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Peter Pan
- By J. M. Barrie
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
This classic works best as a read-aloud.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the original language is rich, and the story, so much a part of our culture, inspires children to dream. Some of the racial and gender stereotypes, typical for their time, will need explanation.
What's the story?
One night Peter Pan flies through the window of the Darling nursery in search of his shadow. There he meets Wendy, Michael, and John, teaches them to fly, and leads them to the home of the Lost Boys in Neverland.
"Of all delectable islands," the author says, "the Neverland is the snuggest and most compact, not large and sprawly, you know, with tedious distances between one adventure and another, but nicely crammed." There, among pirates, Indians, and wild animals, the children have innumerable adventures.
But Captain Hook, the evil leader of the pirates, is determined to wipe out the Lost Boys, and especially the cocky Pan. He concocts a plan to kidnap the boys and Wendy, poison Peter, and make the boys walk the plank while Wendy watches. But Tinkerbell the fairy saves Peter from the poison, setting the stage for a final confrontation aboard the pirate ship.
Is it any good?
Though some of the attitudes and language in PETER PAN are now a bit dated, this unabridged edition shows clearly why J.M. Barrie was considered one of the great geniuses of English literature. By turns dryly witty, poignantly tragic, exciting, and lyrical, the writing is as brilliant as the story, a perfect distillation of childhood fantasies and adult nostalgia. For today's children, listening to the story is a challenge -- it definitely works best as a read-aloud, even for older kids -- but one well worth undertaking.
This tale is every child's birthright, and the watered-down retellings don't do it justice. They miss the complexity and darkness, as essential as the joy and adventure, captured in Barrie's exquisite prose as Peter watches through the window when the children are reunited with their parents: "He had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must forever be barred."
What families can talk about
Families can talk about fantasy and reality.
Do you think Peter Pan is living an ideal life?
Do you think he'd be happier with a real family?
Why, after fleeing their families, do the boys want a mother to tell them stories?
Do you look forward to growing older, or are you reluctant like Peter Pan?
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AGE
What a sweet Book!
Wow. Peter Pan is a wonderful book and a must-read classic. I really enjoyed it but if you want to delve deeper into Peters life, dont read "Peter Pan in Scarlet", (the "official sequel, but is absolutely horrid, boring, slow, and stupid, a complete waste of paper). You should read "Peter and the starcatchers and the sequel "peter and the shadow thieves"
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AGE
When I read this book, I wished I had read it sooner!
I cry every time I read the end of Peter Pan. This book has everything good in it! Perfect read-aloud: you'll enjoy it just as much as your children!
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AGE
i slepted every time i was reading the book.
most boring book ever.
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AGE
1 book a day for Dosemond
I really don't know yet, because the review of the book has not been sent so I can let my child read it.I came to this web site so he could become more knowledgeable in his writing skills.
thanks
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AGE
timeless. i love it more every time i read it.
peter pan is among my most treasured comfort books (where most people have comfort food, i have comfort books because, well, I'm just funny that way). j.m. barrie has a sense of humor that at times is so dry it reminds me of lemony snicket but at the same time is just so innocently fun and happy. peter pan has some elusive element of fairy dust in it- it soars.
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AGE
Favourite fairytale ever!
I read this book when I was 7, but reread it when I was 13. It is a wonderful book full of imagination, innocence and my initial reaction to it 8 years ago was that I wanted Peter Pan to come. Even reading it 2 years ago, the book makes me smile as the characters, fantasy and story describe every single person's childhood. It really portrays the heartlessness we used to see things with and the beautiful imagination every one of us owned or still owns.
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| Topics: | magic and fantasy |
| Author: | J. M. Barrie |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | HarperFestival |
| Publication date: | November 28, 2003 |
| Number of pages: | 240 |
| Paperback price: | $4.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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