Library Journal Review

"To die would be an awfully big adventure," says J.M. Barrie's fantasy Peter Pan, but this Peter risks a real-world death. In Volume 1 (2012) of the series, a half dozen French orphans escape their bombed-out Calais orphanage in 1940 with the help of a daring American lad named Peter. A master strategist inspiring bravery, he leads these "lost boys" in sabotaging Nazi troops and escaping to Paris. In Volume 2, Paris is invaded, and the young men collaborate with the French Resistance to free Nazi prisoners, including one of their own. As narrated by the boys years later, the story becomes deeper as the characters mature. Wiebe (Green Wake) incorporates humor, poignancy, and tragedy into the tale but not magic. Yet the original characters slip seamlessly into real life, as if universal. Wendy and her brothers, Tiger Lily, and Captain Hook all appear, Wendy and Lily taking much more active roles than in the original. VERDICT A grim yet dashing find for adult and YA collections, this series captivates with both literary and historical hijinks. The murky art from Jenkins (Snow Angel) serves well, although the angular faces sometimes homogenize characters. Forthcoming volumes promise more adventures.-M.C. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.