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introverteddragonscribbles 's review for:
Dust
by Kara Swanson
Taking a dive into Neverland has never felt so...sad. Lonely. Adventerous. Real.
Kara Swanson's new book, Dust, is a retelling of Peter Pan, taking the innocent story for children and turning into something darker. Something more grown up. Claire Kenton, an orphan and a girl with a gift that she doesn't understand, wants one thing in life--to get her brother back. She doesn't know where he is, or if he's even still alive. All she knows is that he was kidnapped by Peter Pan.
All Peter wants is to return to Neverland. Since a catastrophe that left him and many other iconic characters such as Hook, Tigerlily, and the pixies, stranded in London, he has grown from a boy to a teenager. And he longs to return before he loses his childhood forever.
The narrative of the story launches quickly into Claire's adventures and her search for her brother. Dust is lined with mysteries that left me hungering to know more, and magic that left me smiling. While the tone of Dust is more adult than the story of Peter Pan ever was, it still holds notes of that childlike innocence that draws the reader in.
Swanson's characters are given depth, as each struggle with their own internal battles--Claire suffers from depression and self-hatred. Pan is running from his past. And both are pursuing a path to Neverland for their own reasons.
Overall, Dust is a heavy read, dealing with modern issues with grace and forgiveness. I really enjoyed the retelling but ached somewhat at the childlike innocence taken from it. Still, it was a delightful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Peter Pan, fantasy, retellings, and stories that deal with mental health.
Kara Swanson's new book, Dust, is a retelling of Peter Pan, taking the innocent story for children and turning into something darker. Something more grown up. Claire Kenton, an orphan and a girl with a gift that she doesn't understand, wants one thing in life--to get her brother back. She doesn't know where he is, or if he's even still alive. All she knows is that he was kidnapped by Peter Pan.
All Peter wants is to return to Neverland. Since a catastrophe that left him and many other iconic characters such as Hook, Tigerlily, and the pixies, stranded in London, he has grown from a boy to a teenager. And he longs to return before he loses his childhood forever.
The narrative of the story launches quickly into Claire's adventures and her search for her brother. Dust is lined with mysteries that left me hungering to know more, and magic that left me smiling. While the tone of Dust is more adult than the story of Peter Pan ever was, it still holds notes of that childlike innocence that draws the reader in.
Swanson's characters are given depth, as each struggle with their own internal battles--Claire suffers from depression and self-hatred. Pan is running from his past. And both are pursuing a path to Neverland for their own reasons.
Overall, Dust is a heavy read, dealing with modern issues with grace and forgiveness. I really enjoyed the retelling but ached somewhat at the childlike innocence taken from it. Still, it was a delightful book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Peter Pan, fantasy, retellings, and stories that deal with mental health.