Confusing choices make this spin-off miss the mark.
A fairy navigates magical problems in a chaotic and fantastical Never Land.
The ageless Tinker Bell stars as the protagonist of this prequel to Disney’s Peter Pan. Tink and her friends call themselves the Wanderers: mermaid Blair, shape-shifter Mimic, fairy Ash, Indigenous human Tiger Lily, and 17-year-old human Caiman, a pirate. Odd disturbances on the island connected to Never Land’s magic send Tink off to seek a solution on the Mainland, where she finds Londoners struggling with poverty, pollution, and impending war. At the Greater London Hospital for Boys, she meets James, who works with other orphans, including red-haired Peter. Tink persuades James, Peter, and the other boys to abandon London and accompany her to Never Land. By the time they return, conditions have worsened, and the island is in danger of losing its magic. As an origin story for the Lost Boys, the storyline largely adheres to the original but is marred by some plot holes. Tink’s good intentions are overshadowed by her impulsive selfishness, and her conflicted friendships sometimes feel more toxic than supportive. Tink glosses over the lack of care the rescued Lost Boys receive in Never Land; they’re often left alone. The romance between Tink and James contains emotional moments but lacks depth and cohesion. Most human characters read white.
Confusing choices make this spin-off miss the mark. (Fantasy. 12-18)Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2025
ISBN: 9781368089777
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Disney/Random House
Review Posted Online: Sept. 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2025
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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