Another Pan by Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Title: Another Pan

Author: Daniel & Dina Nayeri

Pages: 400

Genre: YA/ Teen

Source:  Around the World ARC Tours

Sixteen-year-old Wendy Darling and her insecure freshman brother, John, are hitting the books at the Marlowe School. But one tome consumes their attention: THE BOOK OF GATES, a coveted Egyptian artifact that their professor father believes has magical powers. Soon Wendy and John discover that the legend is real—when they recite from its pages and descend into a snaking realm beneath the Manhattan school. As the hallways darken, and dead moths cake the floor, a charismatic new R.A. named Peter reveals that their actions have unleashed a terrible consequence: the underworld and all its evil is now seeping into Marlowe. Daniel Nayeri and Dina Nayeri return to re-imagine Peter Pan as a twisty, atmospheric, and fast-paced fantasy about the perils of immortality. [via GoodReads]

I must say that Daniel & Dina Nayeri are very talented in recreating well-known classic stories.  First with Another Faust and now with Another Pan they were able to showcase how talented they really are in giving these classic tales a more modern spin.  As a fan of fairytale and classic remakes this definitely appealed to my senses.

You'll recognize all the characters in this story - Peter, the Lost Boys, Wendy and John Darling - yep, they're all in there.  Now combine those characters with Egyptian curses, a posh New York school, and you'll find yourselves on a whole new adventure.

I must admit that I was not a fan of Another Faust - I read it and, sadly, I did not like it.  So when I heard of Another Pan, I decided to give the Nayeri's one more chance at winning me over.  While there were many aspects of the novel that I did enjoy - the romance between Peter and Wendy, the modern-ness of the whole thing, I loved that the Lost Boys would text "happy thoughts", even the mystery of the The Book of Gates and how it played into the storyline -  I still did not fall for this book... and I'll explain why.  Firstly, it started off really slow.  I mean I was 100 pages in and it was still very slow for me.  Secondly, I really liked Wendy as a character - she was strong, faithful, she had charisma, was quirky and I really liked that she stood her ground when she believed in something.  This is the Wendy you meet for the first half of the book.  Somewhere along the way we lose that Wendy.  For the second half of the book I found her to be whiny, she forgets about her wishes, dreams, etc. and somehow her thoughts only revolve around Peter... this really annoyed me.  I hate that girls will drop everything at the drop of a hat for a guy... ugh.  Then there was John Darling - my gosh that boy was driving me insane.  He used too much slang and was just too annoying for his own good.

I loved the idea of this book. The premise was fantastic- and the Peter Pan-ness of it was what really seduced me into reading it.  But in the end it just didn't work for me. 

For those of you wondering - this is the second book in Daniel & Dina Nayeri's "Another" series.  The first being Another Faust.  Some of the characters from Another Faust make cameo appearances and the school where Wendy and John go to is the same one (Marlowe) from Another Faust as well - but that's where the similarities end.  So, no, you do not have to read Another Faust in order to enjoy Another Pan.

My Rating: