TINK AND WENDY

A character-driven reimagining of Peter Pan.

Braiding together three narrative strands—then, now, and excerpts from Neverland: A History—this melancholy tale explores the ill-fated love of immortal fairy Tinker Bell. In the past plotline, Tink and Peter meet the Darling family in upstate New York, and both fall for Wendy, the eldest sibling. Peter ages when he’s away from Neverland, so Tink is determined to bring him back even as their lives become increasingly entwined with the Darlings’ the longer they stay. Forty years later, Tink lives alone in the Darlings’ cottage until Hope, Wendy’s granddaughter, appears. Tink opens up to Hope and shares her story of love, loss, grief, and responsibility. Lyrical prose evokes a traditional fairy-tale feeling, but this new spin, although inspired by a magical adventure story, focuses more specifically on its primary characters and their emotions. There is some worldbuilding around Neverland and references to characters from Peter Pan lore, but they mostly feel like unnecessary filler and bog down the already unhurried pace. The story succeeds as a character study of Tink: Falling for capable, mature Wendy opens her eyes to Peter’s flaws. Later, she grapples with her culpability in what went wrong while living the lonely life she feels she deserves. Often realistically sorrowful, there is hope at the end. Characters are implied White.

A queer, introspective retelling.