Everland (Everland, #1)

by Wendy Spinale

[Beth C.]

Most people a familiar with Neverland - the place where Peter Pan and The Lost Boys live with Tinkerbell. Where they play an endless game of hide-and-seek with the infamous Captain Hook. The place where Wendy flew one starry night with a handful of pixie dust. But what if Pete and Belle and The Lost Boys were real, and the danger to them wasn't growing up - it was not having the chance to grow up? If London had been destroyed in an attack that unleashed a deadly virus, and Hook was the one responsible? And Gwen Darling is the potential savior to them all? That is the premise behind Wendy Spinale's 'Everland'.

I was, rather surprisingly, pulled right into the story. While reading, I could quite clearly see the parallels between the original and this retelling, but the originality often surprised me. However, this isn't a strictly by-the-book retelling either - there are some changes in how the story is told. Personally, I liked that aspect, but die-hard fans may not. Bear in mind - this is NOT the classic, nor is it meant to be *A* classic. What it IS is a fun, entertaining read that will be perfect on the beach or traveling.

The characters were interesting - true to their natures in the original, while dealing with very different circumstances. Gwen, the older sister, mothering but tough when necessary. Pete, the eternal orphan, leader of the Lost Boys, mischievous but hurting. Belle, the glue that holds everyone together - until Gwen gets there. And of course - Hook, forever dogging their steps in both worlds.

According to the editor's note in the beginning of the book, this is the first in a "...trilogy that twists childhood classics into something...original...". I'm not sure if that means each book will cover a different story completely, or if they are all tied together somehow - and I couldn't find any information about it. So that part, at least, is up in the air. What I *do* know is that if the second and third books in the trilogy are done as entertainingly as this one, then I will look forward to reading them as well.