“EVERLAND,” by Wendy Spinale, Scholastic Press, May 10, 2016, Hardcover, $17.99 (young adult)
The tale of “Peter Pan” gets a new hero and a new setting in “Everland.”
London is no more. The German army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer (aka Hook) has destroyed the city in a blitz of bombs that ultimately released a deadly disease, wiping out most of the population. The only survivors are children.
The virus unleashed by the blitz has most likely spread beyond England’s borders, but Hook can’t leave the newly dubbed Everland without a cure. He thinks one the surviving children is the key, which means he’s got to catch them for testing and experimentation.
Gwen, Joanna and Mikey Darling scavenge what they can to survive, but it’s getting harder to evade Hook’s ruthless Marauders. When the marauders catch Joanna while Gwen is gathering supplies, they set off a series of events that promise to change everything in Everland. As Gwen sets out to save her sister, she meets Pete, the leader of a gang of Lost Boys and sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. In order to save Joanna — and perhaps the human race — Gwen, Bella, Pete and the Lost Boys must outwit the cunning Captain Hook.
“Peter Pan” is one of those classic tales that children, their parents and their grandparents treasure. It existed long before Disney, and the original tale will continue to be a favorite.
“Everland” stays true to the heart of the original story while taking on a new and imaginative tone. “Everland” is a steampunk Neverland with zeppelins instead of ships and clockwork wings instead of fairies. And in this world, making it to adulthood would be an awfully big adventure. Fast pacing and well-developed characters make for an enjoyable one-afternoon read. It’s also nice to see Gwen in the starring role rather than playing second fiddle to Peter.
“Everland” is the first book in a planned trilogy, and if the next two books are as engaging as the first, author Wendy Spinale will have a hit on her hands.
