The Neverland Wars

Book Description:

Magic can do a lot—give you flight, show you mermaids, help you taste the stars, and… solve the budget crisis? That’s what the grown-ups will do with it if they ever make it to Neverland to steal its magic and bring their children home.
However, Gwen doesn’t know this. She’s just a sixteen-year-old girl with a place on the debate team and a powerful crush on Jay, the soon-to-be homecoming king. She doesn’t know her little sister could actually run away with Peter Pan, or that she might have to chase after her to bring her home safe. Gwen will find out though—and when she does, she’ll discover she’s in the middle of a looming war between Neverland and reality.
She’ll be out of place as a teenager in Neverland, but she won’t be the only one. Peter Pan’s constant treks back to the mainland have slowly aged him into adolescence as well. Soon, Gwen will have to decide whether she’s going to join impish, playful Peter in his fight for eternal youth… or if she’s going to scramble back to reality in time for the homecoming dance.

I just finished reading this book that I received in my July Lit-Cube book box! I love getting these book boxes because it gives me a chance to read books I would probably not otherwise find. This was a quick read I read it in about 3 days during lunches at work.  I love Peter Pan so I was excited to read it.

I thought it was an interesting take on the Peter Pan story. As you can see from the description it is about the fact that reality knows about Neverland and they basically want to destroy it and use the magic for themselves. I thought it was an interesting concept that magic fuels our inventions in the beginning and then eventually we figure out how it works and don’t need magic. I also thought how crazy they got rid of Santa ha ha! Anyway so people who work with magic’s families are more at risk for Peter to come “steal” their children. Gwen goes to Neverland with her sister to try and convince her to come back with her, and also just to feel like a kid again because she has never really wanted to grow up.

Peter and Gwen are close in age because Peter has aged from coming back and forth between Neverland and reality. I liked the interesting way Audrey incorporated parts of the original into this. Like that the pirates were there but they have already been defeated. It was unique in the sense as well that it was a little darker and more mature in parts like the bombings, the death of a fairy that isn’t revived by “I do believe in fairies” and Gwen swimming naked with a mermaid, and some mention of drugs.

When reading this towards the end I was like is this a series because I felt like it could have been a series, and maybe it will be. The ending seemed pretty quick, I wish more had been decided like did he find the Piper? Gwen went with him but is she staying? I want to know more of what is happening?! Who is going to win the war?

It is definitely a younger read and has some silly parts in it, but I did have fun reading it.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5