The Neverland Thieves: Fly back to Neverland in the unmissable new magical adventure!

by Katie Tsang, Kevin Tsang

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Genres: Middle Grade

233 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 24, 2026

Reviews

[Nicola Michelle]

The magic and adventure of Neverland will never not be appealing, whether you’re young or old.

This book was both nostalgic and novel, filled with friendship, hope, adversity and of course - fairy dust. The book easily sprinkled its magic over me and transported me to Neverland, as we join Tom, Felix and Daisy on their adventure to save Neverland.

There was so much I admired about this book, and number one being the link between Great Ormond Street Hospital and the stories of Peter Pan. I had no idea that J.M Barrie gifted the rights to GOSH and isn’t that just utterly wonderful!

We start with Tom in the hospital, and along the way he discovers not only magic, but strength and friendship. It was an exciting, fast paced adventure which regularly doffed its hat to the original story whilst providing a new light on the original tale.

It was a lovely read and wonderfully did justice to the legacy. Well written and the illustrations too were stunning!

Thank you to the authors and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Libby]

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

The Neverland Thieves is a super cute return to the world of J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. Tom, a young boy receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, along with two of his friends, fly off to Neverland to save the day in this sweet book full of magic.

The Neverland Thieves really captures the magic of Neverland, with dragons, pirates, Lost Boys and Girls, and a mysterious villain set against them. I particularly enjoyed the idea of the two unique statues in the chapel of Great Ormond Street, a bat and a dragon, coming to life to guide the kids on their adventure - that felt like a really nice unique link between the hospital and Neverland. I loved the variety of people they met and places they saw in Neverland - it felt like the authors were taking care to keep a consistently magical, wonder-filled tone. I also appreciated that there were nods to darker themes, especially with the mermaids, the Lost Kids, and the eventual villain; I thought those were handled with sensitivity and were serious without being too much for middle grade readers to handle. 

I really appreciated the sensitive way the authors handled the main character Tom's illness, and his conflicted and intense feelings around it, which were hard for him to fully grasp. I thought it showed a nuanced and in-depth take on the struggles someone with a serious illness faces, especially when dealing with it as a child. I also liked that Tom had the opportunity to be resentful of his situation and make mistakes, as well as learn from those mistakes and be a hero. I liked the conflict given to Daisy as well, feeling lonely because her mother has to work a lot, and finding friends to help. I did think Felix could've been slightly more developed as a character, but I appreciated him too. It did feel a bit odd that the pre-existing characters had been so completely written out, especially with no explanation on the part of Hook, even though his granddaughter is around. The only other thing that mildly bothered me was that the authors didn't use some contractions - in particular, "you're" - which, given that this was set in the modern day with modern characters, made the dialogue feel stilted and unnatural at times.

Overall, The Neverland Thieves is a fun adventure full of flight and fairy dust which I think young readers are going to love!

[Sifa Poulton]

I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.

THE NEVERLAND THIEVES is a magical return to a beloved world.

This has so much of the original magic of PETER PAN. There are lost boys (and lost girls!) and vicious mermaids and pirates. There's the flight to Neverland with fairy dust. I loved how many familiar elements were brought into the tale, making it feel like it was a return to this well-beloved world. It captures the magic of this world beyond ours perfectly.

Of course, it's not all we remember. There are new generations of pirates and lost boys in Neverland. It was a nice way to show that this is a new adventure not a rehashing of an old. Plus having lost girls too and Daisy wanting to be a doctor rather than cooking for everyone etc. helps modernise the world.

I loved the way GOSH was incorporated into the book. The rights to the original books were gifted to the hospital by J. M. Barrie and this book is also supporting the charity. It's therefore really nice that the hospital has such a pivotal role in the book, the place where the adventure starts. It also makes GOSH feel less intimidating both by being explained so clearly at the start and by being a place where magic can happen. I had a friend who was in GOSH and the idea that they were so ill that they had to travel hundreds of miles away for several months was a lot to take in as a child.

Several key moments are illustrated by Kristina Kister. They're gorgeous full page spreads ranging from the GOSH chapel to a field full of flower dragons (which was my favourite - they're so cute!) Neverland has had so many illustrators over the years and it was interesting to see a new spin on it.

This is the start of a new series. While the thievery is stopped in this book, there is the question of who set the events in motion, which I suspect will be a thread taken into the next book. My guess is that each book will feature a different set of children experiencing Neverland - but I wouldn't be sad to see Tom, Felix, and Daisy return.

[Laura]

Tom has been a patient at Great Ormond Street Hospital for some time and is beginning to feel isolated. When his friend Felix visits and persuades him to sneak out to the gardens, neither boy is prepared for the adventure that awaits them. After encountering a pair of stone creatures who offer to transport them to Neverland using fairy dust, Tom, Felix, and their new friend Daisy eagerly accept the invitation. As they encounter pirates, mermaids, dragons, and the Lost Boys and Lost Girls, the trio soon discover that they need Neverland just as much as Neverland needs them.

Peter Pan has always been one of my favourite childhood stories, so the opportunity to return to Neverland through a new story was one I couldn't resist. At the same time, I was slightly concerned that being inspired by such an iconic story this would have a lot to live up to. Fortunately, Katie and Kevin Tsang strike exactly the right balance. They pay tribute to the original tale while crafting a story that feels entirely their own.

I loved the decision to begin the story in Great Ormond Street Hospital. It's a thoughtful way of giving children who may be spending time in hospital a character and setting they can relate to. Tom's illness is handled with sensitivity and care, remaining an important part of his character without becoming the sole focus of the story. I imagine this could help many young readers who are in hospital like Tom to feel less alone, and give them a story filled with wonder to enjoy.

Tom, Daisy, and Felix make a likeable and entertaining trio. Each of them has their own fears and insecurities, yet they show bravery too, overcoming their worries to help save Neverland. The supporting cast is equally enjoyable. The pirates, mermaids, and other inhabitants of Neverland are humorous and engaging, providing plenty of excitement without becoming too frightening for younger readers.

Overall, I found this to be a thoroughly entertaining read with a genuinely heartwarming message at its core. It brings the magic of Peter Pan to an entirely new audience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK (Children's) for an arc in exchange for an honest review

[Books By Your Bedside]

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's UK for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I actually had this on pre-order but had to cancel it so was thrilled to receive an e-arc. It sounded so wonderful that I couldn't wait to jump in and it had a beautiful cover. I hadn't actually heard of either let alone read any of their books so I was going in blind.

I believe this is book one in a planned series so it'll be interesting to see where they go with it.

Never did I think Peter Pan required a sequel. And it's not really a sequel. It's a separate story that happens to be set in Neverland with fairies, pirates, and lost boys, although there are mentions of Peter Pan and Captain Hook, done in a very clever way.

It has a few illustrations which looked very lovely and I think will really help add depth for readers.

It's the epitome of magical. Katie and Kevin have brought the classic tale to life and given it a modern twist, but they haven't lost any of what made the original so fabulous.

It's aimed at readers aged 8 or up, and at 33 I am indeed 8 or up. I thought it might be a bit too young to really give me something to get my teeth into but it really wasn't. It's got a bit of everything and I enjoyed it. The link to Peter Pan made it feel very nostalgic and cosy and safe. I definitely think it'll appeal to readers of all ages and they'll all get something completely different from it.

The description of Neverland was fabulous. Obviously they've got the original to build upon but they haven't merely copied and pasted J.M Barrie's words, but expanded upon them. And it takes the magic of the original and expands it, making it even more magical - I can't think of another word to describe the magic than magical.

I particularly liked the link between Peter Pan and Great Ormond Street Hospital, that was a nice touch. I could see this being a book that lives at the hospital so the children going through difficult times can lose themselves in the pages.

I read it in one sitting as it was just so charming I couldn't tear myself away.

[Sky]

Thank you to Netgalley for a free eARC without expectation of review. All opinions are my own.


First half is 2.5/5, second half is 3.5/5, rounds to a neat 3/5. I don't know why the 2 halves feel so different, the first half feels like it's written very very juvenile with constant repetition and talking very simply/basic for younger kids to understand what's happening. But in the second half it gets quite a lot darker and reads more like your usual older middle grade book. I'm never terribly sure with dual-author books who writes what, but almost every time I read one there is a feeling the book is slightly split into 2.


This was certainly a kinda neat take on the story, but at the same time it did rehash a LOT of original plot points, like a *lot* lot. And of course, stripped from the original meaning it leaves those moments feeling really out of place. None of the original characters are there, but it constantly mentions them. The pirates all feel like they're also children which kinda defeats the whole point of them.


Characters were also pretty weak. Very basic trait for each - one was sick, one loves football, and one wants to be a doctor. The Neverland characters were even more basic and flat. The sick main character was very much just, he is ill with cancer(?) and that's it, that's all of his character.


Points at least to the really cool details at GOSH. GOSH is such a beautiful place, even though it's a hospital. A lot of care and donations go into making the place feel homely and welcoming, for obvious reasons. Scorch and Squeak are pretty neat additions considering their origins. Honestly please go look up pictures of St Christopher's Chapel because it is just such a stunning place. 


I've read a couple of these GOSH licensed middle grades now for Peter Pan, and honestly I've yet to read one that respects the original properly and what it was about specifically. Which is fine for kids that haven't read the original I guess, but it is just a bit annoying.

[Lynne James]

An admirable follow on from Peter Pan, the Neverland Thieves initially has a lot to recommend it. I would actualky give it 3.5 stars, rather than 3 if I could.
The link with Great Ormond Street Hospital, through Tim and his cancer treatment is very well handled, as is the depiction of Tim's set of conflicting emotions as he battles his illness. Tim's friends, Felix and Daisy, also have their own private battles to fight and the Neverland creatures, Scorch and Squeak are absolutely right to say that Neverland needs the three friends, but the three friends also need Neverland.
All that is very satisfactory, and the adventure element of the Neverland story is fast paced and enjoyable, but, and it's a big but, the three Neverland tribes, Lost Boys ( and girls as we are all too often reminded), mermaids and pirates never quite ring true.
The three children are always treated with immediate suspicion and captured, which is understandable, but could easily have been avoided by the golden trio of Scorch Squeak and Glimmer dell flying ahead to explain who the children actually were.
The characters in each tribe also seem curiously flat, almost as if the author's are constrained by having to have J M Barrie's framework around a story of their own. The lost kids are frankly dull, the mermaids are selfish and unkind and the pirates thoughtlessly aggressive towards one another. With all those faults it's difficult to see exactly what Neverland magic is or why it ought to be saved.
So, there is enough in this tale to make it enjoyable, but not enough to make it memorable for me.
Thanks to Net Galley for an earc of this title to review honestly.

[Belle]

🧚 'I believe in Neverland and I believe in me.' 🧚

I have enjoyed multiple of Katherine Webber's previous books, like Captain of Fates and Twin Crowns- I always love her writing! So I was very excited to see that this book was releasing this year! ☺️

I really enjoyed book! It was a fun read, with all the magic and more of the original Peter Pan world. I enjoyed reading it as an adult because of the nostalgia and the fun modernised twists this story had on the original, so I can imagine children would enjoy this even more! 💚

🧚 'Like my granddad, Captain Hook. Although he had his hand cut off by, well, it doesn't matter now. The point is, we don't currently have enough hook hands going around for all of us, so I say, it is a good plan indeed to save Silver Storm's hand!' 🧚

This book had everything, from pirates to mermaids, a fairy, dragon and a bat, taking inspiration from the original story with some fun extras. There were also some more direct references to the original story, like the pirate captain mentioning Captain Hook was her granddad and Daisy being one of the names of one of the children that go to Neverland.

I enjoyed the changes made to make the story feel more modern, like the pirate captain being a girl and Daisy wanting to be a doctor. This felt like it would make it more relatable to children nowadays! 🏴‍☠️

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, in return for my honest review! ☺️

[Sue Hill]

Oh how I loved this book. It is so beautifully written and portrays a sense of magic that will transport you to Neverland with the same feelings that you had when you first journeyed there with Peter Pan.
The story revolves around Tom who is sick and a patient in Great Ormond Street Hospital and his best friend Felix and Daisy whose mum is a doctor at the hospital. The three children are magically whisked away to Neverland where they meet a whole host of characters both old and new as they are accused of being thieves and have to clear their names. The adventures that follow are so exciting and crafted so well. I loved the characters of the children and it was a joy to be back with pirates and mermaids. The new magical characters were brought to life beautifully and fit into Neverland perfectly.
This book is perfect for both adults and children, those who wish to return to Neverland and those who are visiting for the first time. This is definitely one to sit proudly on the bookshelf to be picked up again and again

[Rebecca Morton]

Tom Is A Patient In Great Ormond Street Hospital And Along With His Best Friend Felix And Their New Friend Daisy, They Fly Off On A Magical Adventure To Neverland With The Help Of Squeak The Bat & Scotch The Dragon And A Sprinkling Of Fairy Dust From Glimmer Dell. Full Of Wonderfully Detailed Illustrations, The Story Is Pure Delight And Has Fantastical Friendship At It's Heart With A Nostalgic Nod To The Original Peter Pan Story. I Enjoyed How The Story Showed Tom's Experience Of Being In GOSH And How He Was Coping With His Illness And How It Was Affecting His Friendship With Felix. The Story Was Full Of Pirates, Mermaids, Lost Girls & Boys, Fairies & Flower Dragons And It Was Wonderful To Revisit Neverland From A Fresh New Perspective. Kids And Grown Ups Alike Will Adore This Fantastical Adventure And Every Book Sale Raises Much Needed Vital Funds For GOSH.

Thank You To NetGalley And The Publisher For The ARC.

[Lisa]

A new story set in Neverland capturing the magic of Peter Pan and Neverland. Great Ormond Street Hospital is featured heavily in the book and this is where we meet the three children at the heart of this story. Tom is in hospital and has a lot to deal with, Felix, Tom's best friend is having a hard time dealing with Will being so unwell. And Daisy arrives on the scene with ambitions of being a doctor.

There were nods to the original book but it was a brand new story introducting brand new characters. I loved the addition of Squeak the bat and Scorch the dragon. It's very imaginative and it was lovely seeing the children become great friends whilst trying to stop the true Neverland thief. We still have the lost boys but in addition we now have the lost girls and there's still plenty of pirate action alongside the mermaids as well as a new villain.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonkidsuk for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Alannah Clarke]

The Neverland Thieves is a wonderfully imaginative return to Neverland, filled with magic, danger and adventure. I loved following Tom, Felix and Daisy as they were swept away from Great Ormond Street Hospital and into a world of mermaids, pirates and Lost Boys and Girls.

The story captures the wonder of the original Neverland while introducing new characters and ideas for a modern generation. Beneath the excitement, there are thoughtful messages about friendship, courage and facing difficult feelings. The mystery kept me interested, although I found the pacing slightly uneven in places.

Overall, this was a charming and magical adventure that should appeal to both younger readers and adults who grew up loving Peter Pan. The ending also leaves plenty of room for future adventures, which I would be interested to read.

[Steph]

This is gorgeous. It’s so full of the charm and adventure of the original Peter Pan, but there’s so much more. The friendships between the character, the magical creatures you meet, the villains they fight - it’s all just glorious. Katie and Kevin have a gorgeous sense of storytelling and I really loved how this had nods to the original. This is all about being brave when things are hard, standing up for what’s right and how friendship, hope and those who we care about can be the things that change the world. Just gorgeous.

[A.K. Adler]

All the elements of Neverland, crammed in whether they fit or not...

Out of the three protagonists, only one of them, Tom, had a fully rounded character arc. I did like the setup of his story and how his trip to Neverland helped him emotionally... But the plot itself was rather twee, with no real stakes or personal goals for the children. The kids were passively carried along, being accused of thievery without any reason, and the plot could have been resolved without their involvement if anyone had stopped and had an actual conversation.

[Su Thor]

What a fantastic return to Neverland! As a lifelong Peter Pan fan, I absolutely loved this fresh, magical adventure. Katie and Kevin Tsang perfectly balance nostalgia with originality, creating a story full of heart, wonder, and excitement.
Tom, Felix, and Daisy are wonderful characters whose friendship and personal journeys kept me completely invested. Add in Kristina Kister's beautiful illustrations, and this is a truly enchanting read.
I loved every minute of it and highly recommend it to readers of all ages. This review is given freely and I loved every minute of it,

[Omiai]

I had to give up on this one. I was nearly halfway through and not enjoying it at all. I found the characters annoying, and I know the book is about children and for children, but the characters were so childish and irritating. I have read so many children's books, and most of them manage to have likeable, less annoying characters. But there was something about this book that they just didn't click with me. I decided I'd rather read something else than continue with a book I really wasn't enjoying. Besides, I was almost halfway through and really, very little had happened story-wise.

[Sheila Williams]

What a beautiful story, with great illustrations. I loved how sensitively but realistically it dealt with Tom's illness and its effects on his friendshis, but it never overwhelms the story. How wonderful to revisit neverland and see it through fresh eyes. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher

[Cora]

A fun, magical, hopeful story inspired by the legacy of Peter Pan and set between Great Ormond Street Hospital and Neverland.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.