About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels stifled by the pressures of growing up or struggles with the transition from the magic of childhood to the responsibilities of being a 'big kid.' This origin story of Captain Hook follows James Bartholomew, a boy who feels like an outsider in Victorian London after a brief, infant taste of Neverland. It explores the deep ache of not belonging and the lengths one might go to reclaim a sense of freedom. While it features the high-seas adventure of pirates, its core is a psychological look at how resentment and the fear of aging can shape a person's identity. It is a sophisticated choice for tweens and teens who enjoy dark, atmospheric retellings of familiar tales and are ready to grapple with the idea that every villain was once a child trying to find their way. The story validates the sadness of leaving childhood behind while cautioning against the bitterness that can come from living in the past.
