Saving Neverland

No 14 Darlington Road is almost as famous as Privet Drive, when talking about children’s classic stories.  However, when Martha Pennydrop, her brother Scruff and father move in they have no idea about the history of the house.  It is only when the two children discover a strange golden dust in one of the drawers that they meet the legendary Peter Pan for the first time.  Neverland is under threat from a curse laid by Captain Hook and it looks as if Martha and Scruff are its only hope.  Unfortunately, Martha has lost her belief in magic and adventure, after a near accident to her brother.  She has decided that it is time for her to be a grown-up, even though she is only ten years old.  Can Martha regain her magic and are the children able to save Neverland?  You will be on the edge of your seat as you wait to find out.

What a fabulous book from the world of Peter Pan.  It is full of excitement, action and adventure, with well-loved characters, as well as the new central heroes.  It is also about the pressures that Martha feels; we would all agree that a ten-year-old should be able to act as a child and not try to be an adult.  There is also the underlying relationship with their father, who is so busy at work that he forgets that the children need his support.  However, despite this, the children do not agree with Peter Pan that they would be better off staying in Neverland.  Not only that, they help the remaining lost boys to remember facts about their families and maybe they can return them to their homes.  There are a multitude of books written about Peter Pan and his further adventures, but I am delighted to say that this is one of the best middle grade adventures that I have come across.  Abi Elphinstone is a superb author and this proves that she is just getting better and better.  It well deserves its five-star rating.