Splintered by A.G. Howard

Okay, first off, I have to say that I'm WAY behind in my reviews. Seriously, I have about twenty books I've been meaning to review. Anyway, Splintered came out back in January and I got my hands on it as soon as possible. I read it, and loved it I might add, and put it on my to-be-reviewed list. It has sat there for, oh, two months now. But I'm finally reviewing it. And it is totally worth the review. Splintered is amazing. It is made of awesomesauce. It's one of the best takes on the Alice in Wonderland tales out there. Oh yes, it' was a take on the Alice in Wonderland tale. The big difference is how much creepier it is. It's like, WAY creepier. But that's okay, because that makes it awesome and original. To give you a taste, imagine the White Rabbit. Now, make it a skeleton rabbit with it's fur peeling off, and you get a picture of what it's like.

The main character is Alyssa Gardner. She is awesome and can totally defend herself. Her mom is insane and she thinks she might be too. Get this, she will kill bugs, and make mosaics out of them. I have to say, no matter how weird that is, it's pretty cool. Alyssa's not exactly popular, nor well liked by everyone. But she does have friends and family who care about her. The reason she's looked at weirdly, is because everyone knows she's descended from the little girl Alice in Wonderland was based on. Life's weird for her, but she takes it in stride, which I love. And that ability serves her well when she falls down the rabbit hole...

The book has a very strong story and plot. I waited for months to read the book, and was not disappointed. All the characters are strong, and I couldn't help but love them all, even when I hate them at the same time. Alyssa was very strong and made the choices that needed to be made, even when she wouldn't like the outcome. I cannot wait for the second book. For more information, check out the author's Facebook page and website. In conclusion, I give this book a full five stars.
Synopsis:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence.

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on.

There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Title: Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release: January 1, 2013
Series: Splintered
Pages: 384