April 15, 2019
Two Americans go adventuring in Neverland in this continuation of the famous Barrie classic. Clover and Fergus, two white children from San Diego, are spending three weeks in London with grandparents whom they have never met. As they struggle to settle into a strange place, Fergus is intrigued by sightings of a mysterious boy outside of their sixth-floor nursery window. A talk with their grandmother reveals that they are the descendants of Wendy--she is Margaret from the famous novel's conclusion--and that Peter's appearance means that he wants to take them on an adventure. Neverland is everything that the siblings could want, until mermaids start mysteriously disappearing. Adrian does an exemplary job of creating complex and compelling characters out of the sibling protagonists--who alternate narration duties--so that readers are thoroughly invested in their journeys before Peter whisks them away. Fergus' autism is deftly woven into the narrative and the siblings' relationship. Clover, used to mothering her younger brother, struggles to stop worrying in Neverland, while Fergus, loving the freedom he finds there, fears that he will be judged. Two welcome and notable changes to the original Neverland mythos are the inclusion of female Lost Boys--the group as a whole alternates the monikers "Lost Boys and "Lost Girls"--as well as a racially diverse cast of supporting characters; Barrie's Indians do not figure in the plot and indeed are not mentioned at all. A list of books and websites on autism is appended. A magical ode to childhood that updates the classic while keeping its flavor. (Fantasy. 8-12)
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June 7, 2019
Gr 3-7-In this modern-day Peter Pan adventure, siblings Fergus and Clover travel from San Diego to stay with their grandparents in London, while back at home their mother studies for the bar exam. Short chapters alternate between the perspectives of 11-year-old Fergus and his 12-year-old sister Clover, but because both of them spend much of the story feeling stressed, their narrative voices are not always distinguishable from one another. The siblings are warmly welcomed by their twinkling-eyed English grandmother, a descendent of Wendy from the original Peter Pan tale, but get a cold reception from their judgmental and stern grandfather. Clover feels extremely protective of Fergus, who is autistic, and tries to take on a motherly role. Her worries grow when their vacation takes a fantastical pivot and the pair journeys to Neverland with Peter Pan to meet the Lost Boys (and girls). Fergus flourishes in the new carefree environment where his extensive knowledge of mythological gods and goddesses comes in handy. Clover is still struggling to feel comfortable in Neverland when she is captured by a sea monster and forced to form a vocal trio with a couple of mermaids. Allusions to a backstory leave unanswered questions that distract from the text. It is not made clear why Grandfather is disgruntled, or why their mother is the only family member who never adventured with Pan as a child. And though Clover arguably has a positive ending, Fergus gives up his chance for happiness and acceptance for a sense of family obligation. VERDICT While this fantasy's premise is interesting, its plot needed to be further developed to form a cohesive tale.-Lauren Younger, Nicholson Memorial Library, Garland, TX
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