You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's beautifully written and a more than worthy sequel to the original Peter Pan story.
Geraldine McCaughrean actually manages to start off maintain the tone of J. M. Barrie, and then, slowly, takes hold of it and turns it into her own, which seemed to me a rather clever move. Also, the subject matter is very thoughtfully used, while "Peter Pan and Wendy" was all about childhood and how it feels like, "Peter Pan in Scarlet" is very much about revisiting childhood after you grow up, it's all about "grown ups" looking back at infancy, trying to keep it, and what it all entails. That explains why the tone of Neverland seems so different from the original, why Pan comes across as a slightly different character, and it is also a key to understanding Ravolo's true meaning (a brilliant villain and a wonderful metaphor as well).
Also... kudos for not shying away from the darker questions raised by the time period in which the story is set, at the time World War I had just happened and it had its effects on the children and on Neverland itself. In fact one of the most gutsy moves of Geraldine with the original material (that I will not spoil by revealing here) comes from that, I'll just say it is a take as gutsy as it will be heartbreaking once realisation dawns.
I don't often like "official sequels" by non original authors (see what happened with "And Another Thing"...er...yeah...that's why)but this one does deserve a spot, rather fairly, alongside "Peter Pan and Wendy" just for being so well thought out, respectful of the source material, and, more importantly, having the courage to go beyond it.
Geraldine McCaughrean actually manages to start off maintain the tone of J. M. Barrie, and then, slowly, takes hold of it and turns it into her own, which seemed to me a rather clever move. Also, the subject matter is very thoughtfully used, while "Peter Pan and Wendy" was all about childhood and how it feels like, "Peter Pan in Scarlet" is very much about revisiting childhood after you grow up, it's all about "grown ups" looking back at infancy, trying to keep it, and what it all entails. That explains why the tone of Neverland seems so different from the original, why Pan comes across as a slightly different character, and it is also a key to understanding Ravolo's true meaning (a brilliant villain and a wonderful metaphor as well).
Also... kudos for not shying away from the darker questions raised by the time period in which the story is set, at the time World War I had just happened and it had its effects on the children and on Neverland itself. In fact one of the most gutsy moves of Geraldine with the original material (that I will not spoil by revealing here) comes from that, I'll just say it is a take as gutsy as it will be heartbreaking once realisation dawns.
I don't often like "official sequels" by non original authors (see what happened with "And Another Thing"...er...yeah...that's why)but this one does deserve a spot, rather fairly, alongside "Peter Pan and Wendy" just for being so well thought out, respectful of the source material, and, more importantly, having the courage to go beyond it.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The beginning was promising, but the way the story progressed, it just kept losing any charm from the original story. Sad.
Life is too short to spend on bad books. Tim Curry tried his hardest to sell this to me, but I had to give up at 50%. This book is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Instead of making a unique story with new characters it turns adults into children. It revives James Hook. It turns a lost boy into a girl just cause. It kills off Michael.
There are SO many better ways they could have gone. If you're looking for a good sequel to Peter Pan, read Peter and the Starcatchers. That series captures the magic of Peter Pan and Never land as it should exist.
There are SO many better ways they could have gone. If you're looking for a good sequel to Peter Pan, read Peter and the Starcatchers. That series captures the magic of Peter Pan and Never land as it should exist.
Adults and children
Are on a spectrum, a sliding scale you might say. Anyone can exist as an adult and as a child, sometimes all in the same day. It's finding where you are on the scale and how to use that knowledge to make it through.
Are on a spectrum, a sliding scale you might say. Anyone can exist as an adult and as a child, sometimes all in the same day. It's finding where you are on the scale and how to use that knowledge to make it through.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A plodding read that did not get better with each turned page. Avoid this revisit of the Peter Pan story.
Slow going with largely atmosphere. And then the next to last few chapters beat massive symbolism into your face. But it's okkay, because it's awesome symbolism.