A distinct retelling of the original story of a boy who never wants to grow up by J.M. Barrie, Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas is a mysterious tale filled with the seemingly familiar characters we know and love. Set in Astoria, Oregon (perhaps a similar walking ground for Thomas themself, who now lives in Portland), Peter Pan makes his reappearance in Wendy’s imagination— or so she believes.
It’s been five years since the fateful day when Wendy and her younger brothers disappear in the woods behind their home. Sorrow fills the Darling family when Wendy returns to her parents after a period of being missing and her brothers do not. Unable to recall what happened to her or her brothers, Wendy and her parents must now relive the guilt, grief, and separation that continues to affect their small family when children begin to go missing in their small town.
A car crash into a mysterious figure leaves Wendy shaken as she meets the boy from the stories she’s told in her childhood. It’s Peter Pan, but is it really? Older now, Peter must wrestle with his own shadows— figuratively and literally. He’s come in search of Wendy, the only one who can help him sew his shadow back on and hopefully save Neverland. Along their quest to find his shadow, Wendy and Peter respark their connection from Wendy’s childhood. Together, they confront the Never Woods and learn that growing up comes with hardship, tragedy, and grief, but that it doesn’t have to lose the wonder of their youth.
Credit: Illianna Gonzalez-Soto
Entirely different from Cemetery Boys, Thomas still adds hints of Latinx flair within Lost in the Never Woods. Wendy’s best friend Jordan is Latinx, though that fact is not central to the storyline. What is prevalent, however, is Jordan’s steadfast support for her friend. Her encouragement of Wendy’s dream to be a pediatrician is a reassuring force when everything else in Wendy’s life is out of sorts. Both 18 with college on the horizon, Wendy and Jordan prove that their friendship can outlast their hardships.
This is the perfect retelling which completely reimagines the classic tale of Peter Pan. Thomas makes the story their own with mysterious twists, dark secrets, and painful truths. This is the perfect tale for learning to cope with grief. Touching upon the psychological effects of tragedy and death, we see a very real and very adult version of Peter Pan as Wendy Darling moves through anxiety, depression, grief, and recovery. Though the story deals with adult topics, the adolescence of Peter and Wendy gives a key perspective for any teen who may also be dealing with similar issues.
Mixed with playfulness and wonder, we see that growing up may not be so bad if you continue to have faith, trust, and just a little bit of pixie dust.
Aiden Thomas is a trans, Latinx, New York Times bestselling author of young adult novels. They received an MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Originally from Oakland, California, they now make their home in Portland, OR. Aiden is notorious for not being able to guess the endings of books and movies, and organizes their bookshelves by color.
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Illianna Gonzalez-Soto graduated from Earlham College in 2020, where she served as an editor for The Crucible. She obtained a BA in English and a minor in creative writing. She currently lives in San Diego, CA where she serves as a Media & Marketing intern at Red Hen Press and Latinx in Publishing. You can follow her on Twitter (@Annalilli15) and Instagram (@librosconillianna).
