Chuck Rosenthal

Chuck Rosenthal's sequel to the Peter Pan tales find Pan and Wendy's son returning to Neverland which is facing extinction, maybe, because it's possibly losing its magic? Everything in Neverland is possible - and the disconnect between imagination and reality, and the power of make believe is supposedly at the center of this novella. The book is interesting in its premise that there must always be a new Pan and/or Wendy, and that life continues in Neverland in its own time. Pirates and gypsies - representing evil and independence - are ever-present threats to innocence. There is so much unmet potential in this book, mainly because the characters are so broadly drawn. Yes, anything can happen in Neverland. But nothing really does. The author's pejorative use of the label "gypsies" is constantly disturbing, and the characters are not likeable or easy to relate to. Perhaps if I was a 12 year old boy I would enjoy the adventure more. The author has some excellent ideas, but needs to get back to work. It reads as being incomplete. So 2 stars for a good start and potential, but I skimmed the 2nd half.… (more)

I love the original Peter Pan story and have enjoyed updated versions of it so I had high hopes for this book. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.

You Can Fly is a very short novel but I struggled to get through it because I simply could not stay focused. The story did not sustain my interest. Characters were reflections of the originals - Peter Pan, Wendi, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, Tiger Lily - but had no depth of their own. I felt that the author was trying to convey some meaning about growing up or innocence or childhood but I never quite grasped what he was trying to say. The action felt choppy, repetitive, and ultimately pointless.… (more)