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Afia in the Land of Wonders
Book Review
The story is adventurous and mysterious. I loved the beautiful illustrations
Afia in the Land of Wonders is about Afia and her twin sister Aya. Afia has always wanted to explore the other side of the world unlike her sister. However, Afia feels if she leaves, she wouldn’t be whole without her sister.
One day when they go to the markets, Afia sees a sculpture maker carving animals such as gazelles and leopards, and she is so surprised that anyone could make such beautiful sculptures. At home that night Afia couldn’t sleep and decides to run away to the Land of Wonders. She was so sad to leave her hometown of Darafa. In the jungle she meets Queen Ijabù who takes Afia in. Later on, Afia’a new friends tell her how cruel the Queen is.
I like this book because it was very exciting and I liked following Afia’s journey through the Land of Wonders. The story is adventurous and mysterious. I loved the beautiful illustrations. It’s like you can see what’s happening. It made me want to read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland again.
About the Book
Afia has always felt like half of a whole. Her twin sister, Aya, is perfectly happy with fulfilling their family’s expectations of them.
But Afia dreams of exploring the world beyond her secluded cliffside home of Dafra. She dreams of adventure.
When she meets a charming shape-shifter named Bakame, who dazzles her with promises of a magical land called Ijabu, Afia decides to take her destiny into her own hands.
Author
Mia Arujo
Mia Araujo is an Argentine‑American author and artist from Los Angeles who writes and illustrates richly imaginative fantasy stories and paintings. Her debut illustrated novel Afia in the Land of Wonders — a reimagining of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland — was published by Scholastic in 2025 after more than a decade in the making. In addition to her writing, she co‑hosts the Painted in Color art podcast and has exhibited her artwork in galleries worldwide.
Reviewer Profile
Abidah, 9
- Reviews: 4
- Likes: pandas, watermelon and art
- Dislikes: snakes and cauliflower
- Favourite Book: Bad Panda by Swapna Haddow
- Favourite Song: Show Yourself (from Frozen)
- Favourite Film: Paddington
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