Review – Lost Boy

Title: Lost Boy

Author: Christina Henry

Pages: 318

5 STARS

A Dark and wonderful origin story for Captain Hook that makes you see Peter Pan in a whole new light.

From Goodreads:

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. This is how it happened. How I went from being Peter Pan’s first—and favourite—lost boy to his greatest enemy.

Peter brought me to his island because there were no rules and no grownups to make us mind. He brought boys from the Other Place to join in the fun, but Peter’s idea of fun is sharper than a pirate’s sword. Because it’s never been all fun and games on the island. Our neighbours are pirates and monsters. Our toys are knife and stick and rock—the kinds of playthings that bite.

Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever.

My Thoughts

Most people are familiar with Captain Hook as the tyrannical nemesis of Peter Pan. But before this ruthlessness sunk into his heart he was Jamie, the first Lost Boy. That was until he started to grow up.

In true Henry style  this book does not hold back. It is filled with the darkness and violence I have come to expect from Henry’s twisted tales, but there are also poignant moments of tenderness and joy.  The characters feel natural. I adored Jamie and fell for him completely. He is protective and calm, the natural leader and caregiver to the lost boys when peter vanishes. We are given glimpses of the beautiful and sensitive man he would have become if Peter had not whisked him away.

To me this book thrusts Peter Pan into his true light. I have always felt there was something sinister and menacing about the character of Peter pan and Henry captures that. He is petulant and impulsive he does not care for the boys he has taken to Neverland instead viewing them only as play things and discarding them when he is bored of them. He quickly forgets the playmates that whine, get sick, die or even just the ones he takes a disliking too. Most of all he is secretive and scheming, even with Jamie his ‘dearest’ friend. He is one of the best villains I have read.

Within Lost Boy, Henry creates such and intricate story arc that we can observe Jamie’s growing disillusionment with his friend, with the island, with his childhood. As it is told from Jamie’s perspective we can follow the events that slowly turn him for Peter’s best friend to arch nemesis.