The first volume in a series, Wendy Darling offers an exciting new perspective on Neverland. Told by Wendy, eldest of the three Darling children, the story by Colleen Oakes is less concerned with make-believe and more firmly footed in what it means to grow up. At 16 years old, Wendy wavers between the carefree joy of childhood and the measured responsibility of being an adult. She strives to please her father and be the lady her mother wishes she would be.
Knowing her affluent family would disapprove, she keeps her relationship with Booth, a poor bookseller, secret. When her beau tells her she must be brave and tell her parents of their courtship, Wendy balks, unable to step outside of her sheltered life and decide her own future. By the time Peter comes to take the Darling siblings to Neverland, Wendy wants nothing more than to escape her conflicted feelings for a short while. Unfortunately for Wendy, the adventure is not as Peter promised.
Neverland is not a game, and the only way Wendy can stay safe from the numerous threats, including sirens and pirates, is to stay close to Peter. But proximity comes with a cost. Wendy begins to forget who she is, losing herself in what feels like addictive love. The Lost Boys also look to Peter with cult-like obsession. When Wendy regains her mind, she is appalled by the veneration and devotion Peter commands. In this dark and dangerous Neverland with YA crossover appeal, Wendy must act against Peter to save herself and her brothers. --Justus Joseph, bookseller at Elliott Bay Book Company