Having read and re-read the original many times as a child, I was thrilled to hear of the imminent release of an officially-sanctioned sequel assuming it wouldn't be allowed if it wasn't good. I know little of Geraldine McCaughrean's writing having read only one of her other books so far (Stop the Train - which is truly fantastic), though I know her outstanding reputation so I expected a great read. And yes, I got it.
The classic Peter Pan tale includes a full compliment of childhood imagery (mermaids, pirates and red indians) and would be a hard job to follow so I had wondered what new elements could be brought in to make this sequel original in its own right. The Lost Boys and Wendy and John are now grown-up and have families of their own, yet all are aware through too-vivid dreams of deeply-disturbing alterations to Neverland, and so they decide they must return to see what they can do to set it right for Peter and their own sakes. There's a theme running through of how wearing another person's clothes helps you be that person, and this adventure begins with the grown-ups squeezing themselves into the clothes of their children to regress to their own childhoods to enable them to return to Neverland. With Peter Pan at the helm, they become explorers following an old Treasure map of Captain Hook's to the top of Neverpeak Mountain. There's intrigue and danger along the way intertwined with the mysterious Ravello with his travelling circus animals. There's also plenty of action with fighting factions of fairies, a maze of witches, roaming men who were once lost-boys but lost their way in Neverland, and a battle across sinking sand.
The book is beautifully packaged in vivid red with evocative and striking silhouettes at the start of each chapter. The cover has a lovely bold image of Peter and the male fairy, Fireflyer, against a fiery lagoon and scarlet sky. This is perfectly apt as Neverland is no longer a lush green garden of adventure, the strong autumn colours reflecting the dangerously-changing times and that there's fire at the heart of Neverland. The ending is expected in the main, Wendy and the Original Lost Boys returning to their London families, but the door to Neverland never shuts and anything could happen......
I found this book to be largely true to the original with evocative descriptive language and sophisticated imagery. The tale is in many ways enchanting, appealing to the spirit of eternal youth, yet it's underscored with a dark ripcord. There's the sinister villain and the hero who is himself flawed. There's the anger of the Roarers, the grief of the mothers who lost those lost boys and, in the background, the scars of World War 2.
Oh yes, I think JM Barrie would heartily approve of this sequel. High praise indeed.