An amazing re-telling of Peter Pan and Neverland. The years have moved on and Wendy and her brothers are a memory, but Pater Pan brings Martha and Scruff to his home. Martha wants to grow up, but the adventures she is about to face elp her enbrace her childhood and not be in such a rush.

Pirates, beasts, snow, fairy dust and a good dollop of excitement. You will not want to put this one down.

Saving Neverland is an enthralling saga of adventure that unfolds in the enchanting realm of Neverland several years after the conclusion of JM Barrie's iconic tale, Peter Pan. What captivated me about this book was how the author, Abi Elphinstone, seamlessly melded her contemporary narrative with the timeless magic of the classic tale that has held generations of readers spellbound since its publication in 1911.

Though Saving Neverland"l is grounded in the lore of Peter Pan, Elphinstone retains only a handful of the original characters - the audacious pirates and the eternal youth, Peter Pan. However, this in no way detracts from the richness of the story. Instead, it lends an element of comforting familiarity and recognition, bestowing upon "Saving Neverland" the honour of being a legitimate successor to the original tale.

The novel introduces an intriguing twist with its protagonist, Maggie. Unlike Peter, who found solace in Neverland to evade adulthood, Maggie has been thrust into the harsh realities of growing up too early. It's a poignant reflection of the circumstances faced by many children today who are robbed of their blissful childhood innocence and unburdened existence.

As readers traverse the familiar terrains of Barrie's Neverland, they are introduced to new characters and locales that contribute significantly to the narrative, making it an irresistible read. Elphinstone's ingenious additions serve to enhance the mystique of Peter Pan, enriching the tapestry of Neverland in an unparalleled manner. I was particularly impressed by the fact that "Saving Neverland" is not a mere reiteration of the original but a novel that provides us with a fresh and unique interpretation of the beloved classic.

Martha Pennydrop is ten, but she’d much rather be a grown up. She can’t face using her imagination, having fun or believing in magic; no, those things lead to a Terrible Day. And that can never happen again. However, Martha and younger brother Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in their bedroom and it’s not long before they’re whisked away to a world of adventures with mysterious children who have never grown up - Neverland!

I am a massive fan of Abi Elphinstone’s works and her ability to create wonderful magical worlds that also just seem so realistic and well-crafted. Her interpretation of Neverland and Peter Pan is no exception and I can seriously see myself wanting to visit there as a child and never grow up! The world she has created feels very personal and inviting and I love that about it. For adults and children alike, this is a story filled with magic and the theme of family is central to this. Magic is never more important than when it is shared with those you love.

Obviously, Peter Pan is a central character in any story of Neverland and this tale is no exception. Peter is highly arrogant and it is very easy for the reader to spend a long time finding him extremely dislikable and sympathising with Martha and her desire to grow up. However, before long, you’ll find yourself believing in the magic that Peter stubbornly shares with Martha. Martha herself will resonate with older children who read this and hopefully show them that it’s okay to have those childish moments still.

A beautiful retelling of an absolute classic. 5 out of 5 stars.

This is the first book of Elphinstone I’ve ever read and if this is anything to go by, I’d 100% read more of her work.
An absolutely brill retelling of Peter Pan like no other. No Wendy and Peter but Martha and Scruff. Martha a 10 year old who doesn’t want to play games but do nothing but care for and do what’s best for her brother Scruff.

The idea of Neverland appearing differently to whoever is looking at it is something I love that it’s included in this version because it gives the place a personal touch. It feels much more dream-like than a fixed real place in the sky. It means that everyone who visits can attach things that are familiar to them to it, giving Neverland a homely comfort that was missing from the original version. They go on many adventures through Neverland taking the reader to watch their fights with Frost-bears, their escape from Snow-Tigers and Ice-Sharks and having to avoids pirate ghosts as well as having to encourage mountain faces to yawn.

I will say in this version Peter isn’t a very lovable character, he’s quite arrogant, stubborn and very cocky. Luckily the story is mainly based on the relationship between Martha and Scruff. Martha is a brilliant and realistic protagonist, as she is resourceful and feisty, prone to self-doubt and haunted by the way she behaved on the Terrible Day. She does bring out the child in everyone when she shouts…”I believe in magic and miracles and all the extraordinary things that childhood is made of!”

There is also some drawings throughout illustrating key moments in the story adding to the magic of Neverland.

A wonderful twist on a classic story that everybody knows. I didn’t think that you could tell the Peter Pan story any other way but I was wrong!

Lots of authors are revisiting beloved classic tales and writing new stories inspired by these classics. I have found some charming and I have no doubt that many readers will love this book too. However, I struggled to get on with it. I did not actually end up finishing this book. I found it ok and could have persevered but ultimately it didn’t grip me.

I am pleased to announce that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed my first Abi Elphinstone book! This beautiful re-imagining of Peter Pan was a lovely, magical adventure, which I know Elphinstone is known for, so I’m intrigued to read some more of her work now.

Martha Pennydrop is ready to grow up now. Since the Terrible Day, when she nearly lost her little brother Scruff, she knows that she needs to give up her silly make-believe games and imagination. However, there seems to be some strange gold dust in their bedroom and neither Martha nor Scruff know what it is. Years before, the Darling family lived in their house and it seems that an old friend of the Darlings has returned to look for new adventurers to save Neverland from a terrible curse.

I adored the illustrations from Geraldine Rodriguez because they were truly stunning. They fit the whimsical, ethereal vibe of the book so well and they certainly brought the characters to life in my mind. Their presence also reminded me of an old illustrated version of Peter Pan that I had as a child, so reading this book was almost like time travel for me!

Martha feels that her double digit age means that she needs to leave childhood behind. Frankly, I was astonished that she had come to that conclusion at such a young age but a certain event has prompted her to grow up quickly. I think that the decision to make Martha a young girl rather than a teen was the right choice because it meant that she really does have a good excuse to continue enjoying her childhood, which is really what the story is all about.

The Pennydrops have a Norwegian Forest cat called Fluffington, who is this retelling’s version of Nana. He is a thoroughly incompetent babysitter but a fantastic addition to the book. Although I know that Nana didn’t join the Darling children on their Neverland adventure, I was hoping that Fluffington would accompany the Pennydrops on theirs. If only for more cat content!

The idea of Neverland appearing differently to whoever is looking at it is something that I don’t remember from the original story. However, I love that it’s included in this version because it gives the place a personal touch. It feels much more dream-like than a fixed real place in the sky. It means that everyone who visits can attach things that are familiar to them to it, giving Neverland a homely comfort that was missing from the original version.

Peter’s arrogance is amped up in this book and while I know that he has always been something of a complex, grey character, he is definitely an irritating brat here. The Lost Kids mention his loyalty and commitment to his cause several times but I found him to be completely unlikeable. It didn’t really matter because the story wasn’t about him. The focus was on Martha and Scruff’s relationship, which thankfully Peter wasn’t involved in.

Ultimately, Saving Neverland is about remembering the things that make life fun and the joys of using your imagination, even when you’ve grown up. It’s about treasuring family and friendship while overcoming evil and realising that you’re never too old for adventures. It was a really magical, heartwarming read with plenty of fascinating creatures and beautiful imagery in this re-imagined vision of a land that we’ve all been to before but never seen it quite like this.

I've read and enjoyed several of Abi Elphinstone's other novels and this one didn't disappoint. Neverland, Peter and the lost boys are in trouble: Peter turns to two children to help who live in the former home of the Darling family, Scruff and Martha. Martha has buried inside herself her love of magic and imagination following an accident to Scruff sometime before, and for which she believes she is responsible. However, once in Neverland she needs to re-awaken her love of magic to help Scruff, who is now in trouble, and save Neverland. A magical read, perfect for years 4 and above.

This book is just joyous. I loved 'Sky Song', and this takes me back to my enjoyment of that book. Abi Elphinstone has crafted a wonderful new storyline around an established and loved story. So much to commend. I can't wait to read it with my class!

When new children move into the old home of the Darling children, they are visited by Peter Pan, who tells them that Neverland is in mortal peril and they need to help save it. this is one of the best stories set in this world that i have come across. It is full of action, adventure, pathos and love. Abi Elphinstone continues in her fantastic ability to touch the heartstrings.

Martha is determined to grow up now, no more time for silly adventures and playing with her little brother Scruff. However, she'll have to find her belief in magic again to rescue Scruff and save Neverland from the return of captain Hook.
Its wonderful to be back in Peter Pan's world of Neverland. There are so many magical creatures, mermaids, marshchomps, frostbears and glow-in-the-dark monkeys. Martha and the lost kids travel through some amazing places like the Dragontail River and the Neversea. Some things were just a bit too convenient though, like fire that can melt anything but won't harm anyone good!
Despite Martha's refusal to play childish games with Scruff, you can see that all she cares about is keeping him safe. Scruff loves his big sister so much and just wants to be with her. I really liked all the brave, quirky characters of the Lost Kids and loved the ending that they got in the story.

Another Elphinstone classic. I loved the melding of the old characters and places with Abi's signature storytelling: her fabulously named characters, places and objects never fail to amuse me. I really appreciated the fact that she wanted to add a female protagonist to J M Barrie's classic and that she modernised the problematic areas of Peter Pan. I will definitely be recommending this book to my class and like how it is will be a more appealing route to Neverland than trying to encourage them to read the original.

Abi Elphinstone is without doubt the perfect author to write an adventure set in Neverland. Her wonderful imaginings make this an extraordinary magical adventure that brings the whole concept of Neverland to a new generation of readers whilst evoking feelings of nostalgia for those who remember the Neverland of old. In Saving Neverland, we join 10 year old Martha, who is on that dangerous precipice where childish delight is in juxtaposition with the need to grow up and her 7 year old brother Scruff. Peter has arrived at their home because Neverland is in danger and he needs their help. As we journey into Neverland with Martha, ably led by Peter and Muddle the fairy, Abi enables us, as readers,  to feel some sympathy for Martha; she - like Wendy before her -  is driven by this need to grow up. Hopefully this will resonate with younger readers and they will discover that life is for living and that really the essence of us all is to find childish delight in all that life has to offer. There is, as Martha discovers magic in remembering. Abi has created so many beautiful moments such as Martha meeting Armageddon - her childhood toy-  and discovering that sometimes a snuggle is better than an answer, the rise of the Neverbird as well as introducing the reader to fights with frostbears, escaping from snowtigers and icesharks and having to avoid pirate ghosts as well as having to encourage mountain faces to yawn.
An immensely pleasurable and delightful 5 star read, Saving Neverland enables us all to join in with Martha to cry ‘I believe in magic and miracles and all the extraordinary things that childhood is made of!’ And of course we should all be like Scruff and always keep a fork in our pyjama pocket because, as Scruff would say, 'you never know when you might be invited to a midnight feast.’
Huge thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for this e-ARC to review.

Saving Neverland is a modern revisit to the world of Peter Pan. It's a fast-moving adventure story stuffed with magic and opportunities for our hero Martha to save the day - but it's the relationship between Martha and her little brother Scruff, and Martha's own efforts to grow up and swap imagination for responsibility, that work best of all. A very effective reminder to keep growing 'down as well as up'.

I adored this book so much. As an adult reading this it just gave me that feeling of when I was a child myself and playing with all my favourite toys and using my imagination so much as a child gave me so much nostalgia.

Amazing book that makes you feel all wholesome inside and makes you feel like your inner child again.

Truly magical ✨

Martha and Scruff live in a flat at 14 Darlington Road, where the window to her bedroom never properly closes. Her mum has gone off to “find herself” and her dad is very busy with the new job which has brought the family to London. Following a Terrible Day six months earlier, Martha has decided that, at the age of 10, she is going to grow up and leave behind childish activities: little brother Scruff has other ideas. So when one night Peter Pan and fairy Muddle arrive to tell Martha that for an unknown reason it is she who is needed to save Neverland, it is Scruff who immediately joins the adventure, and Martha who has to go off in pursuit of them.
Set completely in a contemporary world of busy or absent parents presented as the norm, with children uninclined to believe in magic and a small cast of lost children, this is an enthralling modern sequel inspired by the characters and events of the original classic. The relationships between the children is totally believable and Martha is a resourceful and feisty protagonist, prone to self-doubt and haunted by the way she behaved on the Terrible Day. Peter is recognisable as the petulant and self-aggrandising boy who never grew up, reacting badly to being questioned by Martha about what led to his decision, she having recognised his need for nurture.
I am an admirer of Abi Elphinstone’s writing and this book would make a great read aloud book for families as well as being a gripping and entertaining book for children to become engrossed in by themselves.

I love Abi Elphinstone's writing and this was full of the magical storytelling and wonderful characters which I have come to expect from her. I really liked her version of Neverland, I felt she kept the magic of the original but updated it so it sits better with modern readers. This had a beautiful message to it which I think will resonate with adults and children alike, in fact I think many adults will get something special from this book as much as children will.

There are also some beautiful illustrations throughout the book which portray some lovely key moments from the story

I must admit to having not read the original Peter Pan, but I am, of course, aware of Neverland and the characters.

So I was keen to read this retelling/follow on. I wasn't disappointed.

It's a really great book. Fantasy, adventure, magic - there's a bit of everything. And the chance for children to be heroes - so important!

The book is well written with characters who are likeable and relatable. Martha has had to grow up way too fast and take responsibility for her brother, touching on some important issues. I love how she rediscovers childhood through the adventure.

The magical characters are also a lot of fun and the relationship between Martha and Scruff is heartwarming. The illustrations really add to the story and I know how much my own son - and children in the library I run - like an illustration in novel!

Saving Neverland was a great little read which was read in one sitting. I would recommend it to everyone.

Martha Pennydrop is ten and she is desperate to grow up. She is ready to turn her back on imagination, fun and magic as those were the things that led to the Terrible Day when something awful nearly happened to Martha's younger brother, Scruff, which would have been All Her Fault.

But when Martha and Scruff discover a drawer full of mysterious gold dust in the bedroom of their new house at number 14 Darlington Road - along with a window that's seemingly impossible to close - it's the start of an incredible adventure to a magical world: Neverland! Peter Pan is back, and in need of help. Neverland is in the icy grip of a terrible curse - cast a long time ago by Captain Hook. And only Martha and Scruff can save it . . .

What a brilliant reimagining of Peter Pan! So cleverly reinterpreted for a modern audience. It's thrilling and brimming with adventure. It's full of wonder and it sparkles with imagination. And it features the most brilliant cast of characters. Martha Pennydrop is a fantastic example of a reluctant heroine. She is such a relevant character and representative of so many young people these days - children who choose or are forced to grow up way too quickly, forgetting about the magic of childhood; children who need to be reminded how to shake off the weight of the world and have an adventure once again.

Abi Elphinstone's story encourages readers of all age to keep their inner child alive, to believe in the impossible and to keep the window to adventure always open. No matter how much growing up you do, make sure you grow down, too. And don't forget to always keep a fork in your pyjama pocket - you never know when you might be invited to a midnight feast!

Saving Neverland is a true delight. And the illustrations by Geraldine Rodriguez work magic with the text. The book publishes today and if you decide to pick it up, you're in for a treat.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (5/5)
Age recommendation: 8+