One review I read said that it seems like the Alice theme was required after the author had already written the book and then just quickly inserted here and there to fit the bill and I have to agree. This is an interesting and well written middle grade novel with good characters but it is not, in any way, an Alice retelling. The attempts to make it so are a bit embarrassing, actually. 
 Another thing that bothered me a bit and made me take another star from the rate was how the pernicious behavior of one of the characters is treated too mildly, too condescendingly. The idea of forgiving is beautiful but not to that degree. A picture of a severely disturbed young person, with sociopath tendencies is drawn and should be treated accordingly.