Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That’s what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn’t know this. She’s just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn’t know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she’ll discover she’s in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.
She’ll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won’t be the only one. Peter Pan’s constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she’s going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she’s going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance. (Goodreads)
Note: I received a review copy of this book via Netgalley
When I read the premise of this book, I was drawn in. I loved Peter Pan as a child (I still like the story even now), so when I saw this on Netgalley, I obviously had to request a copy! I was sorely disappointed, however, and ended up DNfing this book at about 26%.
There was no feeling or connection with the characters. I didn’t really care what happened to any of them because I felt nothing toward them. I wasn’t able to relate in any possible way. My dad was never that strict about bedtime routines, and I never faced the typical teenage problems that most others did because I was treated like an adult from a very early age. Plus, if I had acted like that, I would have been grounded until the end of time… and eventually chucked out!
Whilst there were some differences, I didn’t feel like there were enough to really fully call it a retelling… unless I just didn’t read far enough. The world building was also pretty non existent. There were some descriptions, but they were mostly superficial and only really hit the surface of what could have been some great world building, if the author had done it right.
I will say, however, that I liked the idea of Peter Pan becoming older overtime he visited our world – because it was taking a toll on him. I think this makes more sense, because this world and the sense of time runs differently to that in Neverland! If I had read further, I probably would have liked to explore this aspect the most further.
Overall, I was pretty disappointed. I felt like I was reading a book for middle schoolers rather than young adult. Having said that, I am pretty sure that there are people who do and would like this book, so don’t let my review put you off if you have this on your TBR!! I gave this book 1/5 stars.
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