The Search for WondLa

The Search for WondLa follows twelve-year-old Eva Nine, who has lived her entire life in an underground sanctuary with only a robot caretaker named Muthr. The sanctuary contains everything she needs to survive, but her only knowledge of the outside world comes from training simulations and a mysterious scrap of paper bearing the word "WondLa." When an intruder attacks her home, Eva is forced to flee to the surface world for the first time. She discovers a strange landscape unlike anything in her training programs, filled with unknown creatures and plants that her technological devices cannot identify. As Eva searches for other humans and the meaning behind "WondLa," she forms alliances with unusual companions and faces threats in this unfamiliar world. Her journey takes her through bizarre environments and brings her into contact with various creatures who could either help or harm her mission. This science fiction adventure explores themes of identity, belonging, and the true meaning of family. The story raises questions about human connection and adaptation in a world where nothing is quite what it seems.

Readers appreciate the detailed world-building, unique illustrations, and creative blend of science fiction and fantasy elements. Many note the book's appeal to both children and adults, with parents reporting it makes an engaging read-aloud choice. Fans highlight Eva Nine as a relatable protagonist and praise the evolving relationship between Eva and Muthr. Multiple reviews mention the environmental themes and positive messages about family. Common criticisms include a slow start, with several readers noting it takes 50-100 pages to gain momentum. Some found the invented vocabulary and alien names difficult to follow. A few reviewers felt the ending was rushed. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (23,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.6/5 (650+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 4/5 "The illustrations add depth to an already rich story" - Amazon reviewer "Takes patience to get into but rewards readers who stick with it" - Goodreads review "Perfect for fans of The City of Ember and The Wild Robot" - School Library Journal

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau This tale of children who discover truths about their underground civilization shares WondLa's themes of isolation and a quest to find human connection in a strange world.

Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve A post-apocalyptic world with mobile cities presents a transformed Earth where survival depends on uncovering the secrets of the past.

The House of Power by Patrick Carman A boy's journey through floating mountain settlements mirrors Eva Nine's exploration of an unfamiliar world and search for belonging.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown A robot learning to survive in nature presents themes of adaptation and connection between technology and wilderness that echo Eva's experiences.

Above World by Jenn Reese This story combines advanced technology with a transformed Earth where humans have evolved into different species to survive in various environments.

📚 The book's unique AR (Augmented Reality) feature allows readers to hold their device's camera over specific illustrations to see them come to life in 3D animation 🎨 Author Tony DiTerlizzi was a lead designer for the popular trading card game Magic: The Gathering before becoming a children's book author 🤖 The robot character Muthr's name is actually an acronym that stands for Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six 🌍 The alien world in the book, called Orbona, was partially inspired by DiTerlizzi's fascination with Victorian-era botanical illustrations 📖 The Search for WondLa is the first book in a trilogy, and the word "WondLa" is a damaged fragment of a classic children's book title, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"