Abi Elphinstone takes us on a magical and thrilling journey back to Neverland, that is bound to excite and delight readers with its wondrous storytelling. It totally enchanted me and stole a little piece of my heart, leaving me with a warm glow inside.

Martha Pennydrop has reluctantly left her childhood behind. No longer can she afford to spend time playing with her brother, Scruff, reading him bedtime stories under the duvet, or even enjoying one of his lovely hugs like she used to. Instead, now she's ten, it's all about to-do lists, being the sensible one, and never letting the Terrible Day happen ever again. Of course that also means adventures are no longer allowed which is a bit of a problem when you're visited by a fairy called Muddle and a boy who says he needs their help to save save a place called Neverland from everlasting winter and his own arch enemy! This lovely book is author Abi Elphinstone's modern interpretation of the J M Barrie classic children’s story, Peter Pan, and was a joy to read. I have to admit to being a little unsure at the start, but I was soon as caught up in the magic as Martha and Scruff! Although this is a positive, uplifting story there is also a sadness running through it which highlights how, at any age, or in any reality, the need for companionship, understanding, and trust are universal. The solution to these problems are also here, highlighting how, by being true to ourselves and those we love most, anything is possible. As is mentioned in the Author's notes, the days of Wendy's sock mending talents are, thankfully, long gone with both Martha and Scruff having their own part to play in trying to defeat the menacing Captain Hook. There are, however, enough nods to the original to keep the continuity and nostalgia strongly in place. The illustrations by Geraldine Rodriguez are beautifully crafted, compliment the written descriptions brilliantly, and mean I now need a woolly mammoth exactly like her interpretation of Martha's. I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own. Despite my initial hesitancy, I thoroughly enjoyed this modern take on a childhood favourite and happily recommend it, especially if it is to be read under a duvet on a cold winter's night.

This is a really lovely reimagining of the Peter Pan story. It draws on the original, and doesn't lose any of the charm, but brings some more modern aspects to it, such as 'lost kids' instead of lost children, as there is a little girl there too. And the fact that Martha (the main character) isn't anything like Wendy. She isn't there to darn Peter's socks and mother the lost children. She's very reluctant to believe any of the story is happening at first, and very much wants to grow up, but finds herself drawn deeper into adventure, and eventually having to save Neverland from Hook's curse. It was a really charming read, bringing new life to an old classic. It's technically set modern day, but feels like it could have been set in the same time frame as the original. Overall, a really nice read, and worth the time to read, whether you were a fan of the original book or not. Or even if you've never read it, as it doesn't rely on you knowing anything from the original story.

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.

Revisiting a childhood favourite is always a bit of a gamble: will it live up to expectation or will it not? This is exactly how I felt when I opened the first page of Saving Neverland by Abi Elphinstone as Peter Pan, created by J.M Barrie, is one of my favourite children's classics in terms of both setting and characters. I needn't have worried, though. Saving Neverland, which has echoes of the original but is injected with Abi Elphinstone's incredible imagination and evocative writing, is a delight from start to finish. Magical yet menacing, it is a race against time to save everything the Neverlanders hold dear and a chance for Martha to rescue her beloved brother, whilst re-embracing her own childhood. After a terrible incident on a terrible day, ten year old Martha Pennydrop has turned her back on childhood. But when Peter Pan turns up at 14, Darlington Road, urgently needing help to break Hook's icy curse over Neverland, Martha and her little brother Scruff find themselves launched into an epic adventure involving fairies, frostbears and ghostly pirates, including the legendary Captain James Hook himself. Is Martha the only one who can help Peter Pan save Neverland and can she avoid another 'terrible day'? This is something really special. Not only has Abi Elphinstone handled an old-school classic with the utmost care, she has reinvented it with the golden touch of a genius writer. All the ingredients which make Neverland a memorable setting are there: the lost children, the dens, the burrows, the mermaid lagoons and the threat of terrible pirates, all wrapped up in a brand new quest of ice, snow, sweetshops, woolly mammoths and, of course, battles. For young readers, this makes the world of Peter Pan newly accessible, creating a fan base across a new generation and keeping the classic alive. I particularly loved the scene with the sharks, Martha's frank exchange with Peter in the ice cave and the sinister appearance of the ghostly pirates at the end of the novel. The real heartstring draw under the adventure, however, is the sibling bond between Martha and Scruff. Scruff's asthma adds another very real threat to the high-stakes adventure while Peter's lack of family only adds to the emotion. Abi Elphinstone also brings strong and delicious depictions of food to the novel, definitely adding to the enticing nature of the island. The story was truly enchanting from start to finish and coated my Christmas in fairy dust.