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Overview
Wendy's imagination never runs away from her — it flies.
Wendy Darling is not the perfect girl her parents would like her to be. Intrepid, outspoken, and willful, she's always getting into trouble. One evening, confined to the nursery by her horrible nanny, she sneaks out to spy on one of her parents' glamorous parties.
Their world is lavish, rich with excess — and off limits to Wendy. On this evening Wendy uncovers a secret she had not bargained for. It catapults both her and her brothers, Michael and John, into a series of confusing events as she tries to make sense of the mystery and intrigue that lie at the heart of her family.
In early twentieth-century London, before their encounter with Peter Pan, nine-year-old Wendy and her younger brothers lead far from perfect lives with their emotionally distant parents and abusive Nanny, a situation that only worsens for Wendy when she see her father kiss another woman and finds herself pulled into an adult world of mysteries and lies.
Synopsis
Wendy's imagination never runs away from her — it flies.
Wendy Darling is not the perfect girl her parents would like her to be. Intrepid, outspoken, and willful, she's always getting into trouble. One evening, confined to the nursery by her horrible nanny, she sneaks out to spy on one of her parents' glamorous parties.
Their world is lavish, rich with excess — and off limits to Wendy. On this evening Wendy uncovers a secret she had not bargained for. It catapults both her and her brothers, Michael and John, into a series of confusing events as she tries to make sense of the mystery and intrigue that lie at the heart of her family.
Publishers Weekly
Wallace imagines the well-to-do Edwardian household and society that engulfs Wendy Darling before she meets Peter Pan. The girl learns more than she bargains for when she sees her father kissing a neighbor's wife. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
Wallace imagines the well-to-do Edwardian household and society that engulfs Wendy Darling before she meets Peter Pan. The girl learns more than she bargains for when she sees her father kissing a neighbor's wife. Ages 12-up. (Aug.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.Children's Literature
The expectation is that this prequel to the story of Peter Pan will open up the world of Wendy Darling before she flies off to Never Never Land. But rather than a thoughtful or imaginative prelude to a world of dreams and fantasy, we are led through a sordid soap opera in which Wendy's father is an alcoholic with a mistress, the children's nanny beats them, Wendy has a mentally retarded brother who is hidden away, and most of the main characters are downright nasty to each other, their servants, and especially to the suffragettes. One particularly mean little girl even uses the sexual exploits of the grown-ups as the story line when she and Wendy play house with their dolls. If young Peter Pan fans read this book as they will be inclined to do, they are likely to raise many questions, concerns and even fears that have nothing to do with Captain Hook or the ticking crocodile. 2003, Simon and Schuster, Ages 12 to 14.— Karen Leggett
KLIATT
To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2004: You remember the Darling family from Peter Pan—Wendy is the oldest, with two younger brothers, and a beloved dog, Nana. Peter Pan is not in this book at all. Instead, Wallace focuses on the troubled lives of an upper-class family in London in the early part of the 20th century. Wendy is not yet a teenager, but she is trying to make sense out of the grown-ups around her. For instance, she realizes that her father is having an affair with a neighbor. Wendy and her brothers are terrorized by a sadistic governess. Wendy's father is obsessed with his new motorcar, and his reckless behavior takes the family to the brink of financial ruin. Meanwhile, at the country home of Wendy's kindly uncle and aunt, there is an older boy whose relationship to the family is not spelled out. Wendy sees her mother embrace the adolescent boy and fears that her mother is also having an adulterous affair. So, while this is basically a story from a child's point of view (Wendy is about 10 years old), the subject matter fits into the YA category. Wallace writes about major issues of the times—cars replacing horse-drawn carriages; the fight for women's suffrage; the subservient role of women and the frustrations they face dealing with their husbands; the lowly place of children in a household. It is a fine supplement to the Peter Pan story. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2003, Simon & Schuster, Pulse, 307p., Ages 12 to 15.—Claire Rosser
VOYA
Wendy Darling spends a great deal of her time being afraid, sad, and angry. She and her brothers fear their sadistic nanny who force feeds them castor oil, they are saddened by their parents' seeming lack of interest in them, and they are angered that they are helpless to do anything about their situation. Nine-year-old Wendy, an imaginative daydreamer, has conversations with her dog, Nana. Mr. Darling is only interested in showing off his new "motor-car" and giving fancy parties. Mrs. Darling seems only to want to wear the latest fashions from Europe and not get her hair mussed by her offspring. Wendy's feelings for her parents change drastically when she sees her father kissing the pretentious Lady Cunningham, whose children torment the Darlings when they play together. Eventually the siblings are allowed to visit the country, where they are free to roam and are doted on by their aunt and uncle and their servants. Wendy is extremely fond of Thomas, a mentally challenged teenaged boy who lives and works there. Thomas paints a picture with flying people because Wendy read a book about airplanes to him. Wendy's turbulent thoughts about her parents begin to spiral out of control when Mr. Darling loses money in the stock market and Wendy sees her mother kissing Thomas. Wallace's clear-cut writing has plenty of the melancholy, conflicting emotions, and tension that is part of the adolescent years. The story's interesting premise, which is loosely based on the story of Peter Pan, and satisfying conclusion might make some readers eager for a sequel. VOYA Codes: 3Q 2P M J (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2003, Simon & Schuster, 304p., Ages 11 to 15.—Brenda Moses-Allen