Second Star

Gr 8 Up—Peter Pan is reconceptualized in this futuristic space fantasy with rogue Captain Hooke crash-landing on the mysterious planet Neverland as his crew was mutinying. Ace mechanic Peter and his motley group of deserters take refuge away from the main ship and settle into life away from the devious captain. One hundred years in the future, the Londonierre Brigade receives a transmission from Hooke, and newly appointed Captain Wendy Darling leads her own crew across space to rescue the survivors of the Jolly Rodger. Once they arrive, loyalties are tested and the two crews fight an evil that could consume the universe. Alternating chapters between Peter and Wendy's perspectives establish the characters' backstories, however the pacing is slow until the story begins to gain momentum in the last half of the book. Sullivan works hard to stay within the classic story's framework, but sometimes to the detriment of the story. A cliff-hanger sets up the narrative for a sequel, which might allow the series to evolve as it won't need to hew so closely to the original source material.