Peter Pan first flew across a London stage in 1904, overwhelming audiences with its tale of a magical boy who never grows up, who lures young Wendy and her brothers to Neverland, where they meet pirates, Indians, fairies, and the Lost Boys. J. M. Barrie revised and expanded the story and published it as this novel. For children, it remains a marvelous mix of fantasy and adventure, featuring unique, imaginative characters who frisk and frolic in an enchanting land. For adults, the story of Peter and the Lost Boys works on a much deeper level, speaking to them about the inevitable loss of childhood and the ability "to fly." The climactic duel between Peter Pan and Captain Hook is both a swashbuckling romp and a moving metaphor for the complex, poignant struggle between innocent but irresponsible youth and tainted but dependable maturity.
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"My son and I "read" this book last night on Netflix. There is a kid's "movie" that is just 70 minutes of being read aloud words on the screen,and this is the book they are reading. I have read many picture book versions of this story and seen every movie version there is, but never the full original book. It was great! I didn't realize that Tink could talk in the original story. The writing is very expressive and I think Hook is much scarier in the book then he has ever been on film. There is just something about Peter, Hook and Neverland that I love. Peter Pan will always be my fav :)"
— Kathleen (5 out of 5 stars)
" Funny, weird, sarcastic -- I had no idea this book would be so enjoyable to read. Hook is downright nasty and the whole thing about Hook having gone to a great school where he was taught that good form is everything but you can only have good form when you're not aware of having good form because it's bad form to be aware of having good form is hilarious. I guess I vaguely thought that the novel Peter Pan would be just as sappy as those kids' shows with some woman pretending to be a boy on a wire. I was wrong. "
— Katharine, 2/20/2014" This is one of those childhood-scarring books... illustrated in 3D using the world's most creepy AS dolls. *shudders* "
— Sally, 2/20/2014" It's hard to dislike something so simple. Beautifully written. "
— Leslie, 2/19/2014" Peter Pan was my favorite book when I was a little kid. I made my mom read the book to me endless times, and when I learned to read, I read it, when my little brother was born (i was 8) I would read it to him and he loved it too. It's still a fond memory for us both, even though he's 13 now and I am 21. The perfect book for an adventurous little kid. "
— Claudia, 2/19/2014" Finally got around to reading this and it was beyond adorable! I love this version more than the Disney and cartoon versions. The little details of children's imaginations and Mrs. Darling's kiss on the corner of her mouth and the darker details of the pirates were perfectly balanced and I enjoyed every second. "
— Felicia, 2/18/2014" This was a surprisingly violent book for children's literature, and the violence was surprisingly casual. But it was a good story, and it made me appreciate one of my favorite movies, Hook, even more. "
— Ander, 2/18/2014" I really loved Peter Pan, Wendy, and the lost boys even Captain Hook because they are part of my childhood memories which I'll treasure until the very end. "
— Darren, 2/10/2014" The original Peter Pan is a must read for all ages. I don't know why this is considered a children's book. Disney ruined it for this generation because we can't get the animated characters out of our heads. Great read aloud for younger children but an indpendent read for middle school up to adults. "
— Liz, 2/8/2014" Ever since I was a child this has been one of my favourite books - The characters and places always bring a smile to my face, yes, even Wendy, who even as a child I disliked with a passion. I hope that more people will read this wonder of a book and read the world and people that I have been brought up loving. "
— Chelsea, 2/7/2014" Growing up (ironically) with many different movie, TV, and a musical version of Peter Pan, I'm glad I finally read the actual story. It's interesting to see what parts were incorporated into each version, and to see which version came the closest to the actual story. Peter came off a lot more arrogant and obnoxious than he has in mainstream media, but I guess that was to make the masses fall in love with the story of the boy who wouldn't grow up. "
— Meaghan, 2/7/2014" I listened to this book on CDs read aloud by Jim Dale (he reads the Harry Potter books too) and found it really enjoyable! "
— Crystal, 2/5/2014James Matthew Barrie (1860–1937) was born in Scotland, the son of a weaver and the ninth of ten children. His mother saw to it that he was educated, despite the family’s low income. He studied at the University of Edinburgh and spent two years on the Nottingham Journal before settling in London as a freelance writer in 1885. His short stories, essays, and novels were well received, and he began to gain a fine reputation as a playwright. His most enduring work is Peter Pan, which is based on stories he made up for children in his neighborhood.
Wanda McCaddon (a.k.a. Nadia May or Donada Peters) has narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, has earned numerous Earphones Awards, and was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.
Wanda McCaddon (d. 2023) narrated well over six hundred titles for major audiobook publishers, sometimes with the pseudonym Nadia May or Donada Peters. She earned the prestigious Audio Award for best narration and numerous Earphones Awards. She was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine.