What Parents Should Know
The original language is rich, and the story, so much a part
of our culture, inspires children to dream. Some of the racial
and gender stereotypes, typical for their time, will need
explanation.
Common Sense Media Review
"All children, except one, grow up." A century ago, J. M.
Barrie launched one of the most famous and enduring classics of
stage and literature with that line, and the story has become
so embedded in our culture that it is a byword for everything
from psychological syndromes to peanut butter.
Though some of the attitudes and language are now a bit dated, this unabridged edition shows clearly why Barrie was considered one of the great geniuses of English literature. By turns dryly witty, poignantly tragic, exciting, and lyrical, the writing is as brilliant as the story, a perfect distillation of childhood fantasies and adult nostalgia.
For today's children, listening to the story is a challenge -- it definitely works best as a read-aloud, even for older kids -- but one well worth undertaking by a patient adult and a child who is an experienced listener.
This tale is every child's birthright, and the watered-down retellings don't do it justice. They miss the complexity and darkness, as essential as the joy and adventure, captured in Barrie's exquisite prose as Peter watches through the window when the children are reunited with their parents: "He had ecstasies innumerable that other children can never know; but he was looking through the window at the one joy from which he must forever be barred."
This edition contains photos from the live-action movie. Many other beautifully illustrated editions are available as well.
From the Book:
[The stars] are not really friendly to Peter, who had a
mischievous way of stealing up behind them and trying to blow
them out; but they are so fond of fun that they were on his
side tonight, and anxious to get the grown-ups out of the way.
So as soon as the door of 27 closed on Mr. and Mrs. Darling
there was a commotion in the firmament, and the smallest of all
the stars in the Milky Way screamed out:
"Now, Peter!"
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