Book Review

It's time for another book review.  The high school book club requested we read Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.  Instead of discussing the details and themes of the book, we decided to discuss the theories of Barrie's life surrounding Peter Pan and the children in his life.

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

   All children grow up. Except for one.  Peter Pan is a classic tale of pirates, Indians, lost boys, mermaids, and fairies.  Barrie wrote this classic in the early 20th century, and it continues to live on in all of us throughout the years.  However, I bet you didn't know the language of Victorian England was rampant through this tale!

Peter Pan is not quite the version Walt Disney put out when he made the cartoon 40 years ago, but it gets the general adventure across to the audience.  Younger children may struggle reading the original Peter Pan as it contains much language used in the early 1900s in England.  However, some versions offer explanations of outdated terms and phrases...you just have to find the right one.

Peter is the quintessential lost boy in a land where all kinds of creatures roam free.  We are left wondering if Peter is a version of his author, and if the children in the story represent those close to J.M. Barrie in real life.

Nonetheless, many adventures are to be had in this story, from the cutting of Hook's hand for the crocodile, the kite that blew Wendy to safety, and the ever disgusting medicine Wendy encourages the boys to take every night before bed.  However, there are many classic adventures we know that are only written in the story as mere sentences with no details and background.  This is disappointing, as we assume the whole entire story will be chock-full of incredible adventures and mishaps! However, I believe Barrie had a more metaphorical goal with this story--the idea of parents versus children, and what it means to be either.  Why children may not want to grow up, and the difference between reality and make-believe. 

Whether you know this story by heart from when you were a child or from the Disney movie, I suggest you go through this book and reread its passages in a new light!