Peter Pan

J.M. Barrie's writing made me feel like I was right there with the characters, in these worlds, but at the same time, Peter, Wendy and the gang also maintained a certain level of mystery about them. Especially Peter. I was right there in the room with the characters, experiencing things with them, but was still left wanting to know them better by the end.

It was really cool to see how different, and how much edgier Peter Pan was in this original book, as opposed to the Disney-fied version we know today. On his way to Captain Hook's boat, when he's going to rescue his friends, Peter swears this "terrible oath" ... "Hook or me this time." Wow. That's commitment.

Peter is crazy, and reckless, and insensitive, and a cold blooded killer who "forgets them after I kill them" as he tells Wendy near the end, after she tries to jog his memory about Captain Hook.

Even with the buffer of a narrator, I still felt like I was able to get close to the characters' hearts and minds.

--Alex

Who doesn't love Peter Pan? This was my favourite book as a child and still one of my favourites today. This is a book full of soul and adventure. Once you hop on board you won't want to get off until you're done. You'll feel like a child again.. It's an amazing book.

Reader reviewed by Chantele

Now, everyone knows the story of Peter Pan, mainly from the Disney
movie. I was expecting it to be similar, but it was quite
different. I know a lot of people love this book, and I did find it
magical, and very interesting, but I also thought it a bit disturbing.
Peter Pan was cocky, wild, and seemed to like killing pirates more than
anything else. Honestly, if I met him, he probably would have
frightened me!;)
The characters were ok. Wendy kind of drove me
nuts. What young girl would fly out the window, and leave her poor
parents for weeks, and watch her brother's kill pirates and such?
Captain Hook was creepy, just like the movies, and Tinkerbell was such a brat!;)
All
things said, J.M. Barrie told the story very well, and must have had
quite an imagination to think of the wonderful place of Neverland. I
read it quickly, and I did enjoy it, though I will probably never read
it again.:) I do recommend everyone reading it at least once! It is a
classic of course!

Reader reviewed by FlooCrookshanks

I read this book because, simply, it's a classic. I've seen numerous film adaptations, and after seeing Peter Pan (2003), loving it, and hearing that it's probably the closest adaptation to the original novel, I was excited to read it.

My first thought was, 'My my, Peter's a bit of a nasty so-and-so, isn't he?'. I know he's meant to be mischievious and so on, but the book portrays him as being quite the heartless, spiteful little brat and I found him to be not the least bit endearing.

I'm glad the book was written because it prompted so many other versions of it which I enjoy very much, but the original itself just didn't gel with me. I didn't feel compelled to read to the end - I've never liked the fact that Wendy decides to leave Neverland and grow up. Seriously, what was she thinking?! Growing up is boring and Peter's awesome - I can't believe she actually convinced herself that living a normal humdrum life without pirates, faeries, swordfights and flying would be better.

Tsk tsk, Wendy. And I'd thought so highly of you until then.

I can't bring myself to give this book a rating of one or even a two, because it's NOT a bad book, it's just that I didn't like Peter's character at all, and that really put me off it because he's my favourite part of the whole thing.

It's worth reading if only just to see how it all started. But if you've seen movies and loved the character of Peter, I do warn you that you might hate him after reading this book!

Reader reviewed by Marietta

The title's true, unfortunately. We all grow up. Except, of course, if we are Peter Pan - the boy who will always stay a boy. One night he flies through the window of the Darling nursery in search of his shadow. There he meets Wendy, Michael, and John, and leads them to the home of the Lost Boys in Neverland.

Peter Pan is a funny book with a gripping plot, obviously not unreasonably called a classic. At the end, Wendy decides that she wants to grow up and returns home. After reading the last page I thought, "It's not so bad to grow up, after all"

Reader reviewed by Veronika

A book I read when I was about 13...
This tale brings you to Neverland with Peter, Wendy and her brothers. Here you'll meet pirates, Cap'tain Hook, the Lost Boys...

It is really contagious, you too, want to be a kid to go to Neverland !
Parents would enjoy it as much as their kids, I think.

I think there is no middle with this book : you like or you hate...because it seems pretty good or boring to you.

For mi part, I like !
Veronika

Reader reviewed by gabriella

Book full of advantures.It's about chldren world Neverland and their leader Peter Pan . They fight agast pirats.Every child who read this book or only see the film have to dream about life in Neverland and want to make advantures side by side with P.P.

Reader reviewed by Liz

i love peter pan! this book is so great, made me think i was a kid again. i wish i could go to neverland....you kinda do when u read this book. takes away all your troubles...reading this u escape your world and delve into the magical fantasy that is...P*E*T*E*R P*A*N