1972
WISE Score
Amazon
Wonka goes to orbit. It's a chaotic, slightly trippy sequel that swaps chocolate rivers for space aliens and de-aging pills.
4.4
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This is the 'difficult second album' of children's literature. It doesn't have the heart or the perfect structure of the first book, but it makes up for it with sheer, caffeinated weirdness.
It's a great choice if your kid is obsessed with Wonka and wants more, but don't expect it to change their life the way the first one did. It’s effectively a 1970s sci-fi B-movie in book form, and honestly, that’s pretty fun for a weekend read.
Perfect for 7 to 11-year-olds. It’s a bit more abstract and 'weird' than the Chocolate Factory, so it helps if they've already fallen in love with the characters first.
Dahl’s humor is famously biting. The grandparents are portrayed as incredibly lazy and selfish, which is funny but definitely not 'sweet.' However, the core bond between Charlie and Wonka remains solid.
This is Dahl at his most unhinged. From shape-shifting space aliens (Vermicious Knids) to the concept of 'Minusland' where people go when they become negative ages, it is pure, high-concept creativity.
Very safe, though some of the 'Minusland' sequences are a bit trippy and the Knids eating people (off-page) might spook a very sensitive 6-year-old.
Excellent vocabulary and a fun cautionary tale about greed and following directions (specifically regarding the Wonka-Vite pills). It’s not as morally focused as the first book, but it’s great brain exercise.
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