Review #416
I gave this YA Peter Pan retelling a 4.1/5 stars. I’ll read the sequel, Shadow, next.
Lots of spoilers in my ramblings:
“Maybe growing up isn’t letting your soul die but entering another adventure.”
What an opener! Claire’s twin brother Connor disappeared 5 years ago and she’s heard no trace of him yet still investigates. There’s a lead from airport security that a stranger may have brought him to London. Apparently she already connects this to the Peter Pan story, but I’m unsure why.
Claire’s shy and self doubting personality is already evident but her skin condition that creates dust is a bit gross right now. I’m only imagining flaky dandruff falling off her everywhere so I’m intrigued with how that part will play out.
Peter has his own point of view. His chapter felt a little more muddled. First he’s on the run for traitor lost boys, but really he’s setting a trap to learn information. For some reason he needs to find Claire. But how does he know her to begin with? And is he stuck in London unable to return to Neverland? Why? And did Tink die? How?
I have the suspicion that Connor is either Peter or Hook. But we shall see.
Peter’s chapters feel a bit slower since there’s not as much progression. The author is using his scenes for establishing the setting and characters but his motivation is the same and he hasn’t come any closer to finding Claire.
Why would Hook offer to help her? He has no reason to.
I guessed the guardian’s identity correctly but it’s annoying he isn’t telling her all he knows. I wonder who Claire will meet at the statue at sunrise?
At the halfway mark I’m unsure about her believing their story like yes, all evidence points to the fact that it’s true but she also hasn’t had ANY interaction with someone unrelated to the fairy tale characters.
Also what did Peter mean when he said Claire IS the island?
I’m confused by her big revelation on page 235 at the end of chapter 25. I can assume what she’s thinking but the way it’s written isn’t clear.
When is her black shadowy burning pixie dust going to be explained?
Chapter 28 felt a bit too preachy, but it was sweet.
The first time Claire is told that Ben is Peter… her reaction isn’t predictable/expected. So she’s either in denial or doesn’t care.
In chapter 32 things are starting to get contradictory. Claire recently said Ben was nothing like Peter. And an hour later she’s saying he’s everything like the Peter she’s heard about…?
And if she ends up believing Nibs that Connor has left her, then why would she have such a high priority to continue searching for him? Denial again?
It feels a tiny bit toxic that they’re both battling right the abandonment and neglect issues which will probably lead to codependent behavior if they end up together… but now I’m psychoanalyzing a retelling, which is ridiculous. I guess what I mean to say is the hero and heroine usually have unique internal battles to overcome, not the same one.
Near the end-ish their (especially Claire’s) thoughts and comments are so hot and cold, forgiving then angry. She goes back and forth like whiplash and it’s a bit hard to adjust to.
In a bit frustrated with the ending. Claire’s entire one goal from the beginning was to see/save/rescue Connor. She doesn’t even get close to it. It’s almost like this book was a prequel for the real book. Yes, I’ll still read the sequel, but it feels like I was pulled along for too long without giving answers. I feel tricked since nothing was resolved, there wasn’t really an ending & I feel completely unsatisfied.
The strengths of this book were the imagery and flowy prose, creativity & setting the scenes well.