Christina Henry

"On an island lives a boy called Peter and his band of merry lost boys, young forever. That is, unless they get sick or killed by pirates or eaten by crocodiles or unless--inexplicably--they grow old. For some of them do grow old, and nobody knows why. One of these boys is called Jamie, and he was the first boy that Peter ever brought to the island. Jamie's lived there for longer than he can remember, and it's not all fun and games. Peter thinks the boys are replaceable, that if one dies or grows up, he can swap in another from the Other Place, the place where he collects new playmates. Jamie looks out for the boys and takes care of them. He does everything Peter does not. Jamie tries to keep them alive because, to him, they matter. When Peter steals a boy who is too young, Jamie takes the boy under his wing. But Peter won't have that, for nobody will ever take Jamie from him. Ever"--

The True Story of Captain Hook

Lost Boy

Taryn

Peter wanted me to stay a boy, but it was Peter, finally, who made me a man.

It was not natural for boys to stay boys forever. We were supposed to grow up, and have boys of our own, and teach them how to be men.

He would not waste a bit of his life in slumber. 

There were no girls on the island except the mermaids, and they didn’t really count, being half fish. 

Faye

Hooks origin story. I read this so fast. I absolutely love it. It might be my new favourite book. 

It’s a story written in first person. You follow a boy named Jaimie. Jaimie was the very first lost boy that Peter brought to the island. 

Peter wants to have fifteen boys around him to play with. Many boys die during Peter’s games. Peter doesn’t really care, he just replaces them. 

But Jaimie does care. He’s the one that buries their bodies. 

And then, Peter brings new boys to the island. Jaimie doesn’t agree with the choices Peter made. One of them is only five years old. Too young for Peter’s games. 

Jaimie starts to care for the little boy, just like he does for all the other boys. He wants to keep the boy alive. But the little boy annoys Peter… He’s no fun. He’s always scared and not strong enough to fight. And now, the little boy takes all of Jamie’s attention away from Peter. But Peter wants to be the shining sun that all the boys revolve around. And Peter always, always, gets his way. 

Jaimie never used to question Peter’s ways. But now… Things are changing. And Jaimie? Jaimie, is growing up. 

Hooks origin story. I read this so fast. I absolutely love it. It might be my new favourite book. 

It’s a story written in first person. You follow a boy named Jaimie. Jaimie was the very first lost boy that Peter brought to the island. 

Peter wants to have fifteen boys around him to play with. Many boys die during Peter’s games. Peter doesn’t really care, he just replaces them. 

But Jaimie does care. He’s the one that buries their bodies. 

And then, Peter brings new boys to the island. Jaimie doesn’t agree with the choices Peter made. One of them is only five years old. Too young for Peter’s games. 

Jaimie starts to care for the little boy, just like he does for all the other boys. He wants to keep the boy alive. But the little boy annoys Peter… He’s no fun. He’s always scared and not strong enough to fight. And now, the little boy takes all of Jamie’s attention away from Peter. But Peter wants to be the shining sun that all the boys revolve around. And Peter always, always, gets his way. 

Jaimie never used to question Peter’s ways. But now… Things are changing. And Jaimie? Jaimie, is growing up. 

Melissa Palmer

Book #19 Read in 2018
Lost Boy by Christina Henry

This is a sort of origin tale for Capt. Hook and details his history with Peter Pan. It tells the story of Jamie, one of the lost boys, and how he took care of Peter's other boys. It shows a dark side of Peter Pan. It can be graphic but overall was a good read that I would recommend for high school readers and adult readers.

Interesting, if dark, view of the Peter Pan story which goes beyond the shallow Disney treatment and explores some of the consequences implied by the original book. People rarely consider the ramifications of children's stories but this does.

Samuel Solon

Wonderful re-telling of the Peter Pan stort, that will actually make you despise him. Loved every bit of it!

Karen

The author of Alice takes readers through a dark tale of Peter Pan, who turns his best friend into his nemesis, Captain Hook. On an island lives a boy called Peter and his band of merry lost boys, young forever. That is, unless they get sick or killed by pirates or eaten by crocodiles or unless--inexplicably--they grow old. For some of them do grow old, and nobody knows why. One of these boys is called Jamie, and he was the first boy that Peter ever brought to the island. Jamie's lived there for longer than he can remember, and it's not all fun and games. Peter thinks the boys are replaceable, that if one dies or grows up, he can swap in another from the Other Place, the place where he collects new playmates. Jamie looks out for the boys and takes care of them. He does everything Peter does not. Jamie tries to keep them alive because, to him, they matter. When Peter steals a boy who is too young, Jamie takes the boy under his wing. But Peter won't have that, for nobody will ever take Jamie from him. Ever.

I’m convinced that Christina Henry has some kind of magical powers, all her books are just so incredible???

This took me less than 24 hours to read, it was so good!! The way the author thinks up these stories?? Legendary behaviour! They’re always something I could never think up myself but when she tells them it feels like it’s always been that way and it’s right and how it should be, it’s just wow.

Again I can’t fault this book, it was gripping, really unique, and really wonderfully written. I love Jamie sm, poor boy. I always get so attached to these versions of the characters ugh

Anyway...go read all these books please I beg!!

Aishling

I will never think of Peter Pan the same again

Geweldig!! Super vlot en goed geschreven, met een eigen gave draai aan het verhaal:) 

Silvie van der struik

Megan Snodgrass

3.5

Quick easy read, love the darker storyline to a well known Disney story. Would have given it a 4 but the first half was a bit slow. I always knew Peter Pan was secretly a dick.

indy roozendal

If I had to describe this book in one word, it'd be cruel. Because holy, what I just read.. It's a good book, even though I wasn't expecting it to be. Once I truly got into it, I couldn't put it down. It was cruel, thrilling, nerve wrecking. And it totally, completely made me hate Peter Pan. Something I never thought possible.

Ilona Labská 

I must say that after The Girl in Red, the Lost Boy is my second favourite from Christina Henry. I was pulled into the story and couldn't let go until I read it all. I will never look at Peter Pan in the same way again.

Mackenzie Young

Wow so good. I could imagine Peter’s evil little grin throughout this whole book. Such a chilling retelling of a childhood favorite.

Nicole Dykeman

I will not rest until I have read every Peter Pan retelling ever published, and this one did not disappoint. It was horrific and bloody and heart-pounding. The transformation of Jamie from devout friend to distressed enemy is both subtle and sweeping all at once. The more we fall in love with Jamie, the more we learn to hate Peter, much like the lost boys themselves. They are rowdy and charming and adorable. Jamie is fiercely protective of them. Peter is monstrous and manipulative, desperate to keep their love for him alive. That dynamic makes for a captivating book.

Jayme Bosio

I finally picked a good book for book club. And it only took two years! 

We often take it for granted that villains try to destroy the hero because that's just what they do. But I love that the author attempted to answer the question, "Why does this grown man hate Peter Pan so much?'

Inez

Okay, so, we know how cute Peter Pan is. But do you know how actually annoying he could be? Right, you don't.

I love re-telling fictions because sometimes seeing the point of view from the villains could be really refreshing and fun, and obviously not boring. To know the darker side of every childhood tales.

A gentle warning for everyone who hates blood and slight gore action, a few chapters in the end of this book could be really triggering for you. All in all, as always, re-telling is fun.

And I hate Peter Pan now, thanks, Christina Henry.

Annika

I couldn’t put this book down for a second. I loved every part of it even though it had me crying a lot of times 😅 one of my all time favorites 😍

Brianna

“All children grow up, or they die, or both. All children, except one.”

Hook has my heart forever and always. A truly wonderful, plausible, and heartbreaking tale about the origins of Hook and how he became a villain to Peter Pan. Or more accurately, how Peter—once Jamie’s greatest friend—became Jamie’s greatest enemy.

Joan 

Good story, also really dark. I enjoyed it very much!!! 

Raven’s Books

Jamie is the first boy Peter Pan ever brought to his island, so many seasons ago he eventually lost count. He adores Peter Pan. He saved him from the cruelty of the Other Place and brought him to a land that keeps him young forever, no matter how long forever will be. But there is something inside Jamie that begins to awaken. An awareness that he didn't possess before. Peter's smile is not as bright as it used to be. Peter's stories not so fascinating, Peter's games not so thrilling. Peter's lies not so convincing.
	As Jamie begins to realize the most dangerous thing on the island is not what lurks in the shadows, strange things begin to happen. Things that were never supposed to happen on Peter's island.
	This twisted journey to Neverland left me speechless. It's an entirely unique take on the classic tale of the boy who never grew old, forsaking completely Disney's fan favourite version. The original tale of Peter Pan is far from a fun and joyous tale and this book follows on that trail. The atmospheric setting of the island and the very nature of its protagonists synthesise the perfect melody for a thrilling and ominous adventure.
	I loved that the story was told from Jamie's POV and how the author used a language that suited better our eleven-year-old protagonist, yet effortlessly gave it a poetic undertone. The descriptions do not drag but utilize all of our senses, guiding us to the second star on the right and straight on till morning. A breath of fresh air blew into the story, as the island had some new locations for us to explore and provided some dangerous new trials.
	Before I continue, please be aware that this book deals with heavy subjects. Our characters are of eleven years or younger and there is a lot of blood and a lot of graphic content among the pages. It is described as a dark YA read but for me, it should at least be categorized as NA.
	What amazed me most about this book was how Jamie described the terrors he faced throughout his stay on the island. I am comfortable with gore and descriptions of murder but to have them been told from the POV of an eleven-year-old hit a lot harder than I expected. From amputations and murder to a battle to the death, Jamie's voice is that of a young child beginning to discover the true horrors of the world, while his experiences so far match that of a seasoned man. The way he deals with loss and fear, the evident signs of PTSD and the ever-present mental abuse he was exposed to make him an incredibly complicated and tragic character. It is a healing journey that our protagonist never truly manages to complete.
	Peter's character is so brilliantly complicated and simplistic at the same time. A child that will never grow up, who sicks power and craves attention. It was horrifying unraveling his motives and desires, as he is the perfect example of how narcissism and obsession can be proven fatal for those around us.
	I cried and raged over the pages, going from one chapter to the next in a blink of an eye. It was captivating and magical in its darkest sense.
	I will highly recommend you this dark and immersive read, IF you are in the right mindset to read it. I myself am officially a fan of Christina Henry's writing and will pick up her next dark retelling as soon as possible.

Inga Kühn 

Dieses Buch hat tatsächlich meine Sicht auf Peter Pan verändert, was etwas traurig ist, da die Leichtigkeit der Originalgeschichte so verloren geht. Der eine Stern Abzug hat auch wenig mit dem Buch an sich zu tun. Es ist kurzweilig, spannend und auf eine reflektierte Art geschrieben und zeigt so den Prozess des Erkennens, wie furchtbar manche Menschen sein können und auch sind.

There is one version of my story that everyone knows. And then there is the truth. Once I loved a boy called Peter Pan. 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. He wants always to be that shining sun that we all revolve around. He'll do anything to be that sun. Peter promised we would all be young and happy forever. Peter will say I'm a villain, that I wronged him, that I never was his friend. Peter Lies.

Melany

It was an unique view om the original story. I can never look at Peter Pan the same way again

Katto

I hate it but like in a good way.
This book made me feel so many negative emotions but that's the whole point and I love it.

Just a great story overall.

Sophie Deltenre

While i was reading the book i kinda fell in love with Jamie. And i dont know why but at the end i cried so hard! I also just tried to watch the movie but i couldn't because i just hated peter to mutch

Alaia

3.5 stars. 

Dark, foreboding, and kept me on my toes. Perhaps left something to be desired in substance. I would’ve liked some development of Peter and Jamie’s relationship before things took a turn for the worse, in order to get a better sense of Peter’s shift from a hero to a villain. Overall, it was a solid read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves dark fairytale retellings—plus, I am a sucker for villain origin stories.

Lost Boy The True Story of Captain Hook

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