Advance Review: Cheshire Crossing

Gwen Dylan Stacy

5 years ago

Are you the type of person who, like myself, loves prefaces? I tend to read them because sometimes it puts the writer’s mindset. Sometimes, like with Cheshire Crossing, it allows me to understand what exactly I might be diving into as far as the plot itself (also, I should note that it also told me that Andrew Weir is extremely handsome.) Upon reading the preface, I was excited to dip into this reading. In truth, anytime that you take beloved characters from the classics of my youth, I will be sold. I easily tore through the pages of Cheshire Crossing.

There’s a quaint charm to seeing the girls of tales like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and The Wizard of Oz outside of the pretense written in their original material, just living as these misunderstood creatures because of their previous adventures. Weir manages to find a balance of bittersweet pangs of youth and sometimes bluntly funny interactions with their cohabiting characters. There’s even a joke or two from pop culture in there. (“Get your hands off me, you damn dirty human!”) Sarah Andersen’s art just happens to perfectly compliment the title. There’s a sophisticated air of antiquity to the faces of the ladies; the movement of their pinafores. It lends to the homey type vibe that you get from reading the interactions. Makes it somehow easier to see these young women from new sides.

The best part about this is, despite them being outside of the tales that we know about these women previously, some of our beloved and possibly most hated characters manage to pop up when needed. If either to lend a hand or lend to the tension. It’s interesting to see what might have come of all the worlds if they met with these women being the catalyst that brings them all together. In a way, this title, toÂ me, pays respects to the often dreaded Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope. I know that a lot of people, including myself, happen to hate this phrase, but it’s the only thing I could think of to actively describe the way these girls stumble into the lives of those around them, sometimes creating chaos. Sometimes bringing exactly what beings or worlds around them might need just when they need them. It’s a trait of the archetype that allows those around them to grow to the full potential.

Alice Liddell is perhaps the best example of this, as her interactions with Peter Pan vividly illustrate this kind of well meaning meddling that leads to an ultimately fortuitous outcome. I had no doubts that delving into this 4 out of 5 star volume would bring me happiness, and it did fully. It made me remember bits of my own youth as well as the wonderful stories that first brought these characters my way. I hope you check it out and let me know if you agree.

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

(W) Andy Weir (A) Sarah Andersen