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kharlan3's review against another edition
3.25
(YA, fairy tale retelling). Honestly, this one didn't super work for me. The protagonist felt immature (but like she was supposed to seem mature) and the story felt fairly predictable. Usually I like YA but this felt... too YA. I didn't like that the MC cut herself off from her best friend for the whole book and that that was portrayed as the right choice, and though most of the characters in the book didn't like/are scared of cops, it still felt like the BOOK likes cops.
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, and Panic attacks/disorders
theos's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, and Kidnapping
anyepagan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Car accident, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Child death
booksthatburn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As a Peter Pan retelling, this fits into a sweet spot between “the story you remember happened a long time ago” and “the story you’ve been told was wrong”. Wendy doesn’t remember what happened when, five years ago, she was missing for six months, then suddenly reappeared without her brothers. There’s a sense of frustration running throughout the story as it becomes more and more apparent that Wendy’s missing memories are important, but she doesn’t know if she’ll ever get them back. It meant that when the book finally gives some answers almost at the very end there’s an enormous catharsis. I wasn’t frustrated at the book, I was frustrated for the characters, and so watching them (particularly Wendy) get answers and closure was immensely satisfying. I spent the first 80% liking it but not sure what the twist was going to be... and then the twist/reveal happened and I loved it. It's a take on Neverland that I haven't seen before and it works extremely well.
I wish Wendy’s friend Jordan had more of a positive presence, it seemed like she mostly existed as part of the crowd of well-meaning but currently unhelpful figures in Wendy’s life (though the epilogue makes up for a lot of the earlier lack). On the other hand, the feeling of being surrounded by a crowd of people who mean well but literally can't help worked really well to support the themes of trauma, repression, and helplessness which are integral to the story.
I liked this and it showed a new side of Wendy, Peter, and Neverland, which is the best part of any retelling. I'm very glad I read it.
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
Minor: Ableism and Death of parent
bookishjude's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
10/10 reccommd it
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Child death
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Alcoholism and Car accident
wanderonwards's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Moderate: Alcoholism, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Violence
stardustandrockets's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Alcoholism
maisierosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Death
s100001's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Murder, Blood, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Kidnapping
Minor: Car accident
ehmannky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I felt that some of the side characters were a little underrealized (for example, Jordan, Wendy's best friend, felt a little underdeveloped) and it took me about the first 1/3 of the book before I really got into it. But those may just be my personal readings. Wendy's interactions with Peter sparkled, and I just loved the pair. Overall, it was a beautiful exploration of grief, growing up, and the impacts of familial loss on a family.
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Moderate: Medical content and Medical trauma
Minor: Forced institutionalization