Recent Reads - The Wendy

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The Wendy by Erin Michelle Sky and Steven Brown - In this reimagined version of the tale of Peter Pan, Wendy Darling is the adventurous protagonist, and many of the familiar characters from the classic make appearances in slightly different - yet recognizable - roles.

Wendy is an orphan in London in 1789, and more than anything else she wants to be a ship's captain. Despite her intelligence, determination, and aptitude for science and swordplay alike, she is ridiculed by her peers and dismissed as a silly girl. She is fortunate enough to find a seasoned sailor who is willing to teach her and prepare her for the Navy, but when the time and opportunity comes she doesn't win a posting in the Navy after all. She is recruited for a secret mission and finds herself at a lonely post in Dover studying and watching for any sign of the greatest threat to England - magic! Magic in the form of the "everlost" beings who are kidnapping children from the streets of London.

With the help of new friends Michael and John, and the faithful dog Nana, Wendy does indeed sniff out the arrival of magical forces in Dover, and confronts the everlost. Surprisingly, the leader of the everlost, who calls himself Peter Pan, seems willing to negotiate with Wendy and even wants to win her favor. When Wendy submits her report to the Home Office, she is summoned to meet with the formidable Captain Hook and hopes she can impress him with her military skills and earn a spot on the crew of his ship in order to continue the hunt for the everlost.

Unfortunately for Wendy, Hook is arrogant and erratic, and wants only to destroy Peter Pan and his kind. He doesn't listen to Wendy, and tries to keep her safely imprisoned at his country estate, believing that she will eventually give him more information about Pan's whereabouts.

This very well-written retelling does an excellent job of making Wendy the hero of the story, and although written for a modern Young Adult audience, the style seems like it could have been written alongside J.M. Barrie's work. The presence of magical elements such as fairies and flying ships and the everlost boys that cannot be killed puts this firmly in fantasy territory, yet the historical research was thorough enough that the story has a historical setting feel. There are hints of romantic feelings, and all the main characters are young adults, with all the young men wanting Wendy's attention in some way, but Wendy is focused on her mission and quite innocent of how they are attracted to her. In a sense, this story is Wendy's coming-of-age tale, with a conclusion that is satisfying while also leading inevitably to the sequel.

This is a book about secrets (#11) for The 52 Book Club's 2023 Reading Challenge

#the52bookclub #the52bookclub2023

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