Gr 7-10 While she wishes to carry on the legacy of her eco-warrior parents, petite Alice is torn between that promise and maintaining the good-girl image she has developed since their deaths. When her mild protest liberating boxes of school letterhead to recycle gets hijacked by a much more savvy and secretive protester from her school, Whitney Lapin, Alice begins taking on bigger ways to shock those in her town and school into concern over their environment. She joins a far more active and risk-taking group of ecologically aware teens, including Chester Katz, a cute guy with quite a grin, who has a habit of disappearing from time to time. Additional characters include author Shane's version of Tweedle Dee and Dum (Alice's vapid school friends who act like they are two bodies of the same mind) and the Mad Hatter, another mysterious member of the socially conscious group, all of whom go to a school led by Principal Dodgson. There's even a drink given to Alice when she's an initiate to the group that seems to make her smaller. Mostly in small and not terribly important ways, these references to Lewis Carroll's stories are peppered throughout, but only teens with deep knowledge of the original work will find them cute or clever. While the writing is serviceable, the book lacks relatable characters and engaging plot points. VERDICT This ecologically themed homage to Alice in Wonderland crossed with high school drama is ultimately not worth a trip down the rabbit hole. Suzanne Gordon, Lanier High School, Sugar Hill, GA

As the youngest daughter of two extreme environmentalists, Alice knows that her parents would have wanted her to carry on their mission to bring a farmer's market to the little town of Wonderland. An aspiring ecovigilante herself, Alice is surprised to find out that she is not the only student at her school interested in ecotage, or environmentally minded sabotage. She falls in with a small fanatical group led by the notorious slacker Whitney Lapin and her groupies, Chester Katz and Kingston Hatter. Very quickly it becomes clear that Alice has to choose between her old, comfortable lifestyle and what she knows is right. Also, as things begin to heat up between Alice and Chester, Alice knows that everyone in her new group is hiding more secrets than they are divulging. This group of staunch environmentalists is serious about making changes around Wonderland, and Alice must decide if she is ready to take the plunge down the rabbit hole or if she is more comfortable staying aboveground.Unfortunately, this fractured fairy tale with an environmental twist is confusing at best. The dialogue between Alice and her friends is forced, and their actions are unrealistic. The plot, entirely devoted to environmental concerns in Wonderland, is convoluted and will lose teen readers. Neither Alice nor any of her compatriots are endearing, which makes it hard to care about their acts of ecotage. Many of the themes from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland are present, but they only succeed in making the book even more unrealistic and otherworldly. Sadly, this debut will leave teen readers scratching their heads, so purchase is not recommended.Morgan Brickey.