Allie's Adventure on the Wonder (2025)
Readers' Favorite 5-Star Recipient
2025 Winner of The Literary Titan Gold Award
2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in the Book Cover Design - Fiction category
2025 NYC Big Book Award Winner in the Young Adult category
2025 Winner of the Moonbeam Silver Award for Young Adult Fiction eBook
2025 Winner of the PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Fall Competition for Young Adult - General Genre
2025 Page Turner Phoenix Award Finalist
Fourteen-year-old Allie Little lives in a perpetual Wonderland--with all the confusion and none of the wonder. Diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), she is continually forced into rabbit holes of misunderstanding and anxiety. Whatever she reads, sees, or hears often turns into nonsense, and the time to be “curiouser and curiouser” about her surroundings is a luxury she can't afford from the impatient people around her.
But one day, during a field trip on a ferry named the Wonder, Allie meets an odd character named Charlie and sees the creative genius and unadulterated joy that madness can bring.
A semi-autobiography of the author's personal experiences growing up with APD, reimagined through the lens of Lewis Carroll's timeless nonsensical classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, here is a contemporary fairy tale about learning--and accepting--the methods in once's madness to navigate the real world.
But one day, during a field trip on a ferry named the Wonder, Allie meets an odd character named Charlie and sees the creative genius and unadulterated joy that madness can bring.
A semi-autobiography of the author's personal experiences growing up with APD, reimagined through the lens of Lewis Carroll's timeless nonsensical classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, here is a contemporary fairy tale about learning--and accepting--the methods in once's madness to navigate the real world.
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Read the original short story/college project that inspired the novel!
REVIEWS
"[A] heartfelt and imaginative YA novel that blends whimsical fantasy with the real challenges of living with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD). [. . .]
Young readers, especially those with learning differences, will likely find solace and recognition in Allie’s voice, while others will gain empathy and insight. Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder is a tale of self-discovery, acceptance, and the quiet courage it takes to find one’s voice in a noisy world."
- Carol Thompson, Readers' Favorite
"I knew little about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) before picking up this book. But through its pages, I didn’t just learn about APD, I experienced it. [. . .] What struck me most wasn’t just Allie’s challenges with APD itself, but how much of her pain stemmed from a society unwilling to pause and understand. Each character serves as a mirror, reflecting where we fall short and how we might do better. [. . . Allie Adventure on the Wonder is] a testament to how empathy isn’t just kindness—it’s a necessity."
- Ankita Shukla, Readers' Favorite
"Erika Lynn Adams' book, Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder, is part memoir, exploring the complicated world of living with a disorder that few people understand. This is the author’s story as well as Allie’s. [. . .] But this isn’t just a story about a girl with APD; it’s a story based on the themes of learning and acceptance, and being able to navigate a difficult world where impatience rules. A poignantly beautiful tale."
- Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Readers' Favorite
"Erika Lynn Adams's writing is utterly captivating and atmospheric. She offers a unique, remarkable, and thoughtful portrayal of Auditory Processing Disorder based on her experiences growing up with the condition. [. . .] I highly recommend this important book about a young girl continually forced down a rabbit hole of anxiety, contradiction, nonsense, and misunderstanding. It skillfully captures the embarrassing, frustrating, or devastating misunderstandings that may occur due to this disorder."
- Emma Megan, Readers' Favorite
"The writing in Allie's Adventure on the Wonder immerses a reader in Allie's world. The book beautifully explores themes of resilience, self-doubt, identity, bullying, social challenges, support systems, relationships, empathy, personal growth, and transformation. Erika Lynn Adams highlights the world’s imperfections and shows that being true to oneself, free from the fear of judgment, is where the real magic lies. The author's critique of educators who belittle students' potential is a powerful reminder that we must always uplift and support one another. The book has an important lesson for parents and guardians, emphasizing the vital role of open communication and strong support systems. [. . .] I wholeheartedly recommend Allie's Adventure on the Wonder to everyone with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) and to all who appreciate well-written books."
- Adanna Ora, Readers' Favorite