Parents' Guide to

Peter Pan in Scarlet

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Official Peter Pan sequel doesn't soar.

Book Geraldine McCaughrean Fantasy 2006
Peter Pan in Scarlet Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

Lebron12James3
Lebron12James3 Parent
May 22, 2022
age 6+

A orange monkey plays with peanut pan and other people

A orange monkey plays with peanut pan and other people. Some mild gun fights but most of them are with nerf guns or paintball guns. Language such as pee, poo, butt, paper, pencil, and clothing are used quit a few times. Little boi almost gets set on fire but peanut pan saves him with the power of friendship and muffin guns. Overall a very good film.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Some 20 years have passed since the events chronicled in Peter Pan. The Lost Boys have grown up, little Michael has been killed in WWI, and the rest have careers and families. But dreams are leaking out of the Neverland, disturbing their sleep, and leaving all-too-real souvenirs. Gathering together with Wendy, they decide they must become children again and fly back to Neverland to find out what's wrong.

Once there they discover a land that is deteriorating, but they forget their mission. Finding the derelict "Jolly Roger" and a treasure map on board, they join Peter on an expedition to find Hook's treasure. They are joined by the mysterious Ravello, a circus-master, who becomes Peter's butler. But in Neverland, adults can only mean trouble.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

McCaughrean has sucked out the joy, the effervescent spirit, the humor -- everything that made Peter Pan a classic -- and produced a plodding slog of a story. The original may have been dark, but it was never dreary; it was woven of dreams and fairy dust. But here a scene involving quicksand is all too emblematic.

The journey to and up the Neverpeak alone is so tedious and sprawling, not to mention grinding and miserable, that many readers who have hung in that far will drop out. Now Peter seems like a crabby old man who grumbles about pains in his joints. This joyless, forced march badly needs an infusion of happy thoughts.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this works as a sequel to the classic. How is the style similar or different? The characters? The story? Also, why is Peter so averse to adults and growing up?

Book Details

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