Straight on till Morning
Liz Braswell’s Straight on till Morning tackles the beloved children’s classic Peter Pan, creating a whole new Never Land for readers to experience.
Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling's life is not what she imagined it would be. Her only real escape is in writing down tales of Never Land. After nearly meeting her hero Peter Pan four years earlier, she still holds on to the childhood hope that his magical home truly exists. She also holds on to his shadow.
So when an opportunity to travel to Never Land via pirate ship presents itself, Wendy takes a chance, but finds out Never Land isn't what she imagined. Unexpected dangers and strange foes pop up at every turn, and a little pixie named Tinker Bell seems less than willing to help. When Captain Hook reveals some evil plans for Never Land, it's up to the two of them to save Peter Pan, and his world.
Peter Pan was never my favourite Disney movie. However, Wendy Darling always intrigued me. I like how Braswell created her Wendy to be a creative, imaginative dreamer who wanted so much more from life than just becoming a governess in someone else’s house.
Wendy is adventurous, resourceful, and brave. She puts herself out there and is unbelievably kind, even when her family neglects her and local girls are rude to her. It’s clear she doesn’t fit the mould of a proper society girl, emphasized by how she “talks too much” and is “too dreamy.” That’s what I like most about her, though – and the fact that she’s a writer.
I really like how Braswell wrote Wendy’s friendship with Tinker Bell. Although it started with jealousy and confusion, the girls bonded and formed a strong friendship that will last a lifetime. I enjoyed how Braswell ended the book with Tinker Bell coming to visit Wendy in her flat to have midnight tea. Such a sweet way to end a story that focused on how powerful women are on their own – and together!
What else was interesting in this book was Peter Pan’s relationship with Tinker Bell and Wendy. It’s clear Tinker Bell’s obsession with Peter Pan is unhealthy at best. I would have liked to see Tinker Bell take a step back from Peter Pan, mainly because he didn’t appreciate her, but I’m not surprised she didn’t. Change takes time.
With Wendy, when she was younger, she was also fiercely focused on Peter Pan. But as she got older, she saw what he was really like. She also saw how Tinker Bell craved him, how the mermaids were infatuated with him, and she realized he wasn’t worth the wasted hours spent pining.
This feminist, twisted story was brilliant. I can’t wait to read Braswell’s next book!
Straight on till Morning Rating: ★★★★★
Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling's life is not what she imagined it would be. Her only real escape is in writing down tales of Never Land. After nearly meeting her hero Peter Pan four years earlier, she still holds on to the childhood hope that his magical home truly exists. She also holds on to his shadow.
So when an opportunity to travel to Never Land via pirate ship presents itself, Wendy takes a chance, but finds out Never Land isn't what she imagined. Unexpected dangers and strange foes pop up at every turn, and a little pixie named Tinker Bell seems less than willing to help. When Captain Hook reveals some evil plans for Never Land, it's up to the two of them to save Peter Pan, and his world.
Peter Pan was never my favourite Disney movie. However, Wendy Darling always intrigued me. I like how Braswell created her Wendy to be a creative, imaginative dreamer who wanted so much more from life than just becoming a governess in someone else’s house.
Wendy is adventurous, resourceful, and brave. She puts herself out there and is unbelievably kind, even when her family neglects her and local girls are rude to her. It’s clear she doesn’t fit the mould of a proper society girl, emphasized by how she “talks too much” and is “too dreamy.” That’s what I like most about her, though – and the fact that she’s a writer.
I really like how Braswell wrote Wendy’s friendship with Tinker Bell. Although it started with jealousy and confusion, the girls bonded and formed a strong friendship that will last a lifetime. I enjoyed how Braswell ended the book with Tinker Bell coming to visit Wendy in her flat to have midnight tea. Such a sweet way to end a story that focused on how powerful women are on their own – and together!
What else was interesting in this book was Peter Pan’s relationship with Tinker Bell and Wendy. It’s clear Tinker Bell’s obsession with Peter Pan is unhealthy at best. I would have liked to see Tinker Bell take a step back from Peter Pan, mainly because he didn’t appreciate her, but I’m not surprised she didn’t. Change takes time.
With Wendy, when she was younger, she was also fiercely focused on Peter Pan. But as she got older, she saw what he was really like. She also saw how Tinker Bell craved him, how the mermaids were infatuated with him, and she realized he wasn’t worth the wasted hours spent pining.
This feminist, twisted story was brilliant. I can’t wait to read Braswell’s next book!
Straight on till Morning Rating: ★★★★★