ISBN: 9781105425356 Publisher:  Lulu (PB & eBook) Cover Price: $13.50 ASIN: B007W39RXY Publisher: Amazon (Kindle edition) List Price: $1.59 (eBook)

I felt a little like Alice while reading Puppet Parade by Zeinab Alayan, or maybe that should be Pinocchio as it deals with puppets. No, Alice is definitely the right fit. Reading Puppet Parade is like entering the world of Wonderland. The characters (puppets and other people) are quirky and amusing. There are worlds within the world, all of which make up a whole that is quite fascinating. It's a bizarre but incredibly fun world.

The two main characters (Oliver and Sophie) have both been trapped in their lives, one by choice and one by force. Once their paths have crossed, they decide to set out on the journey to find Oliver's puppets who have come to life and fled their own captivity. This journey takes them into a world where things aren't quite what they seem and where finding out the truth could be dangerous.

Just like Wonderland there are some bad and dark things at work, and there are characters you just don't want to cross. Oliver and Sophie are determined though and follow the path right into the heart of evil.

So if you're interested in an Alice-like story that's a geared for a more adult you, then you should read Puppet Parade. Come meet Oliver, Sophie, and Oliver's puppets (the Lewd Lion, the Annoying Ass, the Meak Monster, just to name a few) and get for the train ride (no, not down the rabbit hole) you'll likely never forget.