Tink and Wendy

Gr 9 Up–In this dark, modern retelling of the Peter Pan story, Tinker Bell and Peter both fall in love with Wendy, a girl they stumble upon in upstate New York. Years later, Wendy’s granddaughter comes to claim the old Darling estate and finds a lonely, guilt-ridden Tink living there. Told in alternating threads of Tink’s past, her present, and the history of Neverland itself, this atmospheric reimaging is rife with divided loyalties and harsh tragedies. Introspective and character-driven, it retains the misty, fairy-tale feel of impossible things and childhood yearning. Shifting the narrative’s focus to Tinker Bell’s is compelling, but it is often bogged down by the other changes to the classic tale. Deep Neverland lore, a modern but difficult to pinpoint time period, and a reversal of events make it hard to stay fully immersed. Jacobson shines, however, in thoughtfully rendering the classic characters as well-rounded, complex, and flawed individuals. The ending may feel too tidy for many, but others will welcome the hopeful outcome of an otherwise tragic tale.