Never, Never by Brianna Shrum

I love the story of Peter Pan, and I am also intrigued by a redeemable Captain Hook. Both of these elements drew me to this book.

James Hook, age 12, is readying to study at Eton. He's just had his 12th birthday, and his father has recently gone to sea. His mother is expecting a baby, and James is quite content to grow up to be honorable and a gentleman.

When his father leaves unexpectedly two weeks before James is supposed to report to Eton, James is utterly disappointed. He wanted his father to take him to Kensington Park as a last celebration. Instead, that night, James goes alone after dark, and there meets Peter Pan. Peter introduces him to the fairies, and he invites James to travel with him. James assumes he'll only be going to Neverland for only the week before he goes to Eton. However, once he's in Neverland, he realizes he can never return home.

James is devastated, and he feels Peter Pan has lied to him. He is also changed by the events the first night when Peter Pan kills a pirate on a ship James is sure he's seen, but only in his dreams. James remains a Lost Boy, but he is incapable of not growing up. One night, Peter Pan has a Thinning and James is forced out. Worse, while James remembers every moment of being with Peter and the Lost Boys, Peter forgets him entirely.

James goes out to the pirate ship where the crew immediately recognize him as their captain because his dreams brought them into existence. He then becomes Captain Hook, but is still very much trying to be a good man with "good form."

James' story is heartbreaking in many ways. He has grown to hate Neverland, but once he encounters his younger brother, he realizes he can never return home. He falls in love with the lovely Tiger Lily, and because she is also tied to Peter Pan, their dreams of running away together are never realized.

I was sad when I reached the end of the book. I loved James Hook, and I saw all of the plot points from the Disney Peter Pan and the original Peter Pan played out from the point of a wonderful man placed under extraordinary pressure who eventually broke down. There's no happy ending here, and that's even worse for me. Peter Pan was unlikable, Wendy reminded him of his mother, Tiger Lily inflexible, and James Hook miserable. I cried for him, the Lost Boy and Captain, and was so very sad for him as he swam to his finish at the end of the book.

I received the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.