Dust

July 20, 2020
Claire Kenton, 19, has been searching for her missing twin, Connor, since he vanished six years ago. When a lead surfaces, she immediately follows it to London, where she learns that Connor may have been taken by Peter Pan to Neverland. Meanwhile, Peter, exiled to the real world after a catastrophe befell Neverland, hunted by Captain Hook and an army of now-adversarial Lost Boys, and agonizing over finally growing up, searches for the one person who can help him return: Claire, whose mysterious ability to generate magical dust may solve his problems. Unaware of Peter’s true identity, Claire befriends him and learns how to use her dust in order to fly. But Peter and Claire’s burgeoning relationship may not survive when the truth behind Neverland’s fate is revealed. Swanson (The Girl Who Could See) introduces a modern sensibility and maturity in this thoughtful revisiting, as Peter confronts his own checkered history and selfish actions. Claire’s own battle with depression and abandonment strengthens the emotional core. While the dark, dramatic turns occasionally feel at odds with the source material, this first installment in a duology offers an intriguing experience. Ages: 12–up. Agent: Tessa Hall, Hartline Literary.

Narrator Natasha Soudek brings believable teenage angst to a Peter Pan retelling that combines the magic of Neverland with the consequences of real life. The story follows two siblings living in London as they try to move on with their lives after Peter returns from Neverland. Soudek smoothly shifts between the voices of the two main characters, giving Peter a low pitch and slow pace as he wrestles with the trauma in his past and bestowing Claire with a higher pitch and clipped tone as she struggles to fit in with societal norms. Soudek's expert switches between points of view, along with her individualized character voices, allow listeners to easily differentiate the characters. Her performance is also noteworthy for its sensitive delivery of scenes involving self-harm and abuse. Both characters' memories, thoughts, and actions are well integrated in Soudek's narration. J.O. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine