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Neverland
Kit Learmonth would rather die than grow up and leave Neverland …
When she was twelve, Kit Learmonth watched her parents drown in a storm as their boat sailed over the Tranter Sink Hole. Now seventeen, Kit doesn’t remember the incident, and she doesn’t want to. In fact, her only clear memories from before her parents’ death are of the fantastical stories of pirates and mermaids that she and her dad invented about the small island where she grew up, a place she calls Neverland.
Following Kit’s parents’ deaths, her uncle and guardian, Doc, transformed the island into a boarding school for mentally ill teenagers and sent Kit away to school on the mainland. But when Kit tries and fails to end her life, Doc brings her home to the island and places her in the care of his colleague, Dr Hannah Ward.
Resisting her treatment, Kit instead pulls her friends deeper into her world of make-believe. It’s only when Kit and her new boyfriend, Rohan, take the fantasy too far and land themselves in very real danger that her faith in Neverland is shaken, and Kit must find a way back to reality.
When she was twelve, Kit Learmonth watched her parents drown in a storm as their boat sailed over the Tranter Sink Hole. Now seventeen, Kit doesn’t remember the incident, and she doesn’t want to. In fact, her only clear memories from before her parents’ death are of the fantastical stories of pirates and mermaids that she and her dad invented about the small island where she grew up, a place she calls Neverland.
Following Kit’s parents’ deaths, her uncle and guardian, Doc, transformed the island into a boarding school for mentally ill teenagers and sent Kit away to school on the mainland. But when Kit tries and fails to end her life, Doc brings her home to the island and places her in the care of his colleague, Dr Hannah Ward.
Resisting her treatment, Kit instead pulls her friends deeper into her world of make-believe. It’s only when Kit and her new boyfriend, Rohan, take the fantasy too far and land themselves in very real danger that her faith in Neverland is shaken, and Kit must find a way back to reality.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2018
8 people are currently reading
1981 people want to read
About the author
Margot McGovern
7 books84 followersMargot McGovern lives in Adelaide and has a creative writing PhD from Flinders University. Her debut novel, Neverland, was shortlisted for the Text Prize and the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.
Her second novel, This Stays Between Us, will be published in March 2025.
Margot's short horror fiction has appeared in issues of The Dark and the Aurealis-Award-shortlisted anthology Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales.
You can find Margot on Instagram: @margot.mcgovern
Her second novel, This Stays Between Us, will be published in March 2025.
Margot's short horror fiction has appeared in issues of The Dark and the Aurealis-Award-shortlisted anthology Hometown Haunts: #LoveOzYA Horror Tales.
You can find Margot on Instagram: @margot.mcgovern
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
February 10, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars
I won't go into much detail now as I will be doing a full spoiler-free review (video) closer to publication.
Whew, this sure was an adventure! I really enjoyed following Kit on her journey, as well as a lot of the supporting characters. It was brutal, honest and raw, it doesn't shy away from some really tough subjects and I really appreciated that about the book. I think that the characters and their mental illnesses were treated with a lot of respect, and for the most part, these characters weren't villainised either.
Trigger warning: self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, abuse
Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I won't go into much detail now as I will be doing a full spoiler-free review (video) closer to publication.
Whew, this sure was an adventure! I really enjoyed following Kit on her journey, as well as a lot of the supporting characters. It was brutal, honest and raw, it doesn't shy away from some really tough subjects and I really appreciated that about the book. I think that the characters and their mental illnesses were treated with a lot of respect, and for the most part, these characters weren't villainised either.
Trigger warning: self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, abuse
Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2019
I read Neverland because it was given to me by a friend. Just saying that first because I would not actively go out and buy a book about teenagers with mental illness, so this is not one of my preferred genres.
I did enjoy parts of this book especially towards the end when Kit starts at last to want to get well and participates in her therapy. Before that she not only continually damaged herself but worse, she enabled her friends to do things which were bad for them too. I was unsure whether this was a good message to impart to the reader.
It was an okay read in the end. The characters were mostly likeable, the dialogue was believable, and there was quite a dramatic story in there.
I did enjoy parts of this book especially towards the end when Kit starts at last to want to get well and participates in her therapy. Before that she not only continually damaged herself but worse, she enabled her friends to do things which were bad for them too. I was unsure whether this was a good message to impart to the reader.
It was an okay read in the end. The characters were mostly likeable, the dialogue was believable, and there was quite a dramatic story in there.
May 22, 2018
trigger warning: suicide, abuse, self-harm, depression
Margot McGoverns debut novel 'Neverland' is something i have never read before its so different and so unique, i don't think i've ever read something like this book before.
Plot: This story centres around Kit a teenage girl dealing with the tragic death of both her parents, she now lives on the island 'Neverland' and attends a school for teenagers who are dealing with mental health issues. I loved the story that Margot has created it's so different to the traditional YA novels i have read before and thats why i think it appeals me. Kit goes through this transformation all throughout the story, she first starts off in the 'restricted section' of the school because she is a danger to herself and those around her and the determination she has is phenomenal because it's something that she has to work herself up to. Kit also has gone through suppressing what really happened to both her parents and it was interesting to see how she hid it and how she got to that point were she finally told the truth about what really happened.
I could somewhat relate to Kit in some aspects of her character, i myself have been dealing with depression and anxiety since my teenage years and i know how hard it is to deal with the struggle every single day. I think people should read this book because there could be so many discussions to come out with this book because everything starts from just one conversation.
Margot has a way with words i was left hooked on every single sentenced like it all had a hidden meaning and i just had to know what happened next. The writing style was strong and pure that i couldn't put the book down.
One thing that i felt Margot did really well in this book was not sugarcoat how depression, anxiety, self-harm etc is because we need books that are not afraid to shy away from these topics because when people are going through something this serious it should be taken as such. I was shocked how deep and dark Margot got with self-harm and suicide in this book i felt a bit confronted as i was reading these scenes but I'm glad Margot showed how horrific and bad things can get when people are in this situation.
People are not defined by their mental illness and i thank Margot for not having these characters consumed or let their mental illnesses take over their character. Please don't think a mental illness defines someone because they are so much more then that.
Kit and Rohan relationship was interesting because they fell 'in-love' with each other quickly and it usually annoys me but this one was interesting to read. Kit soon realises that she doesn't want to be with this boy after some of the events of the book and i completely understand why.
Kit doesn't let her relationship with Rohan defy her and she knows that she can't be cured with the love of a boy who she only just met and i applaud Margot so much for writing that in the book because you can't be cured by a person you just met and fell in love with.
Overall i enjoyed Neverland as it talked about some very serious but important issues and dealt with them in a way that i thank Margot for writing it. I also loved the magical realism and fantasy aspect of the story and i'm happy to say that it wasn't an overpowering part of the book.
Margot McGoverns debut novel 'Neverland' is something i have never read before its so different and so unique, i don't think i've ever read something like this book before.
Plot: This story centres around Kit a teenage girl dealing with the tragic death of both her parents, she now lives on the island 'Neverland' and attends a school for teenagers who are dealing with mental health issues. I loved the story that Margot has created it's so different to the traditional YA novels i have read before and thats why i think it appeals me. Kit goes through this transformation all throughout the story, she first starts off in the 'restricted section' of the school because she is a danger to herself and those around her and the determination she has is phenomenal because it's something that she has to work herself up to. Kit also has gone through suppressing what really happened to both her parents and it was interesting to see how she hid it and how she got to that point were she finally told the truth about what really happened.
I could somewhat relate to Kit in some aspects of her character, i myself have been dealing with depression and anxiety since my teenage years and i know how hard it is to deal with the struggle every single day. I think people should read this book because there could be so many discussions to come out with this book because everything starts from just one conversation.
Margot has a way with words i was left hooked on every single sentenced like it all had a hidden meaning and i just had to know what happened next. The writing style was strong and pure that i couldn't put the book down.
One thing that i felt Margot did really well in this book was not sugarcoat how depression, anxiety, self-harm etc is because we need books that are not afraid to shy away from these topics because when people are going through something this serious it should be taken as such. I was shocked how deep and dark Margot got with self-harm and suicide in this book i felt a bit confronted as i was reading these scenes but I'm glad Margot showed how horrific and bad things can get when people are in this situation.
People are not defined by their mental illness and i thank Margot for not having these characters consumed or let their mental illnesses take over their character. Please don't think a mental illness defines someone because they are so much more then that.
Kit and Rohan relationship was interesting because they fell 'in-love' with each other quickly and it usually annoys me but this one was interesting to read. Kit soon realises that she doesn't want to be with this boy after some of the events of the book and i completely understand why.
Kit doesn't let her relationship with Rohan defy her and she knows that she can't be cured with the love of a boy who she only just met and i applaud Margot so much for writing that in the book because you can't be cured by a person you just met and fell in love with.
Overall i enjoyed Neverland as it talked about some very serious but important issues and dealt with them in a way that i thank Margot for writing it. I also loved the magical realism and fantasy aspect of the story and i'm happy to say that it wasn't an overpowering part of the book.
May 11, 2018
Trigger warning for:
- suicide
- self harm
- depression
- PTSD
This was a good story following a teenager who suffers from mental illness. I enjoyed the inclusion of fantasy elements.
I did think some parts of the book were unnecessary and could have been cut out.
- suicide
- self harm
- depression
- PTSD
This was a good story following a teenager who suffers from mental illness. I enjoyed the inclusion of fantasy elements.
I did think some parts of the book were unnecessary and could have been cut out.
March 24, 2018
I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review by Penguin Teen Australia. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Trigger warning for both self-harm and suicide. If you struggle with these topics, please take care of yourself and proceed with caution.
Okay, this book hit me harder than I expected.
As someone who has a past with self-harm and has attempted suicide in the past, this brought back a lot of past memories.
I'm so thankful that even though that I had a past like that, I'm able to push through because over time, I healed. I haven't had depression in 6.5 years. It doesn't mean I'm perfect though, anxiety is still a big trigger for me as it's only been 1.5 years since I healed from that, but I hope one day I can get to the point where I can read a book with that trigger and I can push through it in a healthy way.
That is what I was able to do with this book, thankfully.
As someone who has experienced some of the pain that Kit went through, I can definitely say this is an accurate, raw portrayal of mental illness.
I love that this book doesn't glorify mental illness either, but it is very respectful to those going through it.
The Peter Pan and bookish references were definitely a bonus as well.
This was a very powerful debut novel.
A hard read, but so rewarding.
Spoiler-Free review to come on my channel.
Trigger warning for both self-harm and suicide. If you struggle with these topics, please take care of yourself and proceed with caution.
Okay, this book hit me harder than I expected.
As someone who has a past with self-harm and has attempted suicide in the past, this brought back a lot of past memories.
I'm so thankful that even though that I had a past like that, I'm able to push through because over time, I healed. I haven't had depression in 6.5 years. It doesn't mean I'm perfect though, anxiety is still a big trigger for me as it's only been 1.5 years since I healed from that, but I hope one day I can get to the point where I can read a book with that trigger and I can push through it in a healthy way.
That is what I was able to do with this book, thankfully.
As someone who has experienced some of the pain that Kit went through, I can definitely say this is an accurate, raw portrayal of mental illness.
I love that this book doesn't glorify mental illness either, but it is very respectful to those going through it.
The Peter Pan and bookish references were definitely a bonus as well.
This was a very powerful debut novel.
A hard read, but so rewarding.
Spoiler-Free review to come on my channel.
December 31, 2017
Obviously, I am biased - given that I am Margot's literary agent. But I am also someone who has read NEVERLAND about X10 times now, and I am still finding new narrative gems that surprise, delight and have me falling more and more in love with this book ...
However - I thought it might be nice to share my earlier thoughts on the story. Here is a sample of what I originally wrote to Margot, when I offered to represent her & Kit, as well as a sample of my excited email to Jacinta, announcing that I'd found a new YA author;
'Neverland' is a subversive twist on the "boarding school" sub-genre of YA. And one of the aspects I most loved when I read this was the story setting, which reminded me of 'ZZ's Sleep-Away Camp for Disordered Dreamers', the magical realist/surrealist short story by Karen Russell (in 'St Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves'), mixed in with a little of Melina Marchetta’s 'On The Jellicoe Road'.
The writing and voice also reminds me of everyone from Simmone Howell to M. J. Hyland, with dashes of American YA authors like E. Lockhart, and Robyn Schneider, with a pinch of Andrew Smith, Wendy Wunder’s 'The Museum of Intangible Things' and maybe some of Stephanie Kueh’s 'Charm & Strange'.
It's an addictive and thoughtful YA read.
However - I thought it might be nice to share my earlier thoughts on the story. Here is a sample of what I originally wrote to Margot, when I offered to represent her & Kit, as well as a sample of my excited email to Jacinta, announcing that I'd found a new YA author;
'Neverland' is a subversive twist on the "boarding school" sub-genre of YA. And one of the aspects I most loved when I read this was the story setting, which reminded me of 'ZZ's Sleep-Away Camp for Disordered Dreamers', the magical realist/surrealist short story by Karen Russell (in 'St Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves'), mixed in with a little of Melina Marchetta’s 'On The Jellicoe Road'.
The writing and voice also reminds me of everyone from Simmone Howell to M. J. Hyland, with dashes of American YA authors like E. Lockhart, and Robyn Schneider, with a pinch of Andrew Smith, Wendy Wunder’s 'The Museum of Intangible Things' and maybe some of Stephanie Kueh’s 'Charm & Strange'.
It's an addictive and thoughtful YA read.
December 12, 2018
Found bloodied and lifeless after attempting to take her own life, Katherine Eloise Learmonth is returning to her childhood home of Neverland, a secluded private island now housing a wellness hospital for adolescents. Seven years ago in a tragic sailing accident, Kit's parents perished, Kit the only survivor found on board the small vessel bound for the mainland. Neverland is an island and former residence of the Learmonth family, Kit growing up playing upon the shore and dreaming of the mythological stories her father created for his best selling novel Kingdom By The Sea.
The island is now home to at risk teenagers, sent to the exclusive resort style wellness centre to work with renowned psychiatrists and doctors, including Kit's uncle affectionately known as Doc. Kit uses self harm to escape the numbness of her parent's death, her mind unable to remember the tragic accident rendering her an orphan and placing her in the care of her uncle.
Kit becomes the unreliable narrator, her trauma lingering as she still accepts the responsibility for the death of her parents. She begrudgingly accepts counselling sessions but often explores emotions of guilt and neglect as the narrator of a fictional story, replacing moments of difficulty with outlandish characters such as mermaids, selkies and sirens, incorporating the Neverland mythology taken from her father's best selling book. Avoiding the confrontation of self reflection leaves Kit carrying feelings of animosity and abrasiveness towards authority.
When she begins to accept help, her breakthrough occurs but it's a long journey for Kit to travel alone. Kit's treatment included stays in isolation, counselling and medication. It also explored relationships and mental health and the downfalls of a toxic relationship as she befriends new patient Rohan. Although Neverland centres upon Kit's narrative, the reader is introduced to friends Alistair and Gypsy. Alistair is a Psychopath and although friends with Kit and Gypsy, he lacks empathy and emotional responses, making him the perfect candidate for a no strings physical relationship with Kit. Gypsy has been diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and currently in a relationship with a young and upcoming actor. Gypsy is heavily influenced by her relationship and the media, after visits from her boyfriend, her condition deteriorates. Although friends and a support for one another, they often enable one another, sneaking off grounds to drink, smoke and escape the confines of the wellness hospital. The one respite for Alistair and Kit is a sailing carnival hosted yearly on the island.
The most striking aspect of Neverland is the blending of realism and imagination. It's written with a compassionate and considerate narrative yet realistic in the portrayal of mental wellness. One scene in particular has stayed with me, Alistair, in a rare moment of seriousness, displaying his vulnerabilities.
For Kit, that had become a sobering moment and the realisation that Rohan had become another toxic element in her life and to become well, she must journey alone. It was a sign of maturity and progress, for Kit to come to the realisation that she needed professional help.
Although Neverland is a difficult, confrontational read, it reiterates the importance of recognising when we need help and accepting the hand that is able to guide our way. Not a cure, but feeling well with the assistance of coping mechanisms and medication. Margot McGovern has crafted a masterful and remarkable debut that destigmatises mental illness through characters that will resonate with readers. Tread softly my friends.
The island is now home to at risk teenagers, sent to the exclusive resort style wellness centre to work with renowned psychiatrists and doctors, including Kit's uncle affectionately known as Doc. Kit uses self harm to escape the numbness of her parent's death, her mind unable to remember the tragic accident rendering her an orphan and placing her in the care of her uncle.
Kit becomes the unreliable narrator, her trauma lingering as she still accepts the responsibility for the death of her parents. She begrudgingly accepts counselling sessions but often explores emotions of guilt and neglect as the narrator of a fictional story, replacing moments of difficulty with outlandish characters such as mermaids, selkies and sirens, incorporating the Neverland mythology taken from her father's best selling book. Avoiding the confrontation of self reflection leaves Kit carrying feelings of animosity and abrasiveness towards authority.
When she begins to accept help, her breakthrough occurs but it's a long journey for Kit to travel alone. Kit's treatment included stays in isolation, counselling and medication. It also explored relationships and mental health and the downfalls of a toxic relationship as she befriends new patient Rohan. Although Neverland centres upon Kit's narrative, the reader is introduced to friends Alistair and Gypsy. Alistair is a Psychopath and although friends with Kit and Gypsy, he lacks empathy and emotional responses, making him the perfect candidate for a no strings physical relationship with Kit. Gypsy has been diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa and currently in a relationship with a young and upcoming actor. Gypsy is heavily influenced by her relationship and the media, after visits from her boyfriend, her condition deteriorates. Although friends and a support for one another, they often enable one another, sneaking off grounds to drink, smoke and escape the confines of the wellness hospital. The one respite for Alistair and Kit is a sailing carnival hosted yearly on the island.
The most striking aspect of Neverland is the blending of realism and imagination. It's written with a compassionate and considerate narrative yet realistic in the portrayal of mental wellness. One scene in particular has stayed with me, Alistair, in a rare moment of seriousness, displaying his vulnerabilities.
There's no cure for what I have. I'm not capable of change. But you, you can get better. Don't squander that because you're scared.
For Kit, that had become a sobering moment and the realisation that Rohan had become another toxic element in her life and to become well, she must journey alone. It was a sign of maturity and progress, for Kit to come to the realisation that she needed professional help.
Although Neverland is a difficult, confrontational read, it reiterates the importance of recognising when we need help and accepting the hand that is able to guide our way. Not a cure, but feeling well with the assistance of coping mechanisms and medication. Margot McGovern has crafted a masterful and remarkable debut that destigmatises mental illness through characters that will resonate with readers. Tread softly my friends.
June 19, 2018
HELP I’M SOBBING
4/5 stars
”Just a woman who couldn’t bare to be in the world and a man who couldn’t endure it without her.”
Excuse me while I try and slow my heart beat down.
Excuse me while I try and keep the tears away.
Excuse my while I collect my thoughts.
Forewarning: This book tackles topics like self-harm and mental illness
This is just such a cute and lovely read, not to mention intriguing!
You’re easily transported into this magical world called Neverland, full of mythical creatures like mermaids, silkies and fairies. It was so enchanting yet full of mystery and the unknowns.
This story follows the main female protagonists, Kit. She’s witty, smart, funny and self-destructive.
I don’t want to give anything away because you should just pick this up without knowing much about it.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this after a book and I’m so glad I picked this up for a read.
This is such a special book.
Be still my beating heart.
4/5 stars
”Just a woman who couldn’t bare to be in the world and a man who couldn’t endure it without her.”
Excuse me while I try and slow my heart beat down.
Excuse me while I try and keep the tears away.
Excuse my while I collect my thoughts.
Forewarning: This book tackles topics like self-harm and mental illness
This is just such a cute and lovely read, not to mention intriguing!
You’re easily transported into this magical world called Neverland, full of mythical creatures like mermaids, silkies and fairies. It was so enchanting yet full of mystery and the unknowns.
This story follows the main female protagonists, Kit. She’s witty, smart, funny and self-destructive.
I don’t want to give anything away because you should just pick this up without knowing much about it.
It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this after a book and I’m so glad I picked this up for a read.
This is such a special book.
Be still my beating heart.
March 26, 2018
TW for abuse, suicide & self harm
Unlike anything I’ve ever read. Equal parts gripping, raw and painful but it ultimately left me with a feeling of hopefulness. Margot’s writing is exceptional, I need more please.
Unlike anything I’ve ever read. Equal parts gripping, raw and painful but it ultimately left me with a feeling of hopefulness. Margot’s writing is exceptional, I need more please.
April 6, 2018
Oh damn. Many tears have been shed. Coherent thoughts not yet formed. Sleep calls. RTC.
Read
June 29, 2018I didn’t rate this book because if I did it would be low...however I think it’s unfair rating because my taste in books has changed and although I felt obliged to read this book for a book club, I just didn’t enjoy it. I did like the plot and certain parts of this book but it’s not for me. Wether that’s because I didn’t enjoy the actual book or because it’s not a genre (or whatever) I like, I can’t tell so for now, this is unrated!
January 14, 2018
This is a tough read, with Kit's mental health at the core of the narrative.
Compelling.
Compelling.
March 27, 2018
Oh my heart. What a beautiful debut. The language, the setting, the everything. More please!!
Want to read
September 1, 2017You had me at BOARDING SCHOOL.
March 3, 2019
Trigger warnings: death of a parent (in the past), self harm, discussions of suicide, eating disorder, mental health.
This book has never particularly appealed to me and I can't for the life of me pinpoint why. But it was sitting on the shelf at the library last time I was there so I figured I should give it a shot considering so many people have RAVED about this.
And I have come to the conclusion that my feelings towards this are very much a Me Thing and not a Book Thing. For me, this falls into the same category as On the Jellicoe Road, where I JUST DON'T GET IT. I don't understand why people love it, I don't understand why people like the characters, and I spend the whole book just feeling slightly perplexed because, like, it's FINE. But it's nothing more than that. And yet everyone else seems to have read this utterly amazing book full of feels and gorgeousness.
So yeah. I have no idea why I felt this way. But I did. This book just...wasn't for me.
This book has never particularly appealed to me and I can't for the life of me pinpoint why. But it was sitting on the shelf at the library last time I was there so I figured I should give it a shot considering so many people have RAVED about this.
And I have come to the conclusion that my feelings towards this are very much a Me Thing and not a Book Thing. For me, this falls into the same category as On the Jellicoe Road, where I JUST DON'T GET IT. I don't understand why people love it, I don't understand why people like the characters, and I spend the whole book just feeling slightly perplexed because, like, it's FINE. But it's nothing more than that. And yet everyone else seems to have read this utterly amazing book full of feels and gorgeousness.
So yeah. I have no idea why I felt this way. But I did. This book just...wasn't for me.
April 25, 2018
A wonderfully imaginative and engaging story combining some reasonably common YA fiction themes (mental health, family relationships, young love...) with incredible mythological allusion, intertextuality and literary references. So clever and compelling, for adults and YA fans alike, as well as for literature lovers. A great read (and by an Adelaidean too!)
May 14, 2018
What a beautiful, difficult story. I was totally swept up (then interrupted by starting a new job) but it’s been a joy and a heart break to return to Kit’s perilous adventures in Neverland. Vivid, raw characters. Devastating truths cloaked in monstrous apparitions. Poetry in every artfully turned phrase. Gorgeous.
May 7, 2018
Trigger warnings for self harm.
Easily one of the most powerful and moving reads I've read in a while, I loved how Margot McGovern weaved Greek mythology and Peter Pan lore together in this story, and crafted some exceptionally memorable characters! Every step of the way, my heart was with Kit, I felt so sad for her throughout, and I really hoped she would be okay, I just felt like I was part of her unique story, my heart ached for her as we learnt her history, but as I read more, I found myself asking questions about everything, and I loved every minute, I felt like I could feel Kit's emotions, which evoked chills on my part, and let's just say my emotions ran high during this, what an amazing and exhilarating journey!
Easily one of the most powerful and moving reads I've read in a while, I loved how Margot McGovern weaved Greek mythology and Peter Pan lore together in this story, and crafted some exceptionally memorable characters! Every step of the way, my heart was with Kit, I felt so sad for her throughout, and I really hoped she would be okay, I just felt like I was part of her unique story, my heart ached for her as we learnt her history, but as I read more, I found myself asking questions about everything, and I loved every minute, I felt like I could feel Kit's emotions, which evoked chills on my part, and let's just say my emotions ran high during this, what an amazing and exhilarating journey!
July 11, 2018
I thought this novel would blur the lines between reality and fantasy a lot more than it did, but I really enjoyed the way mental illness was explored through 'Neverland' and the people there. The way Kit used Neverland as sort of a safety blanket, and a way to protect herself from her childhood worked really well. I liked most of the supporting characters, especially Doc (though I imagined him a lot older than he was supposed to be). I had some minor issues with certain characters and the way some issues felt a bit rushed, but on the whole I found Neverland to be a really unique way to explore mental illness, and will definitely read this author again.
May 20, 2018
Thanks to Penguin Australia for sending me a copy of NEVERLAND for review.
There's still a couple weeks until this book is released, but I wanted to read it before the Adelaide Penguin Teen Showcase which is just over a week away (EEEK!). I'll have a full review on my blog when it is released, but I just want to say that this is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a girl who feels lost in her own world. Margot's writing style is beautiful and captivating, and the Peter Pan references worked so well with the characters and story. I read this book in less than 24 hours, over a Saturday night, because I couldn't put it down!
** REVIEW UPDATE:
As soon as I read the blurb for this book — actually, as soon as I saw the cover — I was intrigued and knew I wanted to read it. It has all my favourite things; a gorgeous cover (the colour blue!), childhood fairy tale references, magic, complex characters, themes of mental health and recovery, and of course, it’s #LoveOZYA. I was actually lucky enough to meet the author, Margot McGovern, at the Penguin Teen Showcase in February and it was great to hear what she had to say about how she drew inspiration for the story.
After Kit fails to end her life, she is brought to NEVERLAND, the island she grew up on which is now a boarding school for mentally ill teens, run by her uncle. The perfect way to describe Kit is that she’s unreliable, and while some people might think this makes her unlikable, I found this made the story even more intriguing. She’s complex and troubled which makes sense after what she has gone through, and I love how the author didn’t sugar coat any of that. There’s so much room for her character to develop throughout the story as she goes through a lot of ups and downs, and I feel like her character in itself is a great symbol for mental health; there isn’t a straight road to recovery, but we can get there in the end.
I also enjoyed how the other side characters were developed in a way that we still understood their perspectives in the story. Kit’s uncle, Doc, kind of has the opposite view on the situation than the other character’s. Along with Dr Ward, he’s the “adult”, the wise and experienced one, but he cares for Kit in a way that no one ever has. Kit’s friends on the island, Gypsy and Alistair, also had problems going on in their lives and it was interesting to see how they handled things in comparison to Kit. And then there’s Rohan, the new kid and the love interest. Although I was unsure about him at first, his character offered something different to the story, and there was also a sense of mystery to him which drove the plot forward.
I appreciate how raw and honest the story is, and how Margot has portrayed it in such an interesting way. I find myself always drawn toward books that cover topics of mental health, always wanting to find characters who I see myself in and expanding my knowledge on certain topics. Kit’s story is heartbreaking, yet heatwarming and full of hope. I could feel just how broken she was as she struggled with the grief riddling inside her, and as I was taken on the journey with her, I began to understand her and her intentions with her life.
NEVERLAND is also a great coming of age story. A big part of Kit’s life is not knowing what she wants to do, or where she wants to go, and since I left school a few years ago, I can definitely relate, and I still do. The ending of NEVERLAND wrapped this up really well, and without giving anything away, I was satisfied with the ending and the amount of hope that it could give to readers who are struggling with similar issues.
I highly recommend picking up NEVERLAND and giving it a read, just remember trigger warnings for mental health and suicide. It’s a beautiful story that depicts the truth of mental health, however, shows that there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
More reviews on my blog;
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
There's still a couple weeks until this book is released, but I wanted to read it before the Adelaide Penguin Teen Showcase which is just over a week away (EEEK!). I'll have a full review on my blog when it is released, but I just want to say that this is both a heartbreaking and heartwarming story about a girl who feels lost in her own world. Margot's writing style is beautiful and captivating, and the Peter Pan references worked so well with the characters and story. I read this book in less than 24 hours, over a Saturday night, because I couldn't put it down!
** REVIEW UPDATE:
As soon as I read the blurb for this book — actually, as soon as I saw the cover — I was intrigued and knew I wanted to read it. It has all my favourite things; a gorgeous cover (the colour blue!), childhood fairy tale references, magic, complex characters, themes of mental health and recovery, and of course, it’s #LoveOZYA. I was actually lucky enough to meet the author, Margot McGovern, at the Penguin Teen Showcase in February and it was great to hear what she had to say about how she drew inspiration for the story.
After Kit fails to end her life, she is brought to NEVERLAND, the island she grew up on which is now a boarding school for mentally ill teens, run by her uncle. The perfect way to describe Kit is that she’s unreliable, and while some people might think this makes her unlikable, I found this made the story even more intriguing. She’s complex and troubled which makes sense after what she has gone through, and I love how the author didn’t sugar coat any of that. There’s so much room for her character to develop throughout the story as she goes through a lot of ups and downs, and I feel like her character in itself is a great symbol for mental health; there isn’t a straight road to recovery, but we can get there in the end.
I also enjoyed how the other side characters were developed in a way that we still understood their perspectives in the story. Kit’s uncle, Doc, kind of has the opposite view on the situation than the other character’s. Along with Dr Ward, he’s the “adult”, the wise and experienced one, but he cares for Kit in a way that no one ever has. Kit’s friends on the island, Gypsy and Alistair, also had problems going on in their lives and it was interesting to see how they handled things in comparison to Kit. And then there’s Rohan, the new kid and the love interest. Although I was unsure about him at first, his character offered something different to the story, and there was also a sense of mystery to him which drove the plot forward.
I appreciate how raw and honest the story is, and how Margot has portrayed it in such an interesting way. I find myself always drawn toward books that cover topics of mental health, always wanting to find characters who I see myself in and expanding my knowledge on certain topics. Kit’s story is heartbreaking, yet heatwarming and full of hope. I could feel just how broken she was as she struggled with the grief riddling inside her, and as I was taken on the journey with her, I began to understand her and her intentions with her life.
NEVERLAND is also a great coming of age story. A big part of Kit’s life is not knowing what she wants to do, or where she wants to go, and since I left school a few years ago, I can definitely relate, and I still do. The ending of NEVERLAND wrapped this up really well, and without giving anything away, I was satisfied with the ending and the amount of hope that it could give to readers who are struggling with similar issues.
I highly recommend picking up NEVERLAND and giving it a read, just remember trigger warnings for mental health and suicide. It’s a beautiful story that depicts the truth of mental health, however, shows that there can be light at the end of the tunnel.
More reviews on my blog;
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
April 9, 2018
Margot McGovern's debut novel 'Neverland' was amazing (albeit extremely raw and emotional). At the book launch, Margot was signing the book saying "Happy Reading" - can I just say that this should have been "Have an emotional read with scenes of happiness but lots of raw scenes that include self harm". I really loved Margot's writing style and was able to read the book quickly, like Kit, not wanting to leave Neverland either.
July 25, 2018
TW: suicide, self harm, drinking & drugs
I had trouble liking this book because I really couldn't give a crap about Kit. She's a dickhead, and maybe she's supposed to be like that, but it made me actively want her to die. And the worst thing is, she doesn't even grow up as a character. All she does is constantly enable her mentally ill friends into doing things that are detrimental to their health.
This was overall a mediocre book, but I feel morally compelled to take a star off my rating because of the constant negative critique of psychiatric care, therapy, and medication. Kit refuses to take medication because it'll turn her into a zombie, yet she's okay with taking valium which is a relaxant which literally zombifies you for a few hours? She has no problem with taking drugs, and stealing meds from other patients to get high off of, but prescribed medication is bad, and this attitude never changes. Her attitude towards Dr Ward, her therapist, also never changes, even though she gives her complete freedom that she doesn't deserve. Therapy is a joke to her, and I just want to punch Kit over and over again.
Also, she's a manipulative bitch, and does traumatic things like cutting in front of a guy who had lost a girl he'd loved. Cutting in front of someone to make a statement is not cool, and can really traumatise someone. UGH.
I had trouble liking this book because I really couldn't give a crap about Kit. She's a dickhead, and maybe she's supposed to be like that, but it made me actively want her to die. And the worst thing is, she doesn't even grow up as a character. All she does is constantly enable her mentally ill friends into doing things that are detrimental to their health.
This was overall a mediocre book, but I feel morally compelled to take a star off my rating because of the constant negative critique of psychiatric care, therapy, and medication. Kit refuses to take medication because it'll turn her into a zombie, yet she's okay with taking valium which is a relaxant which literally zombifies you for a few hours? She has no problem with taking drugs, and stealing meds from other patients to get high off of, but prescribed medication is bad, and this attitude never changes. Her attitude towards Dr Ward, her therapist, also never changes, even though she gives her complete freedom that she doesn't deserve. Therapy is a joke to her, and I just want to punch Kit over and over again.
Also, she's a manipulative bitch, and does traumatic things like cutting in front of a guy who had lost a girl he'd loved. Cutting in front of someone to make a statement is not cool, and can really traumatise someone. UGH.
March 27, 2018
I received Margot McGovern's manuscript in the post the day before Margot was due to visit the shop. Being the responsible passionate bookseller that I am, I thought I should at least familiarise myself with her story. Let's just say that I didn't get much done in the next 20 hours. When Margot walked in I was at a crucial point, but I had to put it down to chat. Of course I picked it up as soon as Margot left, and promptly finished it.
"Neverland" starts with Kit being been bought back to her home by her Uncle (Doc). Kit's home is not ordinary - it is an island where Doc has set up a residential school for teens with mental health issues. Only this time she is a patient not family.
For Kit, the island, that she has always affectionately called "Neverland", is a magical place full of the pixies, pirates and mermaids of her Dad's stories. But as Kit faces up to her past, what will the truth of "Neverland" actually be? Will Kit accept her memories or will she keep hiding? Will her relationship with Rohan - the new boy at school - help her heal, or damage her further?
Margot weaves a wonderful tale and builds an empathetic protagonist. She has a wonderful way with words that she uses to create magical places and memories. in "Neverland" Margot asks us how our memories of the past help form our future? She has made me question everything that I thought i knew about my past. How magical to have the ability to do that for your readers.
"Neverland" will appeal to a broad range of readers, which for me just adds to its appeal. I personally wouldn't recommend it for younger YA readers. Not because of the mental health issues raised, but because the story hinges on drug use, drinking and sex. The story may open up discussion around mental issues, which for me is never a negative.
Overall a great story that I look forward to putting in the hands of readers.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
"Neverland" starts with Kit being been bought back to her home by her Uncle (Doc). Kit's home is not ordinary - it is an island where Doc has set up a residential school for teens with mental health issues. Only this time she is a patient not family.
For Kit, the island, that she has always affectionately called "Neverland", is a magical place full of the pixies, pirates and mermaids of her Dad's stories. But as Kit faces up to her past, what will the truth of "Neverland" actually be? Will Kit accept her memories or will she keep hiding? Will her relationship with Rohan - the new boy at school - help her heal, or damage her further?
Margot weaves a wonderful tale and builds an empathetic protagonist. She has a wonderful way with words that she uses to create magical places and memories. in "Neverland" Margot asks us how our memories of the past help form our future? She has made me question everything that I thought i knew about my past. How magical to have the ability to do that for your readers.
"Neverland" will appeal to a broad range of readers, which for me just adds to its appeal. I personally wouldn't recommend it for younger YA readers. Not because of the mental health issues raised, but because the story hinges on drug use, drinking and sex. The story may open up discussion around mental issues, which for me is never a negative.
Overall a great story that I look forward to putting in the hands of readers.
Danielle
Three Four Knock on the Door
Independent Children's Bookshop
October 23, 2018
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Kit has almost killed herself in her efforts to get home to Neverland, the place of her childhood storytelling. She’s forced herself to forget the night her parents died in the hopes of maintaining her childhood fantasies. Her psychiatrist uncle is determined to help her heal, but is Kit too stubborn for her own good?
I actually never fell for the protagonist of this novel. I thought she was a selfish b**** that never thought for anyone but herself. In fact, I felt like she undermined their healing, and that was just cruel. I also didn’t in the least appreciate the interspersion of the ‘fairytales’ throughout an ok real action novel.
Burying the past is never a good idea. I loved the symbolism of Kit taking her love interest to the centre of the island and likened it to a bookaholic handing their favourite novel to a potential partner and getting them to read it. However, this also made her easier to manipulate, and in the end I hated her.
I didn’t agree with the premise of Neverland – who ever thought of putting a psychiatric hospital for teenagers on a freaking island? I could imagine that the isolation and fresh environment could be healthy, but I also know that it probably wasn’t all that positive that people COULD JUST LEAP OFF A CLIFF!
I barely finished this novel. I was hoping for redemption at the end, so I did finish skimming to the end. But I wouldn’t recommend this novel at all. It was overall quite mood-dampening and had no satisfying ending that redeemed it in my mind. 1 star. Don’t waste your time or your heartstrings on this novel.
Kit has almost killed herself in her efforts to get home to Neverland, the place of her childhood storytelling. She’s forced herself to forget the night her parents died in the hopes of maintaining her childhood fantasies. Her psychiatrist uncle is determined to help her heal, but is Kit too stubborn for her own good?
I actually never fell for the protagonist of this novel. I thought she was a selfish b**** that never thought for anyone but herself. In fact, I felt like she undermined their healing, and that was just cruel. I also didn’t in the least appreciate the interspersion of the ‘fairytales’ throughout an ok real action novel.
Burying the past is never a good idea. I loved the symbolism of Kit taking her love interest to the centre of the island and likened it to a bookaholic handing their favourite novel to a potential partner and getting them to read it. However, this also made her easier to manipulate, and in the end I hated her.
I didn’t agree with the premise of Neverland – who ever thought of putting a psychiatric hospital for teenagers on a freaking island? I could imagine that the isolation and fresh environment could be healthy, but I also know that it probably wasn’t all that positive that people COULD JUST LEAP OFF A CLIFF!
I barely finished this novel. I was hoping for redemption at the end, so I did finish skimming to the end. But I wouldn’t recommend this novel at all. It was overall quite mood-dampening and had no satisfying ending that redeemed it in my mind. 1 star. Don’t waste your time or your heartstrings on this novel.
June 29, 2018
Trigger warnings for Neverland: self harm, suicide, eating disorders, emotional manipulation, and more. The book is largely set at a psychiatric treatment centre and this may be distressing for some readers.
Kit Learmonth has spent half her life daydreaming. In reality, she’s a troubled teen with a violent past and a history of self harm. In her fantasies, she is a Peter Pan like heroine, living amongst pirates and mermaids, seeking adventure and never growing old. Neverland begs the question: can Kit look past her fantasies and face up to reality? After all, her memories are scattered and distorted. What really happened the night she lost her parents in a tragic boating accident? Will discovering the truth set Kit free, or keep her locked in childish imaginings forever?
Personally, I see two sides to Margot McGovern’s book. We have the Neverland of Kit’s fantasies, a magical island locale in which she was raised on her father’s fairytales and pirate stories. Alternatively, there’s the “real” Neverland, which is no longer the idyllic playground Kit once believed it to be. Kit’s childhood home lost much of it’s allure and mystique when her uncle transformed it into a school and mental health facility for ill teenagers. As a child Kit knew Neverland only as the former, but now she returns at age seventeen as a patient, following her recent suicide attempt. Thus, half the book is filled with lyrical prose, focusing on Kit’s wild stories of selkies and pirates. However, even in Kit’s fantasies, we sense a darker undercurrent, which is further explored in the more realistic portions of the book. This gap between reality and Kit’s imaginings creates an interesting juxtaposition, and allows us to see two very different sides of McGoverns writing style. Personally I loved the fantastical element of the book. It reminded me of Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and Treasure Island. Kit’s stories were the highlight of Neverland for me. They were utterly magical, yet full of dark foreboding.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the more realistic scenes were quite as strong. They were often vague, and at times it seemed like Kit’s mental health issues were more of a plot device than something that was being explored seriously. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Neverland romanticises mental illness, but there are times when I felt it came close to doing so. Kit never seems to receive any diagnosis, or recovery plan, and the book doesn’t include any references to resources for readers who are experiencing mental health issues. This struck me as quite odd, given that the book is largely set in a psychiatric treatment centre, and includes some fairly graphic self harm scenes. Basically, Neverland is a book that it will appeal to a lot of troubled kids, and I feel it would have responsible of McGovern to explain Kit’s issues more fully (instead of wrapping them up hastily so that the book can have a happy ending) and to include some self help resources for readers.
That being said, I still feel that McGovern is a great storyteller, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I’d love to see McGovern give into the fanciful side of her writing style and try her hand at fantasy or science fiction. Her style would be perfect for a fairytale re-imagining / retelling. Overall, I’ll remember Neverland for it’s cast of great characters, thrillingly dark vibe, and magical writing. Plus, as I mentioned in my last review, I do love to read Australian authors. Ultimately, while I had some issues with Neverland, it was still a great book that I would recommend to all lovers of YA contemporaries.
Kit Learmonth has spent half her life daydreaming. In reality, she’s a troubled teen with a violent past and a history of self harm. In her fantasies, she is a Peter Pan like heroine, living amongst pirates and mermaids, seeking adventure and never growing old. Neverland begs the question: can Kit look past her fantasies and face up to reality? After all, her memories are scattered and distorted. What really happened the night she lost her parents in a tragic boating accident? Will discovering the truth set Kit free, or keep her locked in childish imaginings forever?
Personally, I see two sides to Margot McGovern’s book. We have the Neverland of Kit’s fantasies, a magical island locale in which she was raised on her father’s fairytales and pirate stories. Alternatively, there’s the “real” Neverland, which is no longer the idyllic playground Kit once believed it to be. Kit’s childhood home lost much of it’s allure and mystique when her uncle transformed it into a school and mental health facility for ill teenagers. As a child Kit knew Neverland only as the former, but now she returns at age seventeen as a patient, following her recent suicide attempt. Thus, half the book is filled with lyrical prose, focusing on Kit’s wild stories of selkies and pirates. However, even in Kit’s fantasies, we sense a darker undercurrent, which is further explored in the more realistic portions of the book. This gap between reality and Kit’s imaginings creates an interesting juxtaposition, and allows us to see two very different sides of McGoverns writing style. Personally I loved the fantastical element of the book. It reminded me of Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and Treasure Island. Kit’s stories were the highlight of Neverland for me. They were utterly magical, yet full of dark foreboding.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the more realistic scenes were quite as strong. They were often vague, and at times it seemed like Kit’s mental health issues were more of a plot device than something that was being explored seriously. I wouldn’t necessarily say that Neverland romanticises mental illness, but there are times when I felt it came close to doing so. Kit never seems to receive any diagnosis, or recovery plan, and the book doesn’t include any references to resources for readers who are experiencing mental health issues. This struck me as quite odd, given that the book is largely set in a psychiatric treatment centre, and includes some fairly graphic self harm scenes. Basically, Neverland is a book that it will appeal to a lot of troubled kids, and I feel it would have responsible of McGovern to explain Kit’s issues more fully (instead of wrapping them up hastily so that the book can have a happy ending) and to include some self help resources for readers.
That being said, I still feel that McGovern is a great storyteller, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I’d love to see McGovern give into the fanciful side of her writing style and try her hand at fantasy or science fiction. Her style would be perfect for a fairytale re-imagining / retelling. Overall, I’ll remember Neverland for it’s cast of great characters, thrillingly dark vibe, and magical writing. Plus, as I mentioned in my last review, I do love to read Australian authors. Ultimately, while I had some issues with Neverland, it was still a great book that I would recommend to all lovers of YA contemporaries.
April 30, 2019
Oh god I don't know. Reading this made me feel like I was on crack but it wasn't very good crack.
Neverland begins following Kit's suicide attempt. When she was younger she watched her parents drown but now at seventeen, she doesn't remember the event. The only thing she remembers before that is the fantastical stories her father made up about the small island where she grew up, a place she calls Neverland. Now Kit's uncle and guardian, Doc, turned the island into a boarding school for mentally ill teenagers and Kit is now a patient. Kit fights her treatment at every turn though, and pulls her friends further into her world of make-believe until eventually she has to face reality.
TW: Self-harm, suicide, substance abuse, depression, death of parents
This book deals almost exclusively with mentally ill teenagers and it goes hard for that. When it finally gets down to it, it was so heartbreaking and hard to read. But I didn't like the writing at all. It was so odd and not my kind of thing. I can barely explain it besides that it was so weird and off-putting. It had such a strange feel and it didn't even seem like this book was contemporary at times even though it was.
Kit is in love with telling stories and turning everything into a Peter Pan retelling that I just couldn't connect with any times the book tried to have deep emotion. I think the idea of this book was pretty interesting and I was drawn to that (seriously I had to go out of my way to buy this on Bookdepository because I'm from the US but this is Aussie and I couldn't even buy this on kindle). The execution on the other hand was lacking. There are a bunch of things in here that were just so messy and could have just not happened. I did like how the point of this book was that she had to grow up and finally face reality though.
I understand Kit's character and that she was mentally ill but it was just so annoying to read about her being terrible. Her relationship with Doc and her path to healing was obviously the best part but most of this book isn't that. It's just her being messy and "falling in love", plus a weird amount of sailing. Also I don't want to judge these mental-health professionals but I will: these teenagers really dicked around and did whatever they wanted for the majority of this book.
I'm not even mad I didn't like this book, I fully understand it just wasn't my thing. (But seriously I never want to read writing like this again.)
Neverland begins following Kit's suicide attempt. When she was younger she watched her parents drown but now at seventeen, she doesn't remember the event. The only thing she remembers before that is the fantastical stories her father made up about the small island where she grew up, a place she calls Neverland. Now Kit's uncle and guardian, Doc, turned the island into a boarding school for mentally ill teenagers and Kit is now a patient. Kit fights her treatment at every turn though, and pulls her friends further into her world of make-believe until eventually she has to face reality.
TW: Self-harm, suicide, substance abuse, depression, death of parents
This book deals almost exclusively with mentally ill teenagers and it goes hard for that. When it finally gets down to it, it was so heartbreaking and hard to read. But I didn't like the writing at all. It was so odd and not my kind of thing. I can barely explain it besides that it was so weird and off-putting. It had such a strange feel and it didn't even seem like this book was contemporary at times even though it was.
Kit is in love with telling stories and turning everything into a Peter Pan retelling that I just couldn't connect with any times the book tried to have deep emotion. I think the idea of this book was pretty interesting and I was drawn to that (seriously I had to go out of my way to buy this on Bookdepository because I'm from the US but this is Aussie and I couldn't even buy this on kindle). The execution on the other hand was lacking. There are a bunch of things in here that were just so messy and could have just not happened. I did like how the point of this book was that she had to grow up and finally face reality though.
I understand Kit's character and that she was mentally ill but it was just so annoying to read about her being terrible. Her relationship with Doc and her path to healing was obviously the best part but most of this book isn't that. It's just her being messy and "falling in love", plus a weird amount of sailing. Also I don't want to judge these mental-health professionals but I will: these teenagers really dicked around and did whatever they wanted for the majority of this book.
I'm not even mad I didn't like this book, I fully understand it just wasn't my thing. (But seriously I never want to read writing like this again.)
April 19, 2018
Trigger warnings; self harm, suicide, abuse
Potential spoilers
Neverland is unlike anything that I have read before. Dark and twisted, Margot McGovern weaves Kit's tale with her beautiful and haunting writing that leaves the reader feeling as though they are truly a part of Kit's life. I felt very connected to Kit, when she felt pain, I felt it too. I became so invested in her character and I desperately wanted the best for her. Kit is a very flawed, raw and quite simply, real protagonist and she honestly felt like a teenager to me - she was similar to many people that I met during my time in high school, and at no point did I scoff and think "this isn't something realistic that a teenager would do."
I will admit, at times, Neverland was a bit triggering for me. I went into the novel without knowing the trigger warnings for self harm and suicide, and I was taken aback at the way Margot portrayed the dark and honest truth in them. As somebody who has struggled with mental illness' and self-harming, I definitely felt that Margot did not attempt to sugarcoat the horrific nature of them and I was pleased with her portrayal. At no point were Kit or her close friends solely defined by their illness'.
Small spoiler
Despite Kit falling in love, not once did she, nor the people around her believe that she was cured by a boy loving her, which is a horrible trope that we see far too often in young adult literature.
Overall, Neverland was a fantastic read with such incredible uniqueness, I truly mean it when I say that I have never read a book like it. Congratulations to Margot.
Potential spoilers
Neverland is unlike anything that I have read before. Dark and twisted, Margot McGovern weaves Kit's tale with her beautiful and haunting writing that leaves the reader feeling as though they are truly a part of Kit's life. I felt very connected to Kit, when she felt pain, I felt it too. I became so invested in her character and I desperately wanted the best for her. Kit is a very flawed, raw and quite simply, real protagonist and she honestly felt like a teenager to me - she was similar to many people that I met during my time in high school, and at no point did I scoff and think "this isn't something realistic that a teenager would do."
I will admit, at times, Neverland was a bit triggering for me. I went into the novel without knowing the trigger warnings for self harm and suicide, and I was taken aback at the way Margot portrayed the dark and honest truth in them. As somebody who has struggled with mental illness' and self-harming, I definitely felt that Margot did not attempt to sugarcoat the horrific nature of them and I was pleased with her portrayal. At no point were Kit or her close friends solely defined by their illness'.
Small spoiler
Despite Kit falling in love, not once did she, nor the people around her believe that she was cured by a boy loving her, which is a horrible trope that we see far too often in young adult literature.
Overall, Neverland was a fantastic read with such incredible uniqueness, I truly mean it when I say that I have never read a book like it. Congratulations to Margot.
April 5, 2018
This book is a beautiful piece of work and oh boy am I blown away.
It is definitely a roller coaster of emotions and not for the faint hearted or those who will be triggered by mentions of suicide, self harm and mental illness.
Margot has created an utterly vibrant world with a brilliant cast of characters. I adored Kit and would follow her story anywhere and hope that one day we could possibly have a follow up to where they all are.
Nothing is left in the dark or the shadows when dealing with mental illness in these pages. At times it was a little confronting and bit close to home but also done very conscientiously and carefully.
All up, a beautiful mix of imagination and storytelling. Would wholeheartedly recommend to 14/15+ depending on the reader, but is definitely a must and am marking as a sure favourite for this year.
It is definitely a roller coaster of emotions and not for the faint hearted or those who will be triggered by mentions of suicide, self harm and mental illness.
Margot has created an utterly vibrant world with a brilliant cast of characters. I adored Kit and would follow her story anywhere and hope that one day we could possibly have a follow up to where they all are.
Nothing is left in the dark or the shadows when dealing with mental illness in these pages. At times it was a little confronting and bit close to home but also done very conscientiously and carefully.
All up, a beautiful mix of imagination and storytelling. Would wholeheartedly recommend to 14/15+ depending on the reader, but is definitely a must and am marking as a sure favourite for this year.
June 14, 2018
Well now. It's been a long time since I finished a book and thought "I haven't read ANYTHING like that before!" Neverland is a literary quilt made up of whimsical, mostly beautiful patchwork pieces.
It's the story of Kit, who grew up on an island that she calls Neverland with her author father and glamorous, artistic mother. When we first meet Kit she is 17, orphaned and has been sent home from boarding school after slitting her wrists. Somewhat ironically, her uncle has turned Neverland into a mental institution/school for troubled teens. Here we meet Kit's friends - anorexic Gypsy and psychopath Alistair- and new boy Rohan.
Much of the book is either flashback or Kit's imagined version of life on Neverland (complete with selkies and pirates) which borders on magic realism.
Apart from a few wrinkles of (real world) incredulity which irked me, this was an excellent read.
It's the story of Kit, who grew up on an island that she calls Neverland with her author father and glamorous, artistic mother. When we first meet Kit she is 17, orphaned and has been sent home from boarding school after slitting her wrists. Somewhat ironically, her uncle has turned Neverland into a mental institution/school for troubled teens. Here we meet Kit's friends - anorexic Gypsy and psychopath Alistair- and new boy Rohan.
Much of the book is either flashback or Kit's imagined version of life on Neverland (complete with selkies and pirates) which borders on magic realism.
Apart from a few wrinkles of (real world) incredulity which irked me, this was an excellent read.
Want to read
January 25, 2018A mentally ill version of Peter Pan??? This neurodivergent is ready to be fucked up in all the best possible ways. I have been craving good mental illness rep in retellings for YEARS ugh I'm excited.
If this lets me down I'm actually gonna sob oh my gay god
I heard the author talk about this a little last night at the Penguin Teen Showcase (which is where I watched Love, Simon and OH MY GOD YALL ARE NOT READY FOR THE UTTER AMAZINGNESS) but I missed out on most of the author talk because I fainted and vomited yeee
ANYWAY THIS NEEDS TO HURRY UP AND ENTER MY LIFE
If this lets me down I'm actually gonna sob oh my gay god
I heard the author talk about this a little last night at the Penguin Teen Showcase (which is where I watched Love, Simon and OH MY GOD YALL ARE NOT READY FOR THE UTTER AMAZINGNESS) but I missed out on most of the author talk because I fainted and vomited yeee
ANYWAY THIS NEEDS TO HURRY UP AND ENTER MY LIFE
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