ARC Tour & Review: Another Pan by Daniel Nayeri, Dina Nayeri

Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to reimagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality.


I have to give it to Daniel and Dina Nayeri, they have really impressed me with their creative ability when it comes to retelling classic stories.  First with Another Faust and now taking the well known Peter Pan and making it their own.  I'm a huge fan of the classics so I usually love a good retelling and Another Pan was no exception.

When Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, old Egyptian curses and lore, and a posh New York school are combined, readers will find themselves in for an incredible adventure.  One of my favorite elements in this story was the attraction and chemistry between Wendy Darling and Peter (a new resident advisor at Marlowe).  In the classic this pairing is hinted at but never actualized so it was fun to see the take the Nayeri's took on this.  What girls wouldn't fall for Peter right?  He's charming, handsome and incredible witty and Wendy falls hook, line and sinker for him.  His obsession with eternal youth seems to be his only downfall.

While I enjoyed Wendy and Peter's interaction, her brother John did at times bother me.  His humor and slang became somewhat irksome and I must admit he was not a favorite character of mine.  But the lost boys did make up for my lack of enthusiasm over John Darling.  Their texting of "happy thoughts" and their overall part in the story had me smiling a good bit of the way through.

While this book was the second in the Another series, I don't think that it's necessary to read Another Faust first.  Some of the original characters pop up and make reappearances in this installment but this story is very must a stand alone.  It was full of adventure, romance, difficult quests and hard decisions and it was so much fun to be taken on the ride.  I think for the most part old fans of the original classic will not be disappointed for insulted, as is sometimes the case with retelling.  I can't wait to see what's next in the Another series.

I gave Another Pan 3 shamrocks!!!