Jodi Lynn Anderson explores the world of Neverland and the elation and heartbreak of first love in her dark, romantic, and very original YA novel Tiger Lily.
Tinkerbell narrates the magical, bittersweet love story between Tiger Lily and Peter Pan. Tiger Lily has never been truly accepted by her tribe, and now the elders have decreed marriage to a man she doesn’t love. She spends more and more time alone in the woods, where she meets wild, fearless Peter Pan, leader of the Lost Boys.
Tiger Lily is intoxicated by the freedom she feels with Peter, and falls under his spell. Their love is all-consuming, and she risks everything to be with him.
Then Wendy Darling arrives in Neverland.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Funny, free, and utterly imaginative, Jodi Lynn Anderson’s writing is packed with loveliness.” (Ann Brashares, national bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on Peaches )
“Guided by fragile, insect–size faerie Tink, readers are drawn into this richly re–imagined Neverland. Working with the darker threads of Barrie’s bittersweet classic, Anderson weaves an enchanting tale.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )
“The mythology of Neverland is eloquently woven into the story, and characters are reborn in fascinating ways…[and] Readers will find it hard to resist being drawn into Tiger Lily’s world, where dangers and emotions are painted several shades darker than in J.M. Barrie’s classic fantasy.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
“Its many layers create a place of dangerous wonder. Tiger Lily has been reinvented with a complex backstory, giving her a credible source of deep strength and dark emotion.” (School Library Journal (starred review) )
“Serious and moving.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) )
“This unique retelling of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie has a literary feel, lush descriptions, and a mysterious but sympathetic main character…A sophisticated fantasy, a new spin on a classic tale.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )
“In expressive, graceful language, Anderson tells the story of the fierce Tiger Lily and her thorny romance with the legendary Peter Pan. Its sensitive, passionate portrayal of familiar characters…is captivating.” (Booklist )
“With this quiet and bittersweet story, readers will never again think of Peter Pan as simple animation.” (BookPage )
“Guided by fragile, insect–size faerie Tink, readers are drawn into this richly re–imagined Neverland. Working with the darker threads of Barrie’s bittersweet classic, Anderson weaves an enchanting tale.” (Kirkus Reviews (starred review) )
“The mythology of Neverland is eloquently woven into the story, and characters are reborn in fascinating ways…[and] Readers will find it hard to resist being drawn into Tiger Lily’s world, where dangers and emotions are painted several shades darker than in J.M. Barrie’s classic fantasy.” (Publishers Weekly (starred review) )
“Its many layers create a place of dangerous wonder. Tiger Lily has been reinvented with a complex backstory, giving her a credible source of deep strength and dark emotion.” (School Library Journal (starred review) )
“Serious and moving.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review) )
“This unique retelling of PETER PAN by J. M. Barrie has a literary feel, lush descriptions, and a mysterious but sympathetic main character…A sophisticated fantasy, a new spin on a classic tale.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )
“In expressive, graceful language, Anderson tells the story of the fierce Tiger Lily and her thorny romance with the legendary Peter Pan. Its sensitive, passionate portrayal of familiar characters…is captivating.” (Booklist )
“With this quiet and bittersweet story, readers will never again think of Peter Pan as simple animation.” (BookPage )
From the Back Cover
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.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tinkerbell starts out as an annoyance and ends as a brilliant narrator
February 20, 2013
Format:Hardcover
Originally, I fell in love with this book because of its gorgeous orange cover. Then, I read the blurb and I was super excited to read a re-telling of Peter Pan from the point of view of one of my favorite Disney characters, Tinkerbell. It turns out that Tinkerbell was the reason for much of my frustration over this beautiful story. I started this book in July, but annoyed by Tinkerbell's disinterest in the main characters early on in the book, I stopped reading 38 pages into the story.
A couple of days ago, I took the book back off my shelf and gave it a second chance. It turns out that Tinkerbell was a fantastic choice for a narrator. She could give input on a multitude of characters, since she was so small and mostly ignored. Since she wasn't able to speak, she couldn't spoil the fun "surprises" the the readers knew awaited the other characters.
Tiger Lily has a unique personality that may be hard to connect to. She's quiet, boyish, and rebellious. She doesn't know how to express her feelings to anyone, including the dashing Peter Pan. I really empathized with Tiger Lily and I was sad to say goodbye to her when the book was finished. I truly wished that more characters acted like her - a shy tomboy - because I know quite a few in real life.
Peter Pan reminded me slightly of Lestat in Anne Rice's vampire series. He did what he wanted to do without caring about the consequences. He didn't understand why Tiger Lily made choices with her head and not her heart.
The contrast between these two characters made some very tension filled scenes. It was heartbreaking to witness their interactions. As a reader, I knew what should be said and what should happen, but it never unfolded that way.
One thing that did shock me was how late in the story Wendy showed up. I almost thought that her parts would be rushed, but somehow the author was able to establish and develop Wendy just as much as the other characters.
The pirates do make an appearance, as does the ticking crocodile but they're rather minor characters. I like the reasoning behind Hook's jealousy towards Peter Pan, as well as the `aging curse' which explains why some characters grow old and others do not in the land of Neverland.
So, even though this almost ended up being a DNF, I have to rate this book 5 stars. I'm so happy that I gave this book a second chance. I loved the characters and the story and it's a book that I will definitely be re-reading.
(I purchased a copy from my local bookstore)
A couple of days ago, I took the book back off my shelf and gave it a second chance. It turns out that Tinkerbell was a fantastic choice for a narrator. She could give input on a multitude of characters, since she was so small and mostly ignored. Since she wasn't able to speak, she couldn't spoil the fun "surprises" the the readers knew awaited the other characters.
Tiger Lily has a unique personality that may be hard to connect to. She's quiet, boyish, and rebellious. She doesn't know how to express her feelings to anyone, including the dashing Peter Pan. I really empathized with Tiger Lily and I was sad to say goodbye to her when the book was finished. I truly wished that more characters acted like her - a shy tomboy - because I know quite a few in real life.
Peter Pan reminded me slightly of Lestat in Anne Rice's vampire series. He did what he wanted to do without caring about the consequences. He didn't understand why Tiger Lily made choices with her head and not her heart.
The contrast between these two characters made some very tension filled scenes. It was heartbreaking to witness their interactions. As a reader, I knew what should be said and what should happen, but it never unfolded that way.
One thing that did shock me was how late in the story Wendy showed up. I almost thought that her parts would be rushed, but somehow the author was able to establish and develop Wendy just as much as the other characters.
The pirates do make an appearance, as does the ticking crocodile but they're rather minor characters. I like the reasoning behind Hook's jealousy towards Peter Pan, as well as the `aging curse' which explains why some characters grow old and others do not in the land of Neverland.
So, even though this almost ended up being a DNF, I have to rate this book 5 stars. I'm so happy that I gave this book a second chance. I loved the characters and the story and it's a book that I will definitely be re-reading.
(I purchased a copy from my local bookstore)
29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Nikki Wang
Format:Hardcover
This book was incredibly emotional and mournful. Even with the warning at the beginning of this story, I couldn't have imagined just how deep it would affect me.
I honestly didn't know what to expect. A retelling of Peter Pan? That just seemed so far-fetched since I'd heard it was an emotional rollercoaster. I should not have doubted it. Tiger Lily surpassed all expectations and honestly, made my eyes wet. Tiger Lily has always been one of my favorite Disney princesses since she was loyal, brave, and strong, but sadly was overlooked and only had one line that barely lasted 2 seconds. Her character traits were highlighted in this amazing book, making me love her even more. Tiger lily has been betrayed, hurt, lost, and was an outcast. That is, until she meets Peter Pan and falls in love with him and he with her. It was a beautiful, subtle, love story, but it was that subtle part that ripped it all apart.
Let me just say this now: I hated Wendy. She seemed shallow and uncaring, pretty much your average bitc*. I absolutely hated her with all my heart and wanted to tear out her pretty little hair just so Peter Pan would love Tiger Lily again. Sadly, I couldn't and just had to keep reading, learning how things would play out, and leaving me heartbroken with tears in my eyes. Never has a Disney movie been so emotional, so sad, and so, so beautiful.
This story is told in Tinker Bell's, that's right Tinker Bell's, point of view and that made this all the more worthwhile to read. This way, you can catch a glimpse what others are thinking, imagining, and you never have to second guess what a character is feeling. I almost felt like I was in the book, Tiger Lily, Peter, Hook, and Tik Tok in front of me. The writing was lyrical, the plot shocking, and the mood/tone sorrowful, mournful, despairing. No other book has made me feel that way.
My favorite part though, was the letter at the end of the story. Those last 2 pages ended this piece wonderfully, making you want to unread the book just to re-read it again, if that makes any sense. I don't think, I honestly don't think, that there is one book that comes close to this heartbreaking retelling.
All in all: Jodi Lynn masterfully weaves this story together so that both adults and teens will love this story and never want to put it down. Tiger Lily will keep you reading frantically until the very last page, the very last word. It was that amazing. Retellings always are, but this one touched me so much deeply than any other stories could. I recommend this book to everyone who watched and loved Disney movies and even to those who didn't. Trust me, if you hated Disney before, this book will change your perspective. One thing I learned: sometimes, you have to let your feelings show or else you may just lose everything.
I honestly didn't know what to expect. A retelling of Peter Pan? That just seemed so far-fetched since I'd heard it was an emotional rollercoaster. I should not have doubted it. Tiger Lily surpassed all expectations and honestly, made my eyes wet. Tiger Lily has always been one of my favorite Disney princesses since she was loyal, brave, and strong, but sadly was overlooked and only had one line that barely lasted 2 seconds. Her character traits were highlighted in this amazing book, making me love her even more. Tiger lily has been betrayed, hurt, lost, and was an outcast. That is, until she meets Peter Pan and falls in love with him and he with her. It was a beautiful, subtle, love story, but it was that subtle part that ripped it all apart.
Let me just say this now: I hated Wendy. She seemed shallow and uncaring, pretty much your average bitc*. I absolutely hated her with all my heart and wanted to tear out her pretty little hair just so Peter Pan would love Tiger Lily again. Sadly, I couldn't and just had to keep reading, learning how things would play out, and leaving me heartbroken with tears in my eyes. Never has a Disney movie been so emotional, so sad, and so, so beautiful.
This story is told in Tinker Bell's, that's right Tinker Bell's, point of view and that made this all the more worthwhile to read. This way, you can catch a glimpse what others are thinking, imagining, and you never have to second guess what a character is feeling. I almost felt like I was in the book, Tiger Lily, Peter, Hook, and Tik Tok in front of me. The writing was lyrical, the plot shocking, and the mood/tone sorrowful, mournful, despairing. No other book has made me feel that way.
My favorite part though, was the letter at the end of the story. Those last 2 pages ended this piece wonderfully, making you want to unread the book just to re-read it again, if that makes any sense. I don't think, I honestly don't think, that there is one book that comes close to this heartbreaking retelling.
All in all: Jodi Lynn masterfully weaves this story together so that both adults and teens will love this story and never want to put it down. Tiger Lily will keep you reading frantically until the very last page, the very last word. It was that amazing. Retellings always are, but this one touched me so much deeply than any other stories could. I recommend this book to everyone who watched and loved Disney movies and even to those who didn't. Trust me, if you hated Disney before, this book will change your perspective. One thing I learned: sometimes, you have to let your feelings show or else you may just lose everything.
21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
First Impressions: I have an embarrassing confession to make right now. I have an extremely strange obsession with Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie. I collect all of the editions I can get my hands on of the book, I've watched all of the movies, I've seen the play dozens of times in different venues, and I've written a parade of papers in college analyzing different aspect of the original version. Like I said, I'm strangely obsessed. So when I found out that Jodi Lynn Anderson, one of my favorite authors, had written a book about Tiger Lily, I needed to get it! I didn't even have to read the synopsis to know that I wanted to review this book (but I did, and afterwards, I wanted this book even more). Now, I have a second confession to make. I'm not a huge fan of Wendy! I've always preferred Tinkerbell and Tiger Lily over Wendy. I could spend all day explaining why, but I'm not going to bore you to death. I however feel inclined to let you know that this review might be a bit biased, just because of how much I love anything to do with Peter Pan. It's very hard for me not to like, on the exception of Disney's version of Peter Pan, which I find incredibly racist and ignorant since I'm Native American. Anyway, back to the book.
First 50 Pages: The first 50 pages of this book kind of put me in shock. Okay, I'm being dramatic, but the beginning was surprising. Just by judging what the book synopsis had told me, I thought that this book would be told from the point of view of Tiger Lily. It's not. It is told from Tinkerbell's point of view and how she views everything that is going on around her, but mostly it's about Tinkerbell's observations revolving around Peter and Tiger Lily. Tinkerbell doesn't have the ability to speak (and the story explains why) but she is quite the little observer and she is able to read other people's thoughts. Without the ability to speak, her memory with details is very astounding and I loved her point of view and I loved how the author chose to use her as the narrator. Again, this may be a bias because Tink is my favorite Peter Pan character and I've always wanted to have her perspective on the activities that occur in Neverland.
With that said, it was an odd choice. I can see how some people won't be able to connect as much as they want to with Tiger Lily or any of the other characters. If you go into this book expecting to hear a whole lot from Tiger Lily herself, you are going to be disappointed. If you expect to hear a story told from Tinkerbell, I think you are going to like this book much more. It's not going to be for everyone. I'd also like to include that the pace of this book is slower than I expected it to be. That isn't a bad thing, but don't expect a ton of action.
Characters & Plot: One of my favorite things about Tiger Lily, is that it seemed to stay true to the original story. All of the main characters are there and even the Crocodile makes an appearance. As a big fan of the original play, I really appreciated Jodi keeping things simple. However, Jodi puts her own unique spin on just about everything and this book, even though it was true to the original, felt very unique. It was unlike any other Peter Pan inspired novel I've ever read. Jody's style of writing is incredibly beautiful and at times, it was heartbreaking. The ending tore me up, and yes, it made me cry. I'm such a crybaby sometimes, but Jodi's writing is phenomenal.
Tinkerbell is but a ball of light. She follows around the different characters and "reads" their emotions and thoughts. She has much to say, but isn't able to communicate other than pinching, pulling, and prodding the other characters. She has affection for Tiger Lily though, and she can tell you all about her. She knows Tiger Lily probably as well as Tiger Lily knows herself. Tinkerbell knows Tiger Lily isn't like the other members of her tribe. She is different and she has a great fear of Pan, the leader of the Lost Boys. Tiger Lily, in this version, isn't even a blood member of her family. Tink explains how Tiger Lily got her name and how she was found. She explains how she met Pan, how they fell in love, and how everything fell apart.
If you take the time to research J.M. Barrie's original play, you will find very quickly that it is a dark tale and nothing like what Disney imagined it to be. Jodi crafted Tiger Lily in the same manner, so more bonus points from me to her! Tinkerbell tells the reader in the beginning of the story that there will be no happy ending for Tiger Lily, so be prepared for that. This is a much darker tale, almost reminiscent of the old , original fairy tales. It's not going to be everyone's preferred cup of tea. I think some of the younger readers aren't going to like this book, maybe even much of the intended audience, but I could be wrong.
The romance that is captured in Tiger Lily is totally top-notch, swoon worthy stuff. The love and devotion that Peter and Tiger Lily share for one another is gorgeous. I don't know how best to describe it. It's one of those things that you just have to read for yourself in order to understand. The best way I can describe it, is that it felt so honest and I think many readers will be able to relate to some degree.
And then in walks Wendy, and I can't even describe my hatred for her. I dislike her even more in this story then I ever did before. I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I know I wished Wendy a slow and painful death once or twice throughout this book. Now I'm being dramatic again, but I did go off on a huge rant about Wendy to my husband who seemed to have no idea (and he didn't) what the heck I was talking about. But it made me feel better and he seemed okay with my spurt of insanity. I have the best husband!
Final Thoughts: I'll be buying copies of Tiger Lily to pass around to my friends and family so they can enjoy it. That is how much I loved this book. I think this is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Peter Pan and darker fairy tales. To Jodi Lynn Anderson: You did an AMAZING job with Tiger Lily! I bow down to you, Oh Great One!
First 50 Pages: The first 50 pages of this book kind of put me in shock. Okay, I'm being dramatic, but the beginning was surprising. Just by judging what the book synopsis had told me, I thought that this book would be told from the point of view of Tiger Lily. It's not. It is told from Tinkerbell's point of view and how she views everything that is going on around her, but mostly it's about Tinkerbell's observations revolving around Peter and Tiger Lily. Tinkerbell doesn't have the ability to speak (and the story explains why) but she is quite the little observer and she is able to read other people's thoughts. Without the ability to speak, her memory with details is very astounding and I loved her point of view and I loved how the author chose to use her as the narrator. Again, this may be a bias because Tink is my favorite Peter Pan character and I've always wanted to have her perspective on the activities that occur in Neverland.
With that said, it was an odd choice. I can see how some people won't be able to connect as much as they want to with Tiger Lily or any of the other characters. If you go into this book expecting to hear a whole lot from Tiger Lily herself, you are going to be disappointed. If you expect to hear a story told from Tinkerbell, I think you are going to like this book much more. It's not going to be for everyone. I'd also like to include that the pace of this book is slower than I expected it to be. That isn't a bad thing, but don't expect a ton of action.
Characters & Plot: One of my favorite things about Tiger Lily, is that it seemed to stay true to the original story. All of the main characters are there and even the Crocodile makes an appearance. As a big fan of the original play, I really appreciated Jodi keeping things simple. However, Jodi puts her own unique spin on just about everything and this book, even though it was true to the original, felt very unique. It was unlike any other Peter Pan inspired novel I've ever read. Jody's style of writing is incredibly beautiful and at times, it was heartbreaking. The ending tore me up, and yes, it made me cry. I'm such a crybaby sometimes, but Jodi's writing is phenomenal.
Tinkerbell is but a ball of light. She follows around the different characters and "reads" their emotions and thoughts. She has much to say, but isn't able to communicate other than pinching, pulling, and prodding the other characters. She has affection for Tiger Lily though, and she can tell you all about her. She knows Tiger Lily probably as well as Tiger Lily knows herself. Tinkerbell knows Tiger Lily isn't like the other members of her tribe. She is different and she has a great fear of Pan, the leader of the Lost Boys. Tiger Lily, in this version, isn't even a blood member of her family. Tink explains how Tiger Lily got her name and how she was found. She explains how she met Pan, how they fell in love, and how everything fell apart.
If you take the time to research J.M. Barrie's original play, you will find very quickly that it is a dark tale and nothing like what Disney imagined it to be. Jodi crafted Tiger Lily in the same manner, so more bonus points from me to her! Tinkerbell tells the reader in the beginning of the story that there will be no happy ending for Tiger Lily, so be prepared for that. This is a much darker tale, almost reminiscent of the old , original fairy tales. It's not going to be everyone's preferred cup of tea. I think some of the younger readers aren't going to like this book, maybe even much of the intended audience, but I could be wrong.
The romance that is captured in Tiger Lily is totally top-notch, swoon worthy stuff. The love and devotion that Peter and Tiger Lily share for one another is gorgeous. I don't know how best to describe it. It's one of those things that you just have to read for yourself in order to understand. The best way I can describe it, is that it felt so honest and I think many readers will be able to relate to some degree.
And then in walks Wendy, and I can't even describe my hatred for her. I dislike her even more in this story then I ever did before. I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but I know I wished Wendy a slow and painful death once or twice throughout this book. Now I'm being dramatic again, but I did go off on a huge rant about Wendy to my husband who seemed to have no idea (and he didn't) what the heck I was talking about. But it made me feel better and he seemed okay with my spurt of insanity. I have the best husband!
Final Thoughts: I'll be buying copies of Tiger Lily to pass around to my friends and family so they can enjoy it. That is how much I loved this book. I think this is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of Peter Pan and darker fairy tales. To Jodi Lynn Anderson: You did an AMAZING job with Tiger Lily! I bow down to you, Oh Great One!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Amazing Fairytale
Oh, the story of Peter Pan. One of the most well-known fairy tales of the past two generations. But this is not the story of Peter. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Dejana Vuletic
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful alternate perspective!
Enchanting and addictive. This story talks of Neverland through the eyes of Tinkerbell. Just the right touch of magic, adventure, tragedy, comedy, and legend. Highly recommended!!
Published 3 days ago by Roshelle Nieto
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book Harbinger: Absolutely lovely
When a mute faerie named Tink first saw the disheveled, stoic Tiger Lily, she was a goner. Wild but poised, quiet but determined, Tiger Lily stood out among the Sky Eaters tribe. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Hollybally
5.0 out of 5 stars
A literary Peter Pan
This book totally surprised me. I was skeptical of the idea of a Peter Pan re-telling from Tiger Lily's perspective, narrated by none other than Tinker Bell. So weird. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Sara Zaske
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful easy read
First, I don't typically read fiction books. I am usually turned off by the over-descriptive text and lack of vocabulary. Read more
Published 7 days ago by M. Lenninger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written and captivating
This book is an amazing behind-the-scenes tale of Tiger Lily and what happens to Peter and Tinker Bell after the actual end. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Hailey S.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this book!
I love anything and everything to do with Peter Pan so of course I needed to get my hands on this book! Tiger Lily is unique in that it focuses on her story and not on Peter's. Read more
Published 8 days ago by Kayla
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suprising
I am about 2/3s of the way in this book and I am enjoying it alot. This is a totally different angle on a wonderful
story.
story.
Published 8 days ago by Paula L. Blue
5.0 out of 5 stars
tiger lily
I started reading this book because I love the story of Peter Pan. This was a whole new take on it and I enjoyed it immensely! Imaginative and colorful, I could barely put it down.
Published 9 days ago by pixee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wondrous reimagining of the Neverland world
This is a lovely reimagining of J. M. Barrie' s Peter Pan, but with an almost-real quality. Anderson gives her characters depth, warmth, and plausible life stories, reminiscent of... Read more
Published 10 days ago by Robin
