by David Turnbull. In this Alice tale, machines have taken Alice's mother from her and taken over her world. Now, ruled by an elusive mechanical Queen, Alice relies on her android helper, Hatter, to help keep her alive.
Rife with tension and action, I was riveted through the entirety of this story. I look forward to reading more from this author.
The Watchmaker's Ball by Christine Norris -
The Watchmaker's Ball by Christine Norris is the fourth story in this collection. I found it amazingly easy to connect with this Alice. Her love for inventions in a time when ladies were not encouraged to use their minds endeared her to me. Enter the clockwork white rabbit and away we go.
The Watchmaker was superbly done in my opinion-a fantastic villain. The creepiness of the clockwork dancers locked away forever to satisfy a madman's boredom was enough to make me shiver. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I will be adding Christine Norris to my authors to watch list.
The fifth story in Beware the Little White Rabbit is Rabbit Fever by Jackie Horsfall. I found this story to be unique and well written. It was well paced and full of emotion. I really enjoyed it very much. Anything with a sort of historical twist to it usually catches my interest and this was no exception. I've found another author to add to my watch list. -
This is a must read for all fairy tale fans, who have dreamed of following Alice into the rabbit hole and seeing where it might lead them. There are thirteen stories, each introduced with a lovely picture and accompanied with cute little rabbits between scene changes. (Yes, I love tiny little extras like this.) The stories center around an 'Alice', a rabbit and a hole, but that's where the similarities end.
Although I honestly wondered if reading about the same main character again and again might grow repetitive, the authors take Alice through all sorts of fantastical worlds and times - from steampunk to rides into history - making each adventure new and exciting. The Alices not only had to face very different situations, but each has a distinct personality, making the characters fresh and different despite the shared name. I especially enjoyed how many of the authors incorporated the strange and often topsy-turvy feel that Wonderland and it's inhabitants always have into the plot and dialogue. It peppered the tales with a fun bit of insanity even when some of the plots drew into darker worlds. . .and they do that!
Summed up, this is a delightful collection of very different stories, which are just the perfect length for taking quick trips with Alice down a huge variety of rabbit holes. And several of the stories had me going back to read them again. . .and probably again.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. -
I'm one of the authors of this anthology. My short story aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the stories that covered a variety of genres from the other 12 authors. It was interesting reading about Alice through their lens, and going through new adventures and situations with these familiar, yet reinvented, characters.
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Beware the White Rabbit is an anthology with 13 stories, all inspired by Alice in Wonderland and starring Alice herself as the main character in all of them. It sounds like it could get repetitive really quickly, but rest assured, this anthology is the exact opposite of repetitive. All of these stories are so unique, so brilliant in the way that that are told, that you can't help but fall in love with each and every one of them.
Alice, Through The Wormhole was action packed and a wonderful sci-fi delight with an ending that made me gasp in astonishment while smiling in satisfaction. They Call Me Alice was more of a tear-jerker, bringing different cultures together for a heart-warming tale of new beginnings and accepting all versions of one’s self. Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts had a haunting, cinematic action quality to it, and it possessed one of the most awesome depictions of the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, White Queen, and Red Queen EVER. The Watchmaker's Ball was extraordinarily creepy, each page of the story unfolding more disturbing secrets about The Watchmaker than I ever expected to find out. Rabbit Fever was an ingenious take on what would happen if Alice's story was told during the plague in London; fleas and plague shall haunt my dreams for a while.
Mustang Alice was a great story!!! It had a very interesting spin on what happens when a "good girl" decides to add some adventure to her life (and I was not expecting the way it ended at all!) White Is a Human Construct broke my heart into a million tiny pieces, stomped on it, and then left me a smidgen of hope at the end. It was raw, complex, heart wrenching and it made me want to jump into the pages and let Alice know that she's not alone. Alice and Her Shadow was definitely very unsettling, creepy, disturbing, and brilliant. The thought of someone else taking over your identity is terrifying enough, but this story took it to new heights, and I loved every minute of it.
Alice in Wilderland was beautifully written, moving, and just plan excellent. It perfectly captured the feeling of loss, the beauty of love and that feeling when you finally find something, or someone, after experiencing immense pain that encourages you to enjoy life again. The Aviary told an incredible tale about family, soul mates, and the fate of those who are left behind after the loss of a loved one, while integrating the horror of the plague with the intrigue of the paranormal. (Also, because of The Aviary, blue macaws are my new favorite bird- you just have to read it for yourself to understand why.) Broken Tethers had a wonderful plot about taking risks and learning from your mistakes, told in unique prose. Alice was epic in this story, and Buddy may just be my favorite incarnation of the white rabbit ever!
Undercover Alice was just awesome! I feel in love with this Alice, especially her humor and wit, and the assortment of characters that surround her instantly, enjoying the characters without minding whether their intentions were good or evil. The simple scandalous scoop she was after quickly turned into a mad adventure, and I adored every second of it. Follow the Steam Rabbit was the last story in the anthology but definitely not the least, as it was full of brilliant references to Alice in Wonderland ranging from the obvious to the obscure. It was a great read (and kudos to author Liam Hogan for Uncle Charles' name - it was wonderful to see the creator of the original work acknowledged in that way.)
In conclusion, this is a must-read for Alice in Wonderland fans that are looking for an interesting and new take on beloved and familiar characters. No matter what genre you like, there is a story in here for you- and if you enjoy reading across a multitude of genres, this anthology is paper(or ebook!) heaven. Definitely worth checking out!
5 out of 5 stars.
~Moujnir -
I'm one of the 13 authors in this YA anthology, centred on Alice and "a white rabbit", but not necessarily the Alice in Wonderland (or the rabbit!) we know. Some stories very much take more inspiration from the original than others, with the element of fantasy largely missing from a couple - the young romance "Alice in Wilderland", say. Personally, I'm a sucker for "curiouser and curiouser" elements Alice in Wonderland.
It's a lovely book, with bold illustrations to introduce each story that really help make it more special, but if there is an issue with it (and there is, hence the 4 stars, though only a relatively minor one) it's that "YA" is actually quite a wide and not always well defined age range. So, while there are stories in here that would suit a 12 year old, (the lower range of YA?) others very much wouldn't. While the range of worlds, genres, and themes may broaden it's appeal, I suspect it also makes presenting it to a young adult to read a trickier proposition. I can the target audience having a more polarised view of the individual stories than I.
As ever with an anthology, some stories were always going to appeal to me more than others, but there are no outright clunkers here, merely stories that aren't really aimed at me. Which isn't a surprise, given my YA years are a long time behind me...
In no particular order, my favourite three were Alice through the Wormhole, (nice nod to Star Wars at the start), The Watchmaker's Ball (like a scary Dr Who episode) and Undercover Alice (Which is delightfully batty. Or hatty!)
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13 Unique Tales by 13 talented authors. This book has a little bit of everything, no matter what your tastes run.
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Wonderland. I love Wonderland. Reading about Wonderland always feels like coming home, even though it's not always simple to find new and interesting Wonderland stories. When one of my favorite authors, A.G. Howard, recommended this short story collection I searched wherever I could to find myself a copy. I found an old library book and as soon as it reached me, I started reading.
Just like with every short story collection there were stories really speaking to me and stories I enjoyed a little less, mostly because we simply weren't a good fit. I think that's the true power of story collections. There is gonna be something in there for everyone. Everyone will always find that one story they want to re-read over and over again.
However, I always admire authors who can write short stories like these. All those authors created new worlds, some more complicated, others more rooted in our world, but still. All those authors created characters and in most of the cases I actually really started caring about those characters. And all those stories had a beginning, a middle and a finale.
In true Wonderland fashion the only thing truly connecting those stories was the presence of a white rabbit in one way or another. Some stories were truly bizarre or even a little sinister, like the Wonderland stories I fell in love with long ago. Other stories were lighter or much more loosely connected to the theme.
However, if you love Wonderland and enjoy short stories, I'm sure you'll find that one white rabbit you'd wanna follow! -
Some of these were pretty good I especially liked the ones that were kind of sci-fi. I think one of my favorite though it wasn't my favorite at first was the one written in 2nd person. Though I was tired of hearing about different Alice's I need to read about a different name now.
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3.5 stars!
This was the first anthology I ever listened to, and I have some mixed feelings on it. There are a variety of genres represented in this book. The stories are all very different, but they all contain a few elements. They seem to be a girl named Alice, a white rabbit, and a problem of some kind that Alice needs to work through. Things are not always what they appear is a common theme throughout the book.
I have shortly broken down my thoughts on each story individually below:
-Alice through the wormhole- This was one of the better stories. This was a fantasy story, with a touch of science fiction. I liked how Alice had to buy her rare tea from a dealer, very much like buying drugs from drug dealer.
-They Call Me Alice- I was bored by this story until the end when it all came together. I ended up loving this one! A Chinese girl has been adopted by an american family. They have changed her name, and she doesn't know who she is anymore.
-Last Of The Beating Hearts-
This was a science fiction type story. The world is very mechanical, and Alice is in a war against them. I found this one to be a little boring.
-Watchmakers Ball- Alice's mother drags her to a festival of some kind, where she is given a strange warning. Ignoring the warning, she followed the white rabbit to a secret ball. This story grew on me slowly, and I ended up really liking it!
-Rabbit fever- Alice's brother has been affected by the plague. A ground up unicorn horn is supposed to be a possible cure.
I liked this story, and the theme that love for your family can make you stronger than you knew you could be.
-Mustang Alice- Alice spots a white rabbit like one from her childhood, in a Mustang parked nearby. She ends up driving away in the car, with a boy in the backseat. This was one of my favorites in the book.
-White is a human construct- Alice is a young southern girl, hiding her feelings about what her stepfather did to her and her mother. She's trying to pull her mother out of the deep depression she has fallen into.
This story was ok, but a little boring.
-Alice and her shadow- This story was confusing at first. Alice's shadow begins doing the talking, and explains that Alice's life has become boring. The shadow decides to take over, and force her to become the shadow. This story was so weird and creepy, but is my favorite!
-Alice in Wilderland- Alice is on a camping trip, and finds herself with the hot guy from school. They get seperated from the group and have to spend the night together. Simply a cute little, romantic teenage story.
-The Aviary- Alice's father keeps her family locked away in a tower to be safe from the plague. Things are not always as they seem. I found this one a little boring.
-Broken Tethers- Alice wonders into an old abandoned house, and finds her favorite childhood book. She falls through the floor into the basement, and finds a door to a different world. This was one that actually reminded me of the original Alice In Wonderland.
-Undercover Alice- Alice goes to cover the launching of Maddie Hatter's new hats. She ends up uncovering a case of animal cruelty. I liked that this story approached an issue that I have never read about.
-Follow The Steam Rabbit- Alice's uncle creates a lot of mechanical things in his underground workshop. A mechanical rabbit draws her attention and she ends up falling into his workshop. Essentially this was a steampunk version of Alice In Wonderland, with a twist.
As with any collection of stories, there will be some great, and some not so great. My favorites were mostly the ones that did not feel like a straight up retelling of the original story, but rather a completely new take with a few key details included. Rhiannon Angell was an amazing narrator. By providing the voices for all these stories, and all these characters, we really see how talented she is! If she had not had such a wide range of voices, the audiobook would have ended up very boring. She really brought life to this book, and I am very impressed with the outcome!
**I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review through Audiobook Jukebox. This does not change my opinion in any way.
Shannon Delany, Judith Graves
Beware The Little White Rabbit
Rhiannon Angell
Leap Books
Unabridged
7 hours and 41 minutes
2015 -
This took me way too long to read. I really only liked 6 out of 13 stories. Everything is subjective, so I put my thoughts about each story below.
Alice Through the Wormhole - The science fiction elements were easy enough to follow, but Alice’s actions made no sense. The whole story felt unnecessary, like it could have been wrapped up in a few pages but instead was dragged out for no reason.
They Call Me Alice - I didn’t like this. The Alice in this story felt like she was 6 years old instead of the 16 it says. It was overly simple and confusing at the same time.
Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts - skipped, couldn’t get into it.
The Watchmaker’s Ball - Alice was quite immature and dense, but I really liked the story. It was interesting and fun.
Rabbit Fever - Just when I thought all these stories were science fiction, there’s this historical one. Alice had no defining personality, and the beginning was better than the end, but I liked it.
Mustang Alice - No. Another very immature Alice doing something she claims to never do, and I’m like, “I don’t know you!” This wasn’t believable, and I thought she was 12, even after she started driving. I’m not defaulting to 16 just because this is YA.
White is a Human Construct - Outside of this being predictable and obvious, the story and characters were okay. I’m just sick of authors using rape like that’s the only way to make someone a monster and the only way I’m going to feel sorry for the character.
Alice and Her Shadow - Yes! Loved it! So weird. SO weird. Loved the second person. Loved the author bio, too. I’ve never read anything like this before. It’s like supernatural horror. So weird. Definitely a favorite.
Alice in Wilderland - This was fine. No danger or goblins. Just an overly-cute and angsty contemporary thing, if you like that.
The Aviary - I feel like the world wasn’t rich enough or like it moved too fast for me to connect with it, but I liked the story. Historical and depressing, but not in a bad way. This would make a good novel.
Broken Tethers - Alice talking aloud to herself throughout most of the story was distracting. Didn’t finish.
Undercover Alice - This was fun. A cute and interesting contemporary with an Alice I could root for. One of my favorite stories in the bunch.
Follow the Steam Rabbit - This was not interesting. Alice was 12. Thought she was much older. There didn’t seem to be a point to the story. It took too long to go anywhere and then it was over. -
The most fun I've had reading an anthology in a long time. You'd think that in 13 stories about a heroine named Alice who encounters a white rabbit you might get bored or at least get the Alices mixed up. But every thrilling tale in this collection (by established and new authors) has a unique, memorable Alice and a new and interesting take on the heroine's journey. Fans of every genre will find something to enjoy: science fiction, fantasy, romance, historical, contemporary, horror, steampunk, humor, and more. Highly recommended for anyone who loves Alice or great YA fiction.
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This is what immediately popped into my head when I saw the title and cover:
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3.5 Stars
The magnificent thing with this anthology in audio form is immediately seeing how vast the narrators voice is. She slips into different persona's and emotions with each story.
Each story has something the Alice's need to work through or learn. There is something, even small, that bothers them about their self or the world they are in and through following the white rabbit they learn there is something better at the other end of the tunnel. There is something for living in the world and working through it all or even, in some cases, that things aren't as bad as they had thought.
This book of Alice tales can be read by young readers and young adults just as well as adults. We all enjoy Alice and her adventures. This book adds more to that setting, and even has a few lessons to share as well.
****FULL REVIEW OF EACH STORY****
*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.
The magnificent thing with this anthology in audio form is immediately seeing how vast the narrators voice is. She slips into different persona's and emotions with each story.
Each story has something the Alice's need to work through or learn. There is something, even small, that bothers them about their self or the world they are in and through following the white rabbit they learn there is something better at the other end of the tunnel. There is something for living in the world and working through it all or even, in some cases, that things aren't as bad as they had thought.
This book of Alice tales can be read by young readers and young adults just as well as adults. We all enjoy Alice and her adventures. This book adds more to that setting, and even has a few lessons to share as well.
Alice Through the Wormhole
When leaving the seedy bar on this space station where she meet her dealer and purchased her rare tea, a white rabbit bumps into her. He's late! And off he goes. Alice checks her pocket to find it empty. The overgrown rabbit has stolen her rare tea! She's not going to let him get away with that. Skipping through space and landing on a planet, Alice follows the rabbit to a tea party.
This was a fun space setting with Alice and the white rabbit. I enjoyed this short story. It was different and had the few highlights we see in Alice in Wonderland. Off with her head, Tea party, Cheshire cat, and the color red.
The narrator has fun with the personality of the Queen along with Alice. But it's neat to hear the electronic tone to her voice as she does the cover voice for Alice and the electronic Sentries.
They Call Me Alice
Alice is living a different life than she knows. Alice is a young girl who's lost and misses her parents and China. Her chase for the rabbit brings her to the moon goddess and an offer to stay with her, over tea.
This story is based on an old legend mixed with Alice in wonderland. Chang'e's story. It's a young girl who struggles to adjust to the new world and home she now has. But chasing the rabbit gives her a vision where she gets to talk and decide where she wants to live.
This story is very heart felt for me. I even started to tear up at the end. It's not my normal story style, but was well done.
The narrator has shown a different side to her voice here. She's soft and kind sounding when voicing Betsy, the adoptive mother. And even as she tells Alice's story from the heart. She even calls out as mothers do looking for their child who's upstairs and are worried for them on their first day of school, hoping they like school and find friends.
Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts
Alice is the last of the beating hearts, humanity. She's determined to fight the mechanicals to survive and avenge her mother's murder by the Queen. But when she arrives at the Queen's lair, what she finds is something that will pull at her heart.
This story was a bit hard for me to get into. I love the creation of the world, but I also got lost in the world. I kept trying to visualize it all and the story moved quickly to get through the events to come. The world is a sort of mechanical dystopian-ish feel. It is strange and has a warped feel (which Wonderland does have too) to it.
It does have the pieces of the Wonderland story, Drink Me (Drink Mead here in the story), tea, the watch, Hatter, and a twist to Chesire Cat.
In this story the narrator creates slightly different voices. The Hatter has a small voice that seems to fit his personality well.
The Watchmakers Ball
Alice is attending the Centennial Exposition with her mother and sister. However, she's stuck in the Woman's Pavilion instead of visiting the Machinery Hall to take in the sight of the clockwork and magnificent machines. A clockwork rabbit takes her to a ball she's invited to, the Watchmakers ball. But the Watchmaker plans to keep her with his other dolls and toys.
In listening in order, this is my favorite story thus far. Alice falls into another adventure of a clockwork world! This story feels like it's another adventure for Alice in a magical wonderland world, but with clockworks. The author pulled a few items from the world of Wonderland but the story isn't held strictly to the Alice in Wonderland feel. It's a story of it's own in a clockwork world. It has a similar feel of the original story once you get through it too.
The world was easy to picture which made it easy to enjoy the story. I really liked the drawing of the world and the story together.
The narrator, Rhiannon, did a wonderful job of voicing the characters here. The rabbit's voice is small like a little child and her proper speak for Alice along with the stern proper feel for her mother felt right on with the characters.
Well done all around on this one!
Rabbit Fever
Alice has been caring for her plague sick brother. There is no where for her to go to escape the plague as only the rich get the passes to leave. Exhausted Alice falls into a deep sleep, and possibly coming down with the plague herself, to fall from the sky on the white rabbit. The Queen comes along, warning Alice to not touch her rabbit. All Alice wants is the unicorn horn ground into powder to help her brother, then to find an escape to return home and help Edward.
Aaah. This was another great story here. I love the use of the plague and the trip following the rabbit to see the queen.
Wow. This is a sad time with the plague. A terrible world to live through. The author has done an amazing job of drawing the dreary world in this short story. In doing so, the thoughts of the plague infested world where only the rich escape comes through in her visit to "Wonderland".
There is some history here with the plague. Very neat to see the meaning of what the "Queen" says in relation to the plagued world. And that Alice puts it together in the real world.
Rhiannon seems to slip into the characters and their demanding, or weakened voices well here. She does the calls as the characters would along with Edwards sick, weak speak. Her cadence picks up when speaking faster, or slows as directed from the story.
Mustang Alice
Alice is on a school field trip for her exceptional grades and hard work. At a rest stop, Alice is attracted to a black mustang that pulls in. The man goes inside and she goes to check it out, finding the keys in the ignition when she sits behind the wheel, admiring the car. Scared, she finds herself taking off in the car as the man comes out. To find a cute boy in the back seat.
Can I like a story but not find it believable? This is how I feel on this one. I don't believe the homebody, excellent grade student would steal a mustang, even unintentional. Yet I enjoyed the time that Alice spent with Lou. Though I felt bad for Lou in the end. This story felt as it had a small touch on bullying. Just a small reflect on it.
Rhiannon gets to do a few new voices here. They might be quick as they are calls in an amusement park, but they are present. She has a feel of remembering when Alice reflects on old memories.
White is a Human Construct
Alice hasn't spoken to anyone in a while. Not with all the rumors of her Congressman father up and leaving her mother. When she sees a white rabbit in a cage on her way to school, she stops to say hi and he answers. The rabbit is a conscience that helps her with how to deal with her mother who's locked herself in her own world. And Finn, the new resident at the home of the rabbits, is the person who is there for Alice when she need a touch or reality and help.
Oh, we get a touch of a southern accent with the characters here. I like the extra sway in the words.
In this story, the fantasy world falls in the white rabbit's presence and how Alice deals with what's happened to her.
This is a story that touches my heart. Alice seems to have troubles with what's real and what's not. Finn seems to be her lifeline to the real world, and really helps just by being here. Alice has dealt with some terrible things in her life, which is why she shuts things away and tries to pretend. Poor girl.
Alice and Her Shadow
Alice has an admirer. Someone who's watched her whole life and feels it's starting to get boring, so she has taken over.
Mmm, this story didn't really work for me. I didn't feel there was really anything here in the meaning of the story and it didn't feel as if there was much resolve in the end, for me. You might feel different. The story also talks in You form at the beginning. That You (I the reader/listener) is Alice and doing these actions. With this it throws the story off for me.
Alice in Wilderland
Alice enjoys nature. She's part of the Wilderland camping trip and falls behind the group as she photographs a beautiful rare flower. Aaron comes to bring her back to the group. Alice and Aaron need to spend the night in the woods alone so they don't get more lost.
This is a sweet story. It's a young adult romance. Alice has had a crush on Aaron, and maybe Aaron has been eyeing her too? I enjoyed this one. It's clean and sweet as two older teens spend an evening together learning a bit more about each other. I enjoyed this story as nothing goes too far, they get to know each other and act as proper adults, not pushy on the other.
Rhiannon reads Alice as a young innocent girl that has insecurities at moments with Aaron, filling in the feelings with the words written.
The Aviary
Alice and her family have remained locked in their castle, away from the plague. Her father is determined to keep them safe until they join her mother again. Food is dwindling and her beloved birds are dying from the scarce scraps of meat they receive. Alice does have a friend she's never seen face to face. A young girl she talks to through the large shrubs while sitting in the hidden garden sanctuary. Diana wants to share the world with Alice.
This is a sweet short story. The world isn't as Alice is told and her eyes are opened to what is really going on and the world outside the walls of her fathers castle. I really enjoyed the twist with her father and how the story comes around to the ending.
The stern voice of her father comes through when Rhiannon speaks for him. We get the wondrous view of the world as Alice sees and lives it with Rhiannon's voice. It almost feels as it's a dream. Maybe it is, a dream come true.
Broken Tethers
Alice is looking to break the tethers to the world for a little while, to find peace and quiet from all. She works her way through the overgrown brush and yard to come to a dilapidated abandoned mansion. She takes pictures of the abandoned home and finds a way inside. Finding a children's book she loves, she falls through the weakened floor to the basement, and finds a door to a magical world.
Rhiannon gets a great voice workout in this short story. She shares her talent of different accents with different eras the men in the magical world are from.
I really enjoyed this story and how Alice came to the magical world. It's a modern way but very believable. It's well written to fit the character and her curious ways. Oh! I did love what Alice calls one man who has some really cheesy pick up lines. lol. I did laugh at it. Great creation!
This story is a bit of a safety lesson. When traveling on your own, have a way to contact the world if you happen to get hurt.
Undercover Alice
Alice is working to get the big story and photos of Maddy Hatter and her new hat line to impress Jason. Alice uncovers more than she ever imagined in Maddy Hatter's shop and big presentation of her newest hat, thinking it all was a crazy dream.
Rhiannon shares her British accent in this story as Alice along with the proper prissy persona for Maddy. The rabbits even have small voices too.
This is an interesting story with animal rights motive behind it. The rabbits. Oh my. Nice turn of events and adventure for Alice in this story. What she finds is nothing as what she was looking to learn when first sneaking into the event. She even thinks it's all a dream!
Follow the Steam Rabbit
Alice is relaxing, reading her text book under a tree when a steam powered rabbit comes by, looks at it's clock and announces it's late. Alice follows the point of the rabbit to a hole. A back entrance to her Uncle's work room. Falling down the hole, Alice finds herself in her Uncle's lab wanting what she's designed.
Rhiannon gets to share the sounds of an intellectual young woman full of determination and a kind Uncle who knows new creations can be used in ways never intended.
Alice is a very smart young lady and has big plans for her future. She's determined to solve mankind's problems instead of create for fun, like her Uncle seems to do. This was a nice little story with the thought of all things made for good could be used for the opposite as well.
I do enjoy the idea's of steampunk and this story uses those to the fullest. -
I loved this anthology. It was weird and whimsical but also very enjoyable. Some of the stories where a bit strange, and generally not what I was expecting, but for the most part I really enjoyed it. I love retellings in general and this one was just so perfect because it was just took so many different aspect of the original story and twisted them in so many different ways. I loved it. I feel like this is a really good anthology. Most of the stories in it where a bit dark and twisted, but I really liked this. I also loved that they where all very different to each other. Some felt a lot more Alice In Wonderland themed then others, but I still enjoyed them all. This one is well worth a read.
4 out of 5
Alice, Through The Wormhole by Charlotte Bennardo
Sci-fi Alice in wonderland? Why the hell not. This was a very good story to start on. It was weird and a little disjointed but a very good concept. It is one of those short stories that has the makings for a full on novel. I mean, who doesn’t want to see a arse kicking Alice, roaming through space and dealing with aliens and drinking drug tea? I know I do. I really liked this one, even if it wasn’t the most awe inspiring thing that I have ever read.
4 out of 5
They Call Me Alice by C. Lee McKenzie
I am a little bit torn over this story. Liked it, but there wasn’t much Alice In Wonderland about it. The story followed a young Chines girl who has lost her mother and essentially been adopted by an American couple. The story follows her as she struggles with identity and her life and all that stuff. I really liked this element of the story. I thought that it was very well written and very interesting What I was unsure about was the way the author added in a chines myth to the story. I think it was a good idea and interesting, but I don’t know, it just didn’t feel that in keeping with the theme of the book and it felt a little disjointed from everything else. Generally I liked the story, but it’s not my favourite.
3.5 out of 5
Alice, Last Of The Beating Hearts by David Turnbull
This one may be my favourite one. There was lot going on in such a short story. This one was a Post-Apocolptic earth, full of animations and weird hybrids and a robot red queen. What’s not to like? I really enjoyed this one. It was just such an interesting premises. I would love to see this story turned into a novel. There is just so much potential in this story I loved it. I really loved it. I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved the atmosphere, I just loved it all. It’s worth reading this book even if only for this story.
5 out of 5
The Watchmaker’s Ball by Christine Norris
Well that was weird as fuck. I mean seriously, what the holy hell was happening in that one. Clockwork dancers? A wind up white rabbit? Humans turned into machines? Honestly, what the fuck. This story was so weird. I mean it was an interesting idea, but it didn’t work as a short story. Something that strange needs more then half a dozen pages. This story was just super confusing. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I am currently just very confused.
2 out of 5
Rabbit Fever by Jackie Horsfall
I am actually pleasantly surprised by this one. I admit that I didn’t have high hopes going into it but actually, I really liked it. The idea that wonderland is simply a plague fuelled dream is perfect. Especially considering it is widely accepted that Wonderland is a drug induced land. I just think that this was brilliant. The two stories walking side by side, but with different origins. I liked it. It wasn’t the best existed short story that I have ever read, but enjoyable enough.
4 out of 5
Mustang Alice by Medeia Sharif
Once again I am torn. I loved some elements of this story, but really disliked others. I love the idea of Alice an Lou (who I assume is a interpretation of the mad hatter) running away together on this whirlwind adventure. The romance and dangerous. It was a really good concept, but apart from that I didn’t really like it. It had a lot of potential, but it was very mediocre. Nothing to write home about really. Also I hated the way it ended. This story could have been so much more.
3.5 out of 5
White Is A Human Constraint by Laura Lascarso
This story is very strange, but I really liked it. It was so different. It was just wasn’t like anything I was expecting. There was a lot of backstory to this this one and I really liked that. There was a lot to this one, and a lot that could have gone down. I really don’t know why I liked this one so much considering it was very weird and there was a hell of a lot that was left unanswered, but I I just really liked it. I loved the general concepts behind it, I liked the writing style I just liked it.
4.5 out of 5
Alice And Her Shadow by Tom Luke
What the actual fuck did I just read….I’m so confused….and creeped out. This story was so dark and twisted and very Truman show. It was just so weird and I don’t know how I feel about it. All I know for definite is that I am never walking down a dark street at night alone again. Not a chance.
3 out of 5
Alice In Wilderland by Jessica Bayliss
So, this one may not have really had anything Alice In Wonderland about it, except the name, but I really liked it. It was so sweet. I personally think that it would have been better suited to Summer Days and Summer Nights, not Beware The Little White Rabbit, but I still really liked it. It was just a very sweet story and so cute. I loved this one, despite the lack of the Alice theme. It was so damn adorable.
4.5 out of 5
The Aviary by Crystal Schubert
And once again I am torn. I loved certain elements of this story, but was confused by others. I liked that there was a romance in this story, a lesbian romance at that, it worked perfectly for the characters and the story. But I wasn’t sold on the rest of it. It was weird and strange and kind of predictable and I don’t know. I just didn’t love it. It didn’t really feel at all wonderland-y. It was just strange and a bit sad
3 out of 5
Broken Tethers by Holly Odell
Finally, a truly Wonderland feeling story! This one was perfect. It was exactly what I had been expecting from this book. It was fun and whimsical but also weird and a little bit dark and very odd. And like wonderland, everything is just accepted and not questioned. I loved it. It put a spin on the original tale but kept the feel of the story, of the world. I really really liked this one. It was absolutely perfect. Loved it.
5 out of 5
Undercover Alice by Jennifer Moore
Once again I am left thinking what the fuck? That was so weird, and not in the nice Wonderland way. It was just plain arse bizarre I honestly have no idea what I just read. Why are some of these stories so weird!?! in fact, why does every single anthology have at least one really wtf story in it?! I really didn’t get this one and I really didn’t like it.
1.5 our of 5
Follow The Steam Rabbit by Liam Hogan
I liked this one, I think. It was kind of steam-punky and weird but also pretty interesting and put a nice spin on the story. I quiet enjoyed it. I feel as if there was a lot more that could have been done in this story, but I still liked it. I liked that it did have a Wonderland-y feel to it, although this feel a little bit forced at times, but it was still enjoyable enough.
4 out of 5 -
Actual Rating: 3.7
Beware the Little White Rabbit is an anthology of different versions of Alice in Wonderland to celebrate 150 years since Alice first took her adventure. I loved some stories, was interested by others, and some just weren't my type. Here are my ratings which I averaged to create my overall rating(1 star is the lowest you can get):
Alice, Through the Wormhole by Charlotte Bennardo: 3.5/5
They Call Me Alice by C. Lee McKenzie: 3/5
Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts by David Turnbull: 3.5/5
The Watchmaker's Ball by Christine Norris: 4/5
Rabbit Fever by Jackie Horsfall: 3/5
Mustang Alice by Medeia Sharif: 4/5
White is a Human Construct by Laura Lascaro: 2.5/5
Alice and her Shadow by Tom Luke: 1/5
Alice in Wilderland by Jessica Bayliss: 5/5
The Aviary by Crystal Schubert: 1/5
Broken Tethers by Holly Odell: 2
Undercover Alice by Jennifer Moore: 3.5/5
Follow the Steam Rabbit by Liam Hogan: 2.5/5 -
It pains me to give anything Alice related two stars, but I was genuinely disappointed by this anthology. It read like bad Wattpad fanfiction. Why does Alice always have to be some boring teenage girl in love with a boring guy? Alice doesn't need a love interest!!!
That being said, Chapter 9 (Alice's shadow) was the only bright spot. That story took chances and did something really creative. That is one I'd actually like to see in a longer format. -
A ton of different stories, a compendium if you will. And only one of the few I read was slightly memorable. Nope. DNF.
-
Some stories were not to my liking and one in particular was.
-
This is a wonderfully creative and entertaining anthology of “Alice” and the White Rabbit spin-off tales. My rating 4.5.
This is a really fun collection of thirteen stories which spring from Alice in Wonderland and the white rabbit. At least one Amazon review gives a summary of each title so I am not going to do so beyond the brief descriptions here. I cannot name one favorite as I enjoyed so many but my favorites included: Alice through the Wormhole (Alice chasing a rabbit in space); They Call Me Alice (an adopted Chinese girl trying to fit in America); Alice, Last of the Beating Hearts (human Alice in a world of tech); Rabbit Fever (Alice in plague infested time); The Aviary (another Alice in a time of plague with a different problem); Broken Tethers (Alice meets men from various eras after chasing after the rabbit, of course); Undercover Alice (a teen Alice goes undercover for a school newspaper, helping the white rabbit); and Follow the Steam Rabbit (a bright young Alice learns from her Uncle about the dangers of creations). The others are good too and include sweet and creepy elements. Many of the stories have steampunk features.
I found each story unique and creative, making an entertaining package. The genre is linked with "teen" but don't let that deter you. Anyone who has a soft spot for Alice in Wonderland should enjoy this imaginative collection.
Audio Notes: Rhiannon Angell does a remarkable job of narrating this collection. She skillfully
changes voices and tones to fit the different stories and characters. Initially I thought there was more than one narrator. I plan to look for other books narrated by Ms. Angell.
I received this audiobook for an honest review. -
Readers of Carroll's classic Alice in Wonderland should ideally have recent familiarity reading or re-reading this classic, because the interpretations and extrapolations in the young adult short story collection Beware the Little White Rabbit offer alternative visions of the underlying meaning and power of the Alice character and her world, and perfectly compliment Carroll's original creation.
Take the opener by Charlotte Bennardo, 'Alice Through the Wormhole', for one example. The story begins unexpectedly, in a seedy bar frequented by killers, where Alice has definite opinions of the white rabbit figure that are far from Carroll's original dream.
In this story Alice flirts with death, takes even bigger risks than her original namesake, and chases down a pick pocketing rabbit for stealing her canister of rare tea - with deadly consequences.
Each story is carefully crafted to make the most of Alice's personality, setting, and experiences. Each requires of its young adult (and many an adult) reader both a familiarity with the original saga and a willingness to think outside the box of Carroll's universe.
Diverse, satisfying, intellectually thought-provoking and entertaining, Beware the Little White Rabbit is an outstanding collection that should be assigned in conjunction with the original Alice, and is a highly recommended read for not just the young adult audience it's intended for, but for adults and reading groups who will want to contrast and discuss the variety of Alice personas in both this short story collection and Carroll's original. -
Beware the Little White Rabbit by Shannon Delany is a unique collection of 13 short stories written by 13 different authors all featuring a girl named Alice and a white rabbit. This anthology was produced in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The genres for the different stories vary from contemporary, historical fiction, sci-fi, horror, romance, steampunk and, of course, fantasy. Most of the stories are well-written with believable characters.
I love anthologies because they are the perfect length for committing to work. I can complete one story on my way to work, another at lunchtime, and another while driving home.
I listened to the Audible version of this story narrated by Rhiannon Angell who did an outstanding job. She brought each of the Alice characters to life giving most of them their own distinct voice, including one with a Southern drawl and another with more of an English "historical" accent. Simply put, I was thoroughly entertained by her performances! I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. -
I have been a huge fan of the Wonderland world for a very long time, so I was very excited to listen to this anthology. The variety of genres was interesting and I found the retellings to be refreshing. I'm not entirely convinced that an MC named Alice and a White Rabbit could be considered a retelling of Alice in Wonderland, but the stories were well written, nonetheless.
I listened to the audio version and Rhiannon Angell did an excellent job narrating. I thought multiple narrators read the stories because of the difference in the accents, pacing, and speech patterns. Excellent job. I will mention that a couple of the English accents were a bit strong and made it a bit difficult to clearly understand sometimes.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.** -
There was a couple of good stories in here (the aviary being my favourite) but mostly I was very disappointed with it.
It seemed a lot of the stories didn't have all that much to do with wonderland just a girl called Alice and some reference to a white rabbit. Maybe my standards are too high when it comes to Alice in Wonderland related reading but this book wasn't what I hoped it would be.
