Children's Book Review

The Magic Token: A Journey with Alice in Wonderland
by Eugene Orlando
ISBN-10: 0595332765
Review by Heather Froeschl

Alice isn't alone in Wonderland. Emma Thomas has come to pay a visit and her presence mixes things up a bit. But when visiting a fictional place, is it wise to tell the characters that they are not real? And when drawing upon one's knowledge of the story, shouldn't you keep in mind that very often the movie is nothing like the book?

Emma's friend Dana gives her a replica of a magic token that was owned by Charles Dickens. It is said that Dickens used the coin to time travel for his book research. Only this replica is not a replica but the real thing. Emma accidentally wishes herself into 1862, in Alice's Wonderland. There, Emma finds things a good deal different from her favorite movie depiction of the tale and realizes that Lewis Caroll's version was not at all like Disney's.

Emma "helps" Alice on numerous occasions, thinking things will proceed as they do in the movie. Alice and Emma wind up having adventures that echo the famous book but have the twist of a modern girl's influence. The favorite characters abound, from the Cheshire Cat to the Mad Hatter and Alice's dream is still just as fanciful. But Emma is a tool for the reader to learn lessons on friendship, racial opinions, nonsense and home sweet home.

Written in a fun and lively, interesting and fantastical way, "The Magic Token" is sure to be enjoyed. What's more is that the book will inspire readers to seek out the original Alice in Wonderland story. This book is an entertaining read but also an honor to Lewis Caroll.