Peter Pan by JM Barrie Review

 Hi ForeverBookers, 

I’ve just finished reading Peter Pan by JM Barrie, the book my last read, Hooked is based on and I really enjoyed it! 

4 Stars! 

Peter Pan is a classic, I’m surprised I enjoyed. It’s very short at around 200 pages. We start in London, with Wendy, John and Michael as well as their parents. Their mother and father have a bigger role in the book than the 1953, Disney movie.

I read Peter Pan for a few readathons. They were:

RR - Read a classic - Peter Pan is the best classic I’ve read so far!

Always Fully Booked Reading Challenge 2026 - A book with a gripping first line - “All Children except one grow up…”

Always Fully Booked Genre Challenge - A Classic - this is one of the first times I’ve read a classic willingly! 

Spoilers below…

“She asked where he lived.”

      “Second to the right,” said Peter, “and then straight on till morning.”

     “What a funny address!” 

     Peter had a sinking. For the first time he felt that perhaps it was a funny address.

     “No, it isn’t,” he said.” 

When Wendy asks Peter what his address is, thinking he’s just an ordinary boy at first he tells her the truth. I actually found Peter to be an annoying brat! The Disney version of him is certainly made into a more perfect boy, probably because Disney movies are innocent. To be honest, I found Tinkerbell, Peter’s companion to be lacking in the original text. I love her in the Disney movie. The villain, Hook certainly isn’t innocent, though, I expected more of him too. 

The author, Barrie puts himself in the plot at times referring to “I.” This was interesting and not something I’ve seen done many times. 

Jane, Wendy’s daughter is present at the end of the book. I’ve seen Peter Pan II: Return To Neverland too. Jane features there when she has her own adventure in Neverland! 

Overall, I surprisingly enjoyed Peter Pan! It’s a quick read that I think anyone could enjoy. A little whimsy but a solid plot too. Wendy becomes Peter and the Lost Boys mother figure but leaves :( or does she return?? I’ll let you read for yourself. There were parts I wanted more from but I enjoyed the story for a children’s classic. I understand that because it’s a children’s classic it won’t have everything I love.