Neverlanders

June 15, 2022
The last of the Lost Boys gambles the fate of Neverland on getting a ragtag group of young friends to enlist in a magical war. Paco, the only surviving Lost Boy, travels to New York to find new recruits to help him fight a battle to save Neverland. He meets Bee and Luz when he saves their lives during a subway skirmish. Bee then invites him back to their trailer in a junkyard and introduces him to the rest of the crew. While some of them are initially suspicious of Paco, they ultimately agree to go with him to Neverland in hopes of a better life. Adults have built Otherland on the border of Neverland, and it's a polluted place of greed and exploitation; now they aggressively seek the heart of Neverland, a tree that heals the residents and keeps them young. Paco is hoping that the new arrivals will help him. The fast-paced, adventure-filled storyline forms a well-constructed story that adapts elements from the original world of Peter Pan and includes touches of humor that will keep readers engaged. Cutlass-wielding Tink's appearance channels KISS by way of David Bowie. The illustrations are bright and expressive, with creatively varied panels that draw readers' eyes. Names and physical appearances highlight a racially diverse cast. A thoroughly enjoyable extension of the Peter Pan narrative that explores chosen family. (Graphic fantasy. 12-15)

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July 1, 2022
Grades 7-10 Neverlanders reimagines J. M. Barrie's classic Peter Pan in a darker, grittier atmosphere that nonetheless maintains many of the core themes, characters, and locations from the original. Taylor introduces a new group of lost ones, a group of homeless children living in an unnamed city, who are whisked away to Neverland by Tinker Bell after a chance encounter with Paco, one of the original lost boys. Paco has brought them to the island because he needs their help; Pan is gone, and all the other lost boys have been killed in a battle with adults from the Otherland, who are greedy for Neverland's age-defying magic. The new recruits are happy to find a home better than their junkyard compound, and magical powers sweeten the appeal, but fighting the Otherland pirates is a big task. Taylor and Sommariva inject the classic story with contemporary characters and concerns, and the dynamic, cinematic artwork heightens the high-fantasy feel. Tween fantasy fans will appreciate this engaging ensemble adventure with a solid friendship plot at its heart.

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August 1, 2022

Gr 7-10-This original take on Peter Pan and the Lost Boys starts by introducing readers to a group of boys and girls living on their own in a junkyard, where home is wherever they are together. The adventure starts when a new boy, Paco, saves one of their lives, and along with his sidekick, takes them to Neverland. Unlike the Neverland of children's fiction, though, this version is dying-Peter Pan isn't there, and the last of the Lost Boys was killed in a battle with pirates who are plotting to steal the roots of the life-giving tree at the heart of their world. The fast-paced steampunk adventure story brings a new generation into the fold, and the world of the story completely to life with intricate art laced with rich hues of greens and blues. The quirky humor of the new "Lost Boys" and a foul-mouthed Tinkerbell adds levity, and the mysticism of the tree of life adds intrigue. The action sequences as the pirates storm Neverland push the pace to breakneck speed, but unfortunately the story ends too abruptly. An epilogue wraps up the book but certainly leaves room for a sequel, which will be welcome, because readers will not want to leave the characters behind in this magical world. VERDICT Create room on the shelf for this new fantasy graphic novel with roots in the classic, filled with action-packed battles and splendid depictions of a steampunk world.-Alicia Abdul

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