Neverlanders
Young Adult Graphic Novel
9781761049071 Winner of the Children's Book of the Year, Neverlanders is a young adult graphic novel book by the #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Taylor and artist Jon Sommariva. Neverlanders is set in the well-known world of Peter Pan,[1] but serves as a gritty sequel of a found family after the fall of the Lost Boys and Peter.
Content
The story of Neverlanders goes beyond the tale of the sole surviving Lost Boy. Neverlanders delves into the world of runaways who find themselves transported to Neverland to experience the chaotic aftermath of Peter Pan's fall. The young people band together with General Tinkerbell and her army of fairies to protect Neverland and their future from the greedy adults of Otherland.
Critical reception
The book debuted to positive reviews.
According to Kirkus Reviews, "The fast-paced, adventure-filled storyline forms a well-constructed story that adapts elements from the original world of Peter Pan and includes touches of humor that will keep readers engaged." "The illustrations are bright and expressive, with creatively varied panels that draw readers' eyes. Names and physical appearances highlight a racially diverse cast."[2]
Booklist noted, "Neverlanders reimagines J. M. Barrie's classic Peter Pan in a darker, grittier atmosphere that nonetheless maintains many of the core themes from the original. Taylor and Sommariva inject the classic story with contemporary characters and concerns, and the dynamic, cinematic artwork heightens the high-fantasy feel. Tween fantasy fans will appreciate this engaging ensemble adventure with a solid friendship plot at its heart."[3]
School Library Journal said, "This original take on Peter Pan…brings a new generation into the fold, and the world of the story completely to life with intricate art laced with rich hues of greens and blues. Readers will not want to leave the characters behind in this magical world. Create room on the shelf for this new fantasy graphic novel with roots in the classic, filled with action-packed battles and splendid depictions of a steampunk world. [4]
Awards
In 2023, Neverlanders became the first graphic novel to win the prestigious Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers.[5]
Neverlanders also won a Comic Arts Award of Australia in 2023, and was nominated for the Aurealis Award for best illustrated book or graphic novel.[6]
Interviews/articles
- 'Peter Pan'-Inspired 'Neverlanders' Acquired by Penguin Random House Hollywood Reporter
- Neverlanders Becomes First Comic Book to Win Prestigious CBCA Award IGN
- Tom Taylor Children's Comic Makes History With Award Win Screen Rant
References
- ^ Greene, Jules Chin (2022-08-03). "Tom Taylor & Jon Sommariva Reimagine Peter Pan In Neverlanders (Exclusive)". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ "Neverlanders Tom Taylor". Kirkus Reviews. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "Neverlanders Tom Taylor Jon Sommariva".
- ^ "Neverlanders Review".
- ^ "Think comics aren't books. This Graphic Novel just won book of the year". 18 August 2023.
- ^ aaconvenor (2023-03-09). "2022 Aurealis Awards Shortlist Announcement". Aurealis Awards. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
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Children's Book of the Year Award for Older Readers
- The Story of Karrawingi the Emu by Leslie Rees (1946)
- Shackleton's Argonauts: A Saga of the Antarctic Icepacks by Frank Hurley (1948)
- Whalers of the Midnight Sun by Alan Villiers (1950)
- Verity of Sydney Town by Ruth C. Williams (1951)
- The Australia Book by Eve Pownall (1952)
- Aircraft of Today and Tomorrow by James H. Martin & W. D. Martin (1953)
- Good Luck to the Rider by Joan Phipson (1953)
- Australian Legendary Tales by K. Langloh Parker (1954)
- The First Walkabout by Norman B. Tindale and Harold Arthur Lindsay (1955)
- The Crooked Snake by Patricia Wrightson (1956)
- The Boomerang Book of Legendary Tales edited by Enid Moodie Heddle (1957)
- Tiger in the Bush by Nan Chauncy (1958)
- Devil's Hill by Nan Chauncy (1959)
- Sea Menace by John Gunn (1959)
- All the Proud Tribesmen by Kylie Tennant (1960)
- Tangara by Nan Chauncy (1961)
- The Racketty Street Gang by L. H. Evers (1962)
- Rafferty Rides a Winner by Joan Woodberry (1962)
- The Family Conspiracy by Joan Phipson (1963)
- The Green Laurel by Eleanor Spence (1964)
- Pastures of the Blue Crane by H. F. Brinsmead (1965)
- Ash Road by Ivan Southall (1966)
- The Min-Min by Mavis Thorpe Clark (1967)
- To the Wild Sky by Ivan Southall (1968)
- When Jays Fly to Barbmo by Margaret Balderson (1969)
- Uhu by Annette Macarthur-Onslow (1970)
- Bread and Honey by Ivan Southall (1971)
- Longtime Passing by H. F. Brinsmead (1972)
- Family at the Lookout by Noreen Shelley (1973)
- The Nargun and the Stars by Patricia Wrightson (1974)
- Fly West by Ivan Southall (1976)
- The October Child by Eleanor Spence (1977)
- The Ice is Coming by Patricia Wrightson (1978)
- The Plum-Rain Scroll by Ruth Manly (1979)
- Displaced Person by Lee Harding (1980)
- Playing Beatie Bow by Ruth Park (1981)
- The Valley Between by Colin Thiele (1982)
- Master of the Grove by Victor Kelleher (1983)
- A Little Fear by Patricia Wrightson (1984)
- The True Story of Lilli Stubeck by James Aldridge (1985)
- The Green Wind by Thurley Fowler (1986)
- All We Know by Simon French (1987)
- So Much to Tell You by John Marsden (1988)
- Beyond the Labyrinth by Gillian Rubinstein (1989)
- Came Back to Show You I Could Fly by Robin Klein (1990)
- Strange Objects by Gary Crew (1991)
- The House Guest by Eleanor Nilsson (1992)
- Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta (1993)
- The Gathering by Isobelle Carmody (1994)
- Angel's Gate by Gary Crew (1995)
- Foxspell by Gillian Rubinstein (1995)
- Pagan's Vows by Catherine Jinks (1996)
- A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove by James Moloney (1997)
- Eye to Eye by Catherine Jinks (1998)
- Deadly, Unna? by Phillip Gwynne (1999)
- 48 Shades of Brown by Nick Earls (2000)
- Wolf on the Fold by Judith Clarke (2001)
- Forest by Sonya Hartnett (2002)
- The Messenger by Markus Zusak (2003)
- Saving Francesca by Melina Marchetta (2004)
- The Running Man by Michael Gerard Bauer (2005)
- The Story of Tom Brennan by J. C. Burke (2006)
- Red Spikes by Margo Lanagan (2007)
- The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett (2008)
- Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan (2009)
- Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen (2010)
- The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett (2011)
- The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner (2012)
- Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan (2013)
- Wildlife by Fiona Wood (2014)
- The Protected by Claire Zorn (2015)
- Cloudwish by Fiona Wood (2016)
- One Would Think The Deep by Claire Zorn (2017)
- Take Three Girls by Cath Crowley, Fiona Wood And Simmone Howell (2018)
- Between Us by Clare Atkins (2019)
- This is How We Change the Ending by Vikki Wakefield (2020)
- The End of the World Is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell (2021)
- Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Lim (2022)
- Neverlanders by Tom Taylor (2023)
- Picture Book (1955–present)
- Early Childhood (2001–present)
- Younger Readers (1982–present)
- Eve Pownall Award for Information Books (1988–present)
