Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Peter Pan in Scarlet
Book Review: Everyone has grown up
Summary: 3 Stars
I remember reading the original back when I was still a kid. I remember watching the movies of Peter Pan and Wendy on TV. But this book was nothing but dissapointment. Perhaps it is because I grew out of children's stories or perhaps it is simply because it's not well written.
The idea of the book is good. The style of writing is good and it's well written. It's just how the ideas function and how little thought are put into such concepts. Everything is just too childish or undeblievable. I mean how does changing into the clothes of a child make you a child? How does the first laugh of a baby create a fairy?
I simply can't believe that grown ups change into children by wearing their clothes, give better explanations and edit the book and maybe i'll read the book.
Well, maybe four year olds will enjoy the book... if they can read it
Book Review: A new classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Having read and re-read the original many times as a child, I was thrilled to hear of the imminent release of an officially-sanctioned sequel assuming it wouldn't be allowed if it wasn't good. I know little of Geraldine McCaughrean's writing having read only one of her other books so far (Stop the Train - which is truly fantastic), though I know her outstanding reputation so I expected a great read. And yes, I got it.
The classic Peter Pan tale includes a full compliment of childhood imagery (mermaids, pirates and red indians) and would be a hard job to follow so I had wondered what new elements could be brought in to make this sequel original in its own right. The Lost Boys and Wendy and John are now grown-up and have families of their own, yet all are aware through too-vivid dreams of deeply-disturbing alterations to Neverland, and so they decide they must return to see what they can do to set it right for Peter and their own sakes. There's a theme running through of how wearing another person's clothes helps you be that person, and this adventure begins with the grown-ups squeezing themselves into the clothes of their children to regress to their own childhoods to enable them to return to Neverland. With Peter Pan at the helm, they become explorers following an old Treasure map of Captain Hook's to the top of Neverpeak Mountain. There's intrigue and danger along the way intertwined with the mysterious Ravello with his travelling circus animals. There's also plenty of action with fighting factions of fairies, a maze of witches, roaming men who were once lost-boys but lost their way in Neverland, and a battle across sinking sand.
The book is beautifully packaged in vivid red with evocative and striking silhouettes at the start of each chapter. The cover has a lovely bold image of Peter and the male fairy, Fireflyer, against a fiery lagoon and scarlet sky. This is perfectly apt as Neverland is no longer a lush green garden of adventure, the strong autumn colours reflecting the dangerously-changing times and that there's fire at the heart of Neverland. The ending is expected in the main, Wendy and the Original Lost Boys returning to their London families, but the door to Neverland never shuts and anything could happen......
I found this book to be largely true to the original with evocative descriptive language and sophisticated imagery. The tale is in many ways enchanting, appealing to the spirit of eternal youth, yet it's underscored with a dark ripcord. There's the sinister villain and the hero who is himself flawed. There's the anger of the Roarers, the grief of the mothers who lost those lost boys and, in the background, the scars of World War 2.
Oh yes, I think JM Barrie would heartily approve of this sequel. High praise indeed.
Book Review: Different!
Summary: 4 Stars
Summary
This story is set after all our favourite characters have grown up and even one of our friends has died in war. Unfortunately, Peter doesn't recognise Wendy or the boys, at the start of the story when they first return to Neverland, and there are no new Lost girls and boys because the have either been killed by Peter or they have been banished off the island.
Favourite and worst things
My favourite part of the book is the character Firefly the fairy because he is boastful but really funny. The worst thing is that the Wendy Hut is now up at the top of a tree and breaks so Peter gets angry leading him to blame all the guests (Wendy and the boys) and is really unfair to them.
Ratings and recommendations
I would rate this book 7/ 10. I would recommend this book to 8 - 12 year olds who enjoyed the Peter Pan book by J.M Barrie.
Book Review: Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Summary: 5 Stars
PETER PAN IN SCARLET by Geraldine McCaughrean should be read by every fan of J.M. Barrie's PETER PAN.
The reader will return to the age at which they first read the original and re-experience the wonder of seeing the world through the eyes of Peter Pan and his gang of comrades in adventure. It is the first approved sequel to the original tale, and the author manages to capture the style and excitement of Mr. Barrie's classic. It is remarkable in every sense of the word and, like the original, proceeds go to the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital and not to Barrie's estate.
Set in the 1920s, nightmares are slipping out of Neverland and into the real world to find Wendy and the original Lost Boys, who are now respectable adults with children of their own. They revert to children in a magical way and the adventure begins.
Neverland is no longer a land of eternal summer. It is currently Autumn, something that has not happened before. When Wendy and the Lost Boys make it back to Neverland, they meet Peter, who is alone but still the essence of Boy. After fighting through the denial of Peter, who loves Neverland in reds and golds as much as he does in shades of green, it is up to them to save it.
They face their worst fears, remember who they once were, and deal with the sadness of loss and the joy of love with a youthful exuberance that J.M. Barrie would be proud of. His creations are treated with the utmost respect and tenderness by an author who is truly in love with her story.
Reviewed by: Christina Tsichlis
Book Review: A great adventure
Summary: 4 Stars
With this sequel Peter Pan returns bigger and bolder than ever. Many much loved characters return and some new ones are introduced. The same dark tones and high adventure that Barrie created are here. However Geraldine McCaughrean brings her own beautiful style to the text which raises this above simple imitation. A brilliant read.