"An enchanting and wholly successful update for the perennial boy hero"
The reimagining of the classic story of Peter Pan could not have been in safer hands than with the multi award winning Abi Elphinstone.
Wild magical adventures with real heart and a strong moral compass are her forté and she has crafted a wondrous tale which encapsulates all that is best of the original while removing some undeniably racist and sexist elements which are off-putting to modern generations.
Martha Pennyworth and her younger brother Scruff have come to live in 14 Darlington Road, which once belonged to the Darling family, and discover the permanently open window and mysterious golden dust in a drawer. With a missing mother and a busy father, Martha, aged ten, is feeling that she must grow up and be more responsible for younger asthma-ridden brother Scruff, after a “Terrible Day” she won't talk about.
But Peter Pan entices her and her brother to go with him to save Neverland from an icy curse that was cast upon it by Captain Hook. The fairies and fairytale creatures are in danger of extinction and childhood itself is in danger. The initially reluctant but redoubtable Martha is only one of a fantastic cast of well-rounded and believable new characters, including new Lost Kids and a much more likeable new Fairy called Muddle. In Neverland she must battle frostbears, icesharks and snowtigers before a thrilling showdown with the truly dreadful pirates. The peril feels genuine and the bravery immense. Just as with the original Peter Pan this is a story about the transition from childhood to adulthood, but Martha comes to realise that a life full of adventures is far better than a life of worry.
She can deal with her guilt about the ‘Terrible Day’ and find a way to embrace the wonder and hope of childhood again. Adventure laced with magic powered by genuine emotion, this is thrilling, heartwarming and utterly enthralling. A triumph!
| Suitable For: | |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
Number 14 Darlington Road, looks like a perfectly ordinary townhouse - at first glance, anyway, but magic is good at hiding . . . when it's waiting for the right person to discover it . . .
Martha Pennydrop is ten, and desperate to grow up. But growing up is a tricky business. It means turning your back on imagination, fun and magic, because those were the things that led to the Terrible Day when something awful nearly happened to Martha's younger brother, Scruff, which would have been All Her Fault. But when Martha and Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in the bedroom of their new house - along with a window that's seemingly impossible to close - it's the start of an incredible adventure to a magical world: Neverland!
The Pennydrop's new house used to belong to another family - the Darlings - who once visited this world themselves. Now Peter Pan is back, and in need of their help. Neverland is in the icy grip of a terrible curse - cast long ago by Captain Hook. And only Martha and Scruff can save it . . .
A reluctant Martha and excited Scruff are swept off to Neverland and into the company of the Lost Kids. But when Scruff is kidnapped, Martha must rediscover all the imagination, magic and belief she has buried deep inside herself for so long, to save him - and Neverland itself.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Saving Neverland and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Saving Neverland features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Star Books, Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Saving Neverland is available in Paperback, Hardback
Saving Neverland was written by Abi Elphinstone and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
Saving Neverland has 308 pages
