The Search for WondLa (WondLa #1)

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Author(s)

Tony DiTerlizzi

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

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Release Date

September 21, 2010

ISBN

1416983104

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Eva Nine is a curious and sensitive twelve-year-old who has existed only in a subterranean home called Sanctuary, cared for by a robot named Muthr. Eva's great desire is to go aboveground, and her wish comes true, though not as she had imagined. On the surface, Eva goes in search of other humans--she has never met one--and soon meets both friend and foe.

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Back up out of the rabbit hole, Alice finds...

December 01, 2010

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5.0

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What if, when Alice emerged from the rabbit hole, everything she thought she knew about the world had changed? What if trees were now sentient, mobile creatures that feasted on unwary birds? What if sow bugs were as large as hippos, and communicated telepathically? What if she was twice as lost on the surface as she had been when she was wandering in Wonderland?

The Search For Wondla, a beautifully illustrated science-fiction/fantasy story by Tony DiTerlizzi is about a girl called Eva Nine who has lived her entire life in a safe, cozy underground home, surrounded by images of Earth, its landscapes and creatures. Growing up with only a gentle robot called Mutha for company, Eva dreams of meeting other humans. She hopes one day to go up top and see the world for herself. That day comes, but abruptly, terrifyingly, when her home comes under attack, and she is forced to run for her life across a bizarre, new world.

The world Tony DiTerlizzi has created in these pages is remarkable in its inventiveness, and his beautiful Oz-like drawings reveal its wonders and its threats in fine detail. There is even an accompanying website that allows the reader to unlock a three-dimensional map of Evas world.

Yet even without this fun, interactive element, the story does a marvelous job of drawing the reader into this wonderland of an alien world. More than a simple adventure story, Evas journey is as much about her discovering her own strength, resilience and courage, as it is her seeking for community and safety.

Francesca Amendolia Top 100 Reviewer 66 reviews

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The Search for WondLa (A Room with Books review)

August 17, 2012

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5.0

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This book is amazing.

Seriously, if a one sentence review were to exist, I’d definitely leave it at that for The Search for WondLa because nothing I could say about it would do it justice. Since I know I’d never be capable of an eloquent review for this one, we’re going with list format today.

Reasons why you should read this book:
1. There are illustrations! I know you thought you were all fancy and after you moved onto books without pictures, but come on. You can admit that books with pictures are actually seriously awesome and the rest of us won’t condemn you for thinking so.

2. Eva is one seriously fantastic heroine. At first she’s just like any other twelve-year-old who gets annoyed by her mother and wants to watch cartoons, but the journey that gets forced upon her makes her grow into a courageous and brave girl who’s still not without believable faults.

3. All the fascinating creatures. There are some seriously crazy creatures and plant-life in here and I relished learning more about each and every one.

4. Technology! I, for one, love reading about imagined future technology. For some reason I find the science of today rather boring usually, but I lap up every little crumb of knowledge about imaginary technology.

5. There’s never a boring moment. Action and surprises are around every turn and keep everything interesting. There’s definitely never a boring moment.

If my lameo reasons haven’t convinced you, then I hope a simple 5 star rating is the only other convincing you need. Also, if you’re afraid of middle grade, but are willing to give it a shot, this book will definitely convince you of the awesomeness that is middle grade. And if it doesn’t, well, you were never going to like it anyway :P