Queen of Wonderland or Average High School Student? - Y.A. Fiction

Title-  Unhinged

Author-  A. G. Howard   

Illustrator- (title page) -  Nathalia Suellen

Publisher- Harry N. Abrams

Copyright Date-  2014

Number of Pages- 416

Awards- None

Reading Level- Age 13-17

Genre- Young adult fiction, fantasy

Summary

This book follows Alyssa as she tries to maintain a life of a normal high school girl.   Her boyfriend Jeb is her high school sweetheart, and she is his girl next door.  They are living a normal life until one day Alyssa’s past comes back and almost kills her.  Alyssa is the future queen of Wonderland, and has spent time in Wonderland, but she thought that part of her life was behind her.  Then obsessed and dangerous toys start to terrorize her while she is at school, and people from Wonderland start to entire her life.  Morpheus enrolls in her high school, and starts to appear everywhere Alyssa goes.  As if that isn’t crazy enough Alyssa learns that her mother and father met in Wonderland, and that her mom rescued her dad from the evil Queen.  Just like Alyssa has to rescue her boyfriend Jeb from the same Queen.  With her “normal” world turned upside down Alyssa battles characters from Wonderland while trying to get ready for her high school prom.  What happens will remain a mystery until you read the book.  Will Alyssa stay, or will she return to Wonderland?

Teaching Ideas

This book could be used to teach perspectives.  Unhinged is loosely based off of, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.  In Carroll’s book Alice goes into Wonderland, in Howard's book the characters of Wonderland enter the real world.  Unhinged is about what happens to Alyssa, not Alice but they both are similar (yet very different) characters.  If the students read both books they could create their own story from the perspective of someone else from the books, such as the Red Queen, the Cheshire Cat, or the Mad Hatter.  The Queen appears in both books as does the Cheshire Cat, however they are very different characters in each of the stories.  The students could create a story in which a character from Carroll’s book meets a character from Howard’s book.  There are many opportunities to look at different perspectives and compare and contrast. 

Ratings

Element of Literature	Excellent	Average	Inadequate	Not Addressed	Rating
Plot	The plot is engaging; the reader is invested in the outcome.  Contains conflict, a climax and a resolution.    The reader buys into the story line; it is believable to the reader.	The plot is average it contains some of the essential elements such as conflict, climax and resolution.  One element is either missing or poorly developed.  The reader may or may not buy into the storyline, it is just not that believable.	Multiple essential elements, conflict, climax and/or resolution are missing or poorly developed.  It is not believable and overall a bad plot.		The plot is engaging, yet it didn’t draw me in completely.  There were a few elements that were so farfetched that I didn’t buy into them, even for a world of fantasy.  The plot does contain conflict, an exciting climax and a partial resolution.  Because this is a series, the resolution wasn’t complete, you are left with a cliffhanger and need to read book three to find the full resolution.
Characters	Characters are unique and believable.  The characters come to life when the reader is engaged in the story.  When the book is done, the reader still connects with the characters of the book.  Characters have personalities, flaws, and feelings. There is a protagonist, possibly an antagonist and some supporting characters.	Characters are similar to other books, have little to no uniqueness.  When the reader is done with the book, they are also done with the characters, there is no lasting connection.  Characters display little in terms of personality.  There are no supporting characters, or no clear protagonist.	Characters are dull and lifeless, there is no connection to the characters.  There is no clear protagonist and no supporting characters.  The characters are too farfetched.		The characters are based off of another book, however each character has his or her own unique personality in this book.  Although the characters do have strong and real personalities I did not connect to them. I don’t care what happens to them in the next book.  The protagonist is clearly Alyssa, and she has a few antagonists, mainly Morpheus.  The cast of supporting characters is long and well developed.
Illustrations	The illustrations share in the story telling. The pictures help to develop the characters, establish the mood, and setting.  They contain some of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures themselves may be created out of different mediums in order to support the plot.  Visual elements are used effectively (line, shape, color, texture and composition).	The illustrations support the story telling.  The pictures help with some but not all of the following, establish mood and setting, and developing characters.  They contain few if any of the following elements, hidden details, facial expressions, different viewpoints, interesting asides, action depiction, or supporting details.  The pictures are basic and do not use visual elements effectively.	The illustrations are in conflict with the story.  The pictures do not develop or establish anything in relation to the book.  There are no additional elements in the illustrations.  Visual elements detract from the plot.	No Illustrations	NOT ADDRESSED
Word Choice	There are a more than two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are one or two of the following elements used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.	There are none of the following elements or they are not used effectively, precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue, and music in language.		The word choice is excellent, the author uses precise vocabulary, and there are multiple uses of figurative language.  She uses excellent descriptive words.  The words she uses paint a picture for the reader.  The dialogue is easy to follow.