Reading Review - Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything—her family, her future—to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches comes a magical and bewitching story of the romance between a fearless heroine and the boy who wouldn't grow up.

Tiger Lily on Goodreads

Rating - 3 Stars

Major Pros - Writing

Major Cons - Characterization

How I Read It - Purchased

Welcome back to the Paper World! Pull up a plushy chair and let's talk. Today I'm reviewing Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson. This is a really unique Peter Pan retelling that expands upon the character of Tiger Lily and her relationship with the boy who won't grow up. I was apprehensive about starting this book, because I had always been a fan of Wendy's character more so than Tiger Lily's in the animated Disney movie and the play. However, after hearing many positive reviews I decided to pick up the book.

The writing is definitely a beautiful aspect of this book. I was immediately drawn into the story and this Neverland, although I found that I wasn't as immersed in the world as I'd expected. Tiger Lily's village seemed to be flat in comparison to other elements of the book, but even then the writing and setting were well done and interesting. As the book opened, I found myself curious as to how the characters would appear in this rendition of the tale.

In regards to characterization, I was disappointed. It felt as if the characters were overplayed, their flaws exaggerated from their appearances in the movie or play. It didn't read as getting a closer glimpse into Peter and Tiger Lily's characters; instead it was more like meeting new characters entirely that didn't mesh well. The ending was also a bit of a letdown for me. I had been expecting more of a connection to the characters and was surprised by how little I'd connected to Tiger Lily's character and how many of the other characters from the original work were simply irritating.

In general, I think that this book has some beautiful writing and qualities to it, and I can see why it is loved by many. However, for me I found it difficult to connect to the characters, and Tiger Lily especially. I think that it was an interesting read, and even though I was disappointed with some aspects of the novel, I'm happy I finally picked it up after being curious about it for awhile.

From the paper world,

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