D23 has exclusively revealed the cover for Wondrous by Heather Fawcett, a young adult novel set in the world of Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, arriving October 6, 2026, timed to the film’s 75th anniversary.
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What Is Wondrous?
Wondrous is a YA sequel to Disney’s 1951 animated classic. The story picks up years after Alice’s first visit, finding her as a young woman with limited options in 19th-century London. She returns to Wonderland for good, hoping the world she loves can give her the freedom she cannot find at home. Her plan: open a traveling magical tea shop.
Things get complicated fast. Alice encounters another real-world teenager who claims to be the original and “true” Alice. Before long, the Queen of Hearts’ card soldiers capture both girls and deliver them to the castle, where a deeper truth emerges. Dozens of other “Alices” have been arriving in Wonderland for years, all of them summoned by the White Rabbit based on an old prophecy that one blue-dressed Alice is destined to save the realm from terrible peril.
The Stakes
That peril has arrived. Three mock dragons have invaded Wonderland from another realm entirely, slipping through the doors in Doorknob’s hallway. The Queen decrees that whichever Alice can stop the dragons will be crowned “The Alice” and secure her place in Wonderland forever. All the others will be exiled, never permitted to return.
Armed with only her enchanted tea set, Alice sets out on a quest to prove she belongs. Along the way she forms a reluctant alliance with a mysterious boy connected to the fearful jabberwocks of Wonderland legend. The central question the book asks is a good one: is Alice truly the Alice in Wonderland, or is she a footnote in someone else’s story?
Familiar Faces and a Darker Tone
Fawcett has confirmed that classic characters from the original film all appear in the book, including the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the White Rabbit. She describes the novel as “slightly darker yet thoroughly cozy,” a combination that should appeal to readers who grew up with the 1951 film and are ready for a more grown-up take on the world it built.
“Alice in Wonderland was one of my favorite stories as a child,” Fawcett said in the D23 reveal, “so I was thrilled to be able to write about all my favorite characters from the original story.”
About the Author
Heather Fawcett is the author of the Emily Wilde series, which has earned a passionate adult fantasy readership, along with several books for children and young adults, including Ember and the Ice Dragons, The Grace of Wild Things, and the series Even the Darkest Stars. She holds a master’s degree in English literature and a bachelor’s in archaeology and lives on Vancouver Island.
How to Pre-Order
Wondrous is available for pre-order now through Penguin Random House and major retailers, including Amazon and Target. The hardcover releases October 6, 2026.
Disney’s Alice in Wonderland Is Getting a Young Adult Sequel “Wonderous” by Heather Fawcett
