Thank you to Netgalley for a free eARC without expectation of review. All opinions are my own.

First half is 2.5/5, second half is 3.5/5, rounds to a neat 3/5. I don't know why the 2 halves feel so different, the first half feels like it's written very very juvenile with constant repetition and talking very simply/basic for younger kids to understand what's happening. But in the second half it gets quite a lot darker and reads more like your usual older middle grade book. I'm never terribly sure with dual-author books who writes what, but almost every time I read one there is a feeling the book is slightly split into 2.

This was certainly a kinda neat take on the story, but at the same time it did rehash a LOT of original plot points, like a lot lot. And of course, stripped from the original meaning it leaves those moments feeling really out of place. None of the original characters are there, but it constantly mentions them. The pirates all feel like they're also children which kinda defeats the whole point of them.

Characters were also pretty weak. Very basic trait for each - one was sick, one loves football, and one wants to be a doctor. The Neverland characters were even more basic and flat. The sick main character was very much just, he is ill with cancer(?) and that's it, that's all of his character.

Points at least to the really cool details at GOSH. GOSH is such a beautiful place, even though it's a hospital. A lot of care and donations go into making the place feel homely and welcoming, for obvious reasons. Scorch and Squeak are pretty neat additions considering their origins. Honestly please go look up pictures of St Christopher's Chapel because it is just such a stunning place.

I've read a couple of these GOSH licensed middle grades now for Peter Pan, and honestly I've yet to read one that respects the original properly and what it was about specifically. Which is fine for kids that haven't read the original I guess, but it is just a bit annoying.