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Straight On 'Til Morning
In a dark fantasy tale based on Peter Pan, young Kevin Murphy confesses his secret love to his longtime crush, Nikki, but when Nikki mysteriously vanishes, Kevin and his friends set out to find her and rescue her from a neverland from which they may never return, in a horror volume that also includes the short story "Runaway." Original. 15,000 first printing.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
33 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Golden
798 books2,961 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 30, 2009
I challenge anyone who has never had the pleasure of reading a book by Christopher Golden to pick up this novel, and read only the author's notes and introduction to the story. If it doesn't make you want to take him to lunch and pick his brain (as it did for me) it will probably at least make you want to read every fantastic, honeyed word the man has ever written. In this preface, the author comes off as so likeable and real, if I hadn't already been a fan, his self-depricating and genuinely funny set-up for this novel would have done the trick.
That said, Straight On 'Til Morning is not my favorite of Golden's books. And I'd still give it four stars.
The story is told in three parts. The first two follow a group of young teenagers growing up in Early 80s Middle America. Golden reveals in his preface that this portion of the novel is largely autobiographical, and his intimacy with the characters and the material drips from every page. We meet 13-year-old Kevin, his brother Jesse, and his band of neighborhood friends as they pass an idle summer somewhere between childhood and adolescence. Kevin is in love with the beautiful, 15-year-old Nikki French, and has decided the time is right to profess his feelings -- even if it risks their close friendship. Unfortunately, Nikki has a new boyfriend, Pete Starling. He's older, charismatic, dangerous -- and along with his band of hood friends, is getting in the way of Kevin's future with the girl of his dreams. As the weeks pass, strange things begin to happen that even Kevin's wild imagination or love of books and movies can't explain away. And when Pete and his thugs kidnap Nikki and take her to a frightening, yet magical place "second to the right, and straight on 'til morning", Kevin and his friends know they have to bring her home.
As eluded by the title, the third section of the book is based on the mythology of Peter Pan. Honestly, I wish it had been a bit more closely tied to the original legend -- in Golden's retelling, Pete Starling is a fairy prince in need of heirs to help his race win a centuries-old war between the fae. He's brought Nikki to "Neverland" -- much like Wendy before her -- to be a mother to the Lost Boys. Only these "lost boys" are the fairy children she will bear for Peter to keep their land alive.
I was surprised at my reaction to Straight On 'Til Morning. I fully expected to put up with the coming-of-age stuff in the beginning until the dark fantasy kicked in. But I really enjoyed the first two sections of the book -- they reminded me of everything I liked about Golden's The Boys are Back In Town. The last section, though imaginative, dark and full of surprises, never really reeled me in. The disconnect between the two worlds of the story just didn't work for me.
However, there is much more to like about Straight On 'Til Morning than to dislike. The characters are exceptionally real and the relationships are interesting. It provides a vivid snapshot of life in the early 80s, and should offer up a great trip down memory lane for readers of that age.
If you are intersted in fantasy novels about the fae, this is a fresh take on that mythology, framed uniquely and drawn by a great, imaginative writer who's not afraid to take risks. On the other hand, if you're a huge fan of the traditional Peter Pan story expecting a modernization or simple retelling, this reinterpretation might leave you cold.
That said, Straight On 'Til Morning is not my favorite of Golden's books. And I'd still give it four stars.
The story is told in three parts. The first two follow a group of young teenagers growing up in Early 80s Middle America. Golden reveals in his preface that this portion of the novel is largely autobiographical, and his intimacy with the characters and the material drips from every page. We meet 13-year-old Kevin, his brother Jesse, and his band of neighborhood friends as they pass an idle summer somewhere between childhood and adolescence. Kevin is in love with the beautiful, 15-year-old Nikki French, and has decided the time is right to profess his feelings -- even if it risks their close friendship. Unfortunately, Nikki has a new boyfriend, Pete Starling. He's older, charismatic, dangerous -- and along with his band of hood friends, is getting in the way of Kevin's future with the girl of his dreams. As the weeks pass, strange things begin to happen that even Kevin's wild imagination or love of books and movies can't explain away. And when Pete and his thugs kidnap Nikki and take her to a frightening, yet magical place "second to the right, and straight on 'til morning", Kevin and his friends know they have to bring her home.
As eluded by the title, the third section of the book is based on the mythology of Peter Pan. Honestly, I wish it had been a bit more closely tied to the original legend -- in Golden's retelling, Pete Starling is a fairy prince in need of heirs to help his race win a centuries-old war between the fae. He's brought Nikki to "Neverland" -- much like Wendy before her -- to be a mother to the Lost Boys. Only these "lost boys" are the fairy children she will bear for Peter to keep their land alive.
I was surprised at my reaction to Straight On 'Til Morning. I fully expected to put up with the coming-of-age stuff in the beginning until the dark fantasy kicked in. But I really enjoyed the first two sections of the book -- they reminded me of everything I liked about Golden's The Boys are Back In Town. The last section, though imaginative, dark and full of surprises, never really reeled me in. The disconnect between the two worlds of the story just didn't work for me.
However, there is much more to like about Straight On 'Til Morning than to dislike. The characters are exceptionally real and the relationships are interesting. It provides a vivid snapshot of life in the early 80s, and should offer up a great trip down memory lane for readers of that age.
If you are intersted in fantasy novels about the fae, this is a fresh take on that mythology, framed uniquely and drawn by a great, imaginative writer who's not afraid to take risks. On the other hand, if you're a huge fan of the traditional Peter Pan story expecting a modernization or simple retelling, this reinterpretation might leave you cold.
May 22, 2015
This is one of Golden's best novels, a well-written thought-provoking gem. It's a thoughtful examination of childhood and friendship and growing into adolescence and adulthood. I'd compare it favorably with better known novels with similar themes by McCammon, Simmons, and King. The title gives it away, a bit, but it's one of those novels that's really all about the journey. Perhaps I should have said it is his very best novel to date.
December 30, 2009
The resemblance to Stephen King further develops. Straight On 'Til Morning begins like a lot of King novels, with a hot, hot summer, and a group of kids, poised right on the edge of becoming adults. There is just something about those hot summers and those friends that you just always remember, whenever I read a book like this, I'm propelled straight into the past and an ocean of nostalgia. Again, Golden weaves myth and legend into completely real characters. While yes, the premise derives from J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, the story actually revolves around the old Celtic legend of the Tuatha De Denaan. It's a fascinating twist on the old lore and one that makes me think that I'm totally right and that magic really does exist.
Again, amazingly satisfying to read and more graphic and grown-up then your normal fantasy story. What got me most was the ending....because I know exactly what it feels like to feel an old, seemingly indestructible bond fade away, much like the memory of that hot, hot summer.
Again, amazingly satisfying to read and more graphic and grown-up then your normal fantasy story. What got me most was the ending....because I know exactly what it feels like to feel an old, seemingly indestructible bond fade away, much like the memory of that hot, hot summer.
February 22, 2010
Not a bad effort from Golden, who's won the Bram Stoker, although I can't recall for which novel, and if you check out his site, he's written TONS. I grabbed this up as a standalone novel that might give me a better idea of him as a horror/fantasy writer.
Ok, disclaimer - there's not actually a lot of horror here, for those of you who, like me, fear the gore and guts. The first half of the novel starts out as a nostalgic look back at a group of teens in the early eighties, and here it lost my interest pretty quickly. My suspicion is Golden was a little too close to his subject matter -- his intro admits he relied heavily on his friends' and his own high school experiences -- and so, for someone outside those memories, it fell a little flat. The kids were wild little cussers, all right, but not much happened.
In the first half, Kevin and his brother Jesse are hanging around their MA suburb one summer, until Kevin's long term crush, Nikki, falls in love with an older bad boy. Pete Starling and his crew are dangerous and violent, but more than that, Kevin observes strange occurrences that makes him think they're not quite RIGHT. When Pete and his gang disappear with Nikki, Kevin and his friends embark on a bizarre journey to get her back.
The second half of this novel (the quest for Nikki) was much better, and I think Golden's re-imagining of the Peter Pan myth was, well, satisfyingly creepy. Neverland was unexpected and dark and twisted. The downside here was that, because the novel's first half didn't really set me up to sympathize with any of the characters, it was hard to be too worked up about whatever was happening to them (and in credit to Golden, plenty of weird, surprising stuff happens). I was honestly most interested in Peter Starling and his world, and there wasn't enough time spent on that idea. The book just didn't have the unified tone it needed to pull this off completely. It's not fair to compare, but Golden is no Neil Gaiman in his handling of a storyline, and after reading so much of Gaiman, I really felt the difference here.
Ok, disclaimer - there's not actually a lot of horror here, for those of you who, like me, fear the gore and guts. The first half of the novel starts out as a nostalgic look back at a group of teens in the early eighties, and here it lost my interest pretty quickly. My suspicion is Golden was a little too close to his subject matter -- his intro admits he relied heavily on his friends' and his own high school experiences -- and so, for someone outside those memories, it fell a little flat. The kids were wild little cussers, all right, but not much happened.
In the first half, Kevin and his brother Jesse are hanging around their MA suburb one summer, until Kevin's long term crush, Nikki, falls in love with an older bad boy. Pete Starling and his crew are dangerous and violent, but more than that, Kevin observes strange occurrences that makes him think they're not quite RIGHT. When Pete and his gang disappear with Nikki, Kevin and his friends embark on a bizarre journey to get her back.
The second half of this novel (the quest for Nikki) was much better, and I think Golden's re-imagining of the Peter Pan myth was, well, satisfyingly creepy. Neverland was unexpected and dark and twisted. The downside here was that, because the novel's first half didn't really set me up to sympathize with any of the characters, it was hard to be too worked up about whatever was happening to them (and in credit to Golden, plenty of weird, surprising stuff happens). I was honestly most interested in Peter Starling and his world, and there wasn't enough time spent on that idea. The book just didn't have the unified tone it needed to pull this off completely. It's not fair to compare, but Golden is no Neil Gaiman in his handling of a storyline, and after reading so much of Gaiman, I really felt the difference here.
February 10, 2018
This is my favorite Christopher Golden novel so far. I really fell into the story, couldn't leave it at home even when I was going out (I mean, how else do you pass the time on a tram?).
Although there are issues and inconsistencies with the plot, and plenty of moments that feel a bit too played out already in fiction, I'm a fan enough of the author at this point that it just becomes sort of "o Christopher Golden, you silly."
I thought it worked well as a coming of age novel and I connected with the characters a lot.
Some of my small tiffs with the book (small spoilers perhaps):
-Didn't think Nikki's change of heart was completely believable. Felt more like a young boy writing fan fiction and making himself the hero.
-I appreciated that it borrowed from Irish mythology but I think he could have scaled back on it, not everyone had to have Irish-themed hair and give Gaelic names to faeries. It just felt off in those moments that they would adjust their language to be perfectly American, then switch back to Gaelic for small bits. And also felt off since Ireland is a place, but Neverland is beyond our concept of "place"
-It was never really explained why Nikki had to have sex to be whisked away to Neverland, so the whole thing felt a little hokey in this sense. I guess maybe it is a loose metaphor for becoming a woman but really ??? Like they could have just taken her along whenever. And it also made Peter's characterization a bit harder to follow. Related: If their intent in coming to the human world was finding a Nikki, then why were they spending time beating up kids by the river?
Beyond all this though, would recommend.
Although there are issues and inconsistencies with the plot, and plenty of moments that feel a bit too played out already in fiction, I'm a fan enough of the author at this point that it just becomes sort of "o Christopher Golden, you silly."
I thought it worked well as a coming of age novel and I connected with the characters a lot.
Some of my small tiffs with the book (small spoilers perhaps):
-Didn't think Nikki's change of heart was completely believable. Felt more like a young boy writing fan fiction and making himself the hero.
-I appreciated that it borrowed from Irish mythology but I think he could have scaled back on it, not everyone had to have Irish-themed hair and give Gaelic names to faeries. It just felt off in those moments that they would adjust their language to be perfectly American, then switch back to Gaelic for small bits. And also felt off since Ireland is a place, but Neverland is beyond our concept of "place"
-It was never really explained why Nikki had to have sex to be whisked away to Neverland, so the whole thing felt a little hokey in this sense. I guess maybe it is a loose metaphor for becoming a woman but really ??? Like they could have just taken her along whenever. And it also made Peter's characterization a bit harder to follow. Related: If their intent in coming to the human world was finding a Nikki, then why were they spending time beating up kids by the river?
Beyond all this though, would recommend.
September 17, 2012
Okay, Im a dunce. I honestly didnt get that this book was going to be about Neverland until I was actually in Neverland. (sorry for spoiler but the title should have warned us both)
The first part of the book was really good. I felt like I was back in the 1980s. Not a ton happened there except some new people in town are bullies. But the language, the mood, the characterization, all very real. Loved it.
The second part of the book threw me. All of a sudden I was in a very fantastical world. I was like oh, thats what the title meant!
The memories I have of this book are from the first part. Golden did a great job. The second half, while entertaining, has disappeared from my memory files.
I would recommend this book if you like light fantasy or, like me, are a big fan of coming of age stories, esp those set in the 70s and 80s. Would have given it 3.5 stars if I could but rounded up to four because it stood the test of time by sticking with me.
The first part of the book was really good. I felt like I was back in the 1980s. Not a ton happened there except some new people in town are bullies. But the language, the mood, the characterization, all very real. Loved it.
The second part of the book threw me. All of a sudden I was in a very fantastical world. I was like oh, thats what the title meant!
The memories I have of this book are from the first part. Golden did a great job. The second half, while entertaining, has disappeared from my memory files.
I would recommend this book if you like light fantasy or, like me, are a big fan of coming of age stories, esp those set in the 70s and 80s. Would have given it 3.5 stars if I could but rounded up to four because it stood the test of time by sticking with me.
October 24, 2014
Finished this book this morning, and wow! Finally, a coming-of-age story set during the time period I grew up in, 1981. The main character, Kevin, and his friends are 14, and that's how old I was in 1981, so it was a lot of fun remembering all the cultural references in the story. And what a story it is. I highly recommend this to those of you who like a cross between real life, fantasy, and horror. There is violence, there is profanity, but it all fits together perfectly. This is the third book I've read by Golden, and I love all three of them. I will probably start another of his today. This guy is good!
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July 21, 2021I don't feel good giving this one a review because I couldn't finish it. I'm over half way done and there's still not much plot besides angst.
My early teen years may have been more sheltered than most but 13 & 14 year olds don't get drunk every night, sleep with each other, or curse more than a late night cable television show.
Maybe I just didn't connect with it-having not been a teenage boy even a little bit.
I expected more to the Peter Pan mythos too. More than half day through and there's still nothing going on to drive me a long.
I'm discovering that not all Christopher Golden is for me (saying that out loud really cuts me deep).
My early teen years may have been more sheltered than most but 13 & 14 year olds don't get drunk every night, sleep with each other, or curse more than a late night cable television show.
Maybe I just didn't connect with it-having not been a teenage boy even a little bit.
I expected more to the Peter Pan mythos too. More than half day through and there's still nothing going on to drive me a long.
I'm discovering that not all Christopher Golden is for me (saying that out loud really cuts me deep).
November 24, 2014
A coming of age tale, that will bring you back to your own childhood. Christopher Golden has a way to make you feel part of the story. The story of neighborhood friends, Kevin, Jesse, Jack, April, and Nikki, the main group throughout the story. Their lives, loves, and plans. Golden places you in their minds. he places them in a monstrous world to save one of their own. Straight on 'til Morning, will take you on a wondrous journey, of There and back Again. Highly recommend this read, and anything Christopher Golden puts to the paper.
April 8, 2008
Just...wow. If you enjoy horror, fantasy, and excellent storytelling all wrapped into one, this is definitely the book for you.
Ever since I started reading Christopher Golden's work about a year ago, I have been consistently impressed; Straight On 'Til Morning is the third book of his that I've read, and I would strongly recommend this one, Wildwood Road, and The Ferryman.
Ever since I started reading Christopher Golden's work about a year ago, I have been consistently impressed; Straight On 'Til Morning is the third book of his that I've read, and I would strongly recommend this one, Wildwood Road, and The Ferryman.
October 21, 2024
Straight On ‘Til Morning
As an avid reader of fairy story retellings, I was pleasantly surprised by this offering from Christopher Golden. The first two thirds of the book read a little more like a science fiction novel. Weird things happen, but they skip along the line of being outright magical, and the focus is on the very real, vivid feelings of a group of teens who play at adulthood as they veer back and forth between some desired toughness in drinking, smoking, fighting, and dating and the natural vulnerability of childhood that they are determined to shake. In spite of the straightforwardness of the title, Golden is coy about the Peter Pan of it all until the third act when the hints of strangeness rise and crest, plummeting the reader into all out fantasy, rife with bizarre creatures and the darkness and gore that our modern times works so hard to wipe off the cheek of our oldest childhood tales.
Golden plays his own tune with the familiar notes of the old story— weaving Irish folklore between the gaps and omitting many of the expected tropes. Rather than a host of characters longing to remain young eternally, Golden tinkers with the many ways in which the “Coming of Age” machine turns on a variety of delicate and complex relational gears, winding the clock to an inevitable conclusion.
What surprised me most was how after itching for the true fantasy part for two thirds of the book, once I got to it I recognized that the meat was really in the familiar human parts of Kevin’s “Cape Cod in The Eighties” universe. It made me appreciate the strength of Golden’s character building and the little possible impossibles of summertime in every day life, and created a deep investment in the main characters that would not have been possible had the reader spent more time in Peter’s world instead of our own. Straight on ‘Til Morning is both a coming home and a leaving home. To understand what I mean, you’ll have to read the book.
As an avid reader of fairy story retellings, I was pleasantly surprised by this offering from Christopher Golden. The first two thirds of the book read a little more like a science fiction novel. Weird things happen, but they skip along the line of being outright magical, and the focus is on the very real, vivid feelings of a group of teens who play at adulthood as they veer back and forth between some desired toughness in drinking, smoking, fighting, and dating and the natural vulnerability of childhood that they are determined to shake. In spite of the straightforwardness of the title, Golden is coy about the Peter Pan of it all until the third act when the hints of strangeness rise and crest, plummeting the reader into all out fantasy, rife with bizarre creatures and the darkness and gore that our modern times works so hard to wipe off the cheek of our oldest childhood tales.
Golden plays his own tune with the familiar notes of the old story— weaving Irish folklore between the gaps and omitting many of the expected tropes. Rather than a host of characters longing to remain young eternally, Golden tinkers with the many ways in which the “Coming of Age” machine turns on a variety of delicate and complex relational gears, winding the clock to an inevitable conclusion.
What surprised me most was how after itching for the true fantasy part for two thirds of the book, once I got to it I recognized that the meat was really in the familiar human parts of Kevin’s “Cape Cod in The Eighties” universe. It made me appreciate the strength of Golden’s character building and the little possible impossibles of summertime in every day life, and created a deep investment in the main characters that would not have been possible had the reader spent more time in Peter’s world instead of our own. Straight on ‘Til Morning is both a coming home and a leaving home. To understand what I mean, you’ll have to read the book.
December 12, 2025
I loved the premise of this book and I enjoyed it, but the two worlds didn’t fit together very well and many details were missing or just assumed - or added in to fill plot holes. I didn’t like any of the characters (other than the characters in the fantasy part of the story, which I would have liked to know more about), and so I didn’t care about what happened to them at all. The kids were annoying and irritating and did “adult” things, but were still incredibly immature - it didn’t feel realistic at all.
This story could be incredible if fleshed out a bit more but as it stands it is still readable and enjoyable, but nothing amazing.
This story could be incredible if fleshed out a bit more but as it stands it is still readable and enjoyable, but nothing amazing.
October 16, 2025
I thought I was really enjoying this book at first, but the ending just lost me. The first half was drawn out with lots of details - it reminded me of a Stephen King or Stranger Things type of coming of age book. I was looking forward to the dark Neverland elements. But ultimately the ending felt very rushed and unsatisfying. It was almost like the first half was so autobiographical that he forgot to flesh out the fantasy parts. I actually liked the writing style but just feel I was disappointed in the execution.
October 17, 2025
I thought this was a fine book, maybe more YA leaning than I’d anticipated, but not my favorite by Golden. The ending was less satisfying than I’d hoped for, and occasionally the language seemed lost in comparison to the rest of the book. It was still a fun retelling, and I hope maybe one day he revisits this and expands on that dark world.
September 12, 2017
What a pleasant surprise this book was! It was if it was written with me in mind. I grew up in the exact time and place described by the author. The story itself was fantastic as well. A great book! Highly recommend it!
July 10, 2023
I enjoyed the first two thirds of this book immensely. Then, it leans very heavy into fantasy whereas I was expecting more horror. There is virtually no horror in this book. Golden is a great writer and I'll be checking out more of his work in the future. This one just wasn't for me.
December 30, 2025
I may have read a Buffy novel by Christopher Golden but this is my first CG horror novel not related to a TV series. Straight On 'Til morning is a coming of age novel but is not YA. There are sexual themes as the lead character, Kevin Murphy at 13 (almost 14) has a strong attraction and having sexual awakenings towards Nikki, an older more mature friend. She's with the new guy, Pete, who is strange and along with his friends are a mean crew. Kevin catches Pete luring Nikki away and he follows, taking him, his brother and a couple friends on a fantastic journey. I thought the book was going to take a horror turn instead it takes a turn I did not expect. I enjoyed the second part of the book but found the twist a little disappointing to my expectations. A good read but not great like I was hoping. I'll give CG another try and I did enjoy his writing.
March 27, 2024
A very dark nod to Peter Pan…
September 9, 2025
Good but preposterous. Just park your brain. Flying strong Pete has trouble killing beats that lil kids can? Neverland is a flight away…these kids just walking there was ridiculous.
January 3, 2017
Straight on ‘til Morning ~ Christopher Golden
Every once in a while you come across a little gem of a book, one that captures your fancy in a way that finds you reaching for it, at every spare moment in your day. You don’t have to overthink it; you just sit back and enjoy the ride. I thought after reading Brom’s epic novel “The Child Thief” and the much lamented late 90s comic book mini-series “Lost” (lamented by me because they never finished the last issue,) that I had read enough takes on the mythos of Peter Pan, to last me a lifetime. I have to admit; I was wrong. Mr. Golden’s charming little tale of seemingly unending teen summers, combined with a young man’s inability to express his feelings to the girl of his dreams, plus the bond between brothers, hit me in all the right places.
A maelstrom of memories consumed me, making it hard for me, at times, to concentrate on the story at hand. Memories of magical summers, my own experiences, with unspoken, unrequited love, and of my two recently, deceased brothers; memories that became a constant companion throughout the book and even after. Brothers with whom I had shared my own, close, yet peculiar, bond and whom are still, sorely missed. Any book that can take you back like that, replenish those memories and yes, even bring a tear to your eye at the end; has done its job for me.
One reviewer described this story as “a cross between the Wonder Years and The Lost Boys,” I would say that is a pretty accurate description. I would add that it is an un-sanitized version of the Wonder Years, more like real life, when the now lost magic of fading adolescence was still present. Before high school, employment, and adulthood, takes it all away. Sprinkle it with the author’s own twisted take on Peter and the Lost Boys, and you have got yourself quite a tale. All in all a very satisfying read, which could be attributed to my own personal feelings and the deft writing, Golden displays as he draws on his own, childhood memories. Mr. Golden also provided a nice, revealing introduction, and a bonus short story, about the main protagonist, what more could you ask for?
Well, from me nothing more at all. ~ DTM
Every once in a while you come across a little gem of a book, one that captures your fancy in a way that finds you reaching for it, at every spare moment in your day. You don’t have to overthink it; you just sit back and enjoy the ride. I thought after reading Brom’s epic novel “The Child Thief” and the much lamented late 90s comic book mini-series “Lost” (lamented by me because they never finished the last issue,) that I had read enough takes on the mythos of Peter Pan, to last me a lifetime. I have to admit; I was wrong. Mr. Golden’s charming little tale of seemingly unending teen summers, combined with a young man’s inability to express his feelings to the girl of his dreams, plus the bond between brothers, hit me in all the right places.
A maelstrom of memories consumed me, making it hard for me, at times, to concentrate on the story at hand. Memories of magical summers, my own experiences, with unspoken, unrequited love, and of my two recently, deceased brothers; memories that became a constant companion throughout the book and even after. Brothers with whom I had shared my own, close, yet peculiar, bond and whom are still, sorely missed. Any book that can take you back like that, replenish those memories and yes, even bring a tear to your eye at the end; has done its job for me.
One reviewer described this story as “a cross between the Wonder Years and The Lost Boys,” I would say that is a pretty accurate description. I would add that it is an un-sanitized version of the Wonder Years, more like real life, when the now lost magic of fading adolescence was still present. Before high school, employment, and adulthood, takes it all away. Sprinkle it with the author’s own twisted take on Peter and the Lost Boys, and you have got yourself quite a tale. All in all a very satisfying read, which could be attributed to my own personal feelings and the deft writing, Golden displays as he draws on his own, childhood memories. Mr. Golden also provided a nice, revealing introduction, and a bonus short story, about the main protagonist, what more could you ask for?
Well, from me nothing more at all. ~ DTM
December 11, 2013
Part coming of age tale, part fairy tale, Chris Golden's "Straight on 'til Morning" made me laugh on some level - in a good way - and had me skipping words - in a good way - because I was so excited to find out what would happen next.
The book starts out as a very real look at childhood in the eighties. The descriptions of the kids are accurate. They're largely from broken homes, and trapped somewhere between the realm of cartoons, comic books, and tree forts, and the realm of beer and sex. They are part of tight-knit cliques, and their major concerns grow out of dating relationships.
That's the first part of the book.
The second part takes you away to a world where Golden's imagination is unleashed. No holds barred. A world - a Neverland - where death and magick are only a footstep away. It's funny, because though the two parts are probably of equal length, I'm sure that I read the last half in about a third of the length of time it took to read the first. The second half of the book is nonstop, fast paced fantastical adventure. Not that the first part of the book is bad, not by any means. Golden tells the story through the eyes of the kids, and is spot on with their observations... maybe too spot on. As I was reading the book, I found myself chiding some of the main characters for taking superfluous things far too seriously, and yet, after thinking about it, I was the exact same way at 13. You take everything far too seriously. Those 'tween years are some of the hardest, and Chris Golden made me remember why.
The book starts out as a very real look at childhood in the eighties. The descriptions of the kids are accurate. They're largely from broken homes, and trapped somewhere between the realm of cartoons, comic books, and tree forts, and the realm of beer and sex. They are part of tight-knit cliques, and their major concerns grow out of dating relationships.
That's the first part of the book.
The second part takes you away to a world where Golden's imagination is unleashed. No holds barred. A world - a Neverland - where death and magick are only a footstep away. It's funny, because though the two parts are probably of equal length, I'm sure that I read the last half in about a third of the length of time it took to read the first. The second half of the book is nonstop, fast paced fantastical adventure. Not that the first part of the book is bad, not by any means. Golden tells the story through the eyes of the kids, and is spot on with their observations... maybe too spot on. As I was reading the book, I found myself chiding some of the main characters for taking superfluous things far too seriously, and yet, after thinking about it, I was the exact same way at 13. You take everything far too seriously. Those 'tween years are some of the hardest, and Chris Golden made me remember why.
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June 30, 2008Christopher Golden shares the story of Kevin Murphy s transition from childhood to adulthood. Everyone can relate to at least one of the characters as they experience the pains and joys of growing up. This is a fast read as the action is fast and the characters enjoyable. [return] [return]The first two sections of the book keep you grounded in the world as we know it. We get to peek at the lives of these teenagers and all of the emotional turmoil that makes up their existence. The third section plunges you into a world very different from our own. The contrast is amazing, fantastical, and horrific. [return][return] Straight on Til Morning is an amazing story wrapped around truly interesting characters. Christopher Golden is a master at capturing our emotions as we made the change into adulthood. This story will join the ranks, alongside Stephen King s It, as one of the best in its class.
December 14, 2008
The beginning was very slow and a little hard to get into, but the ending really picks up. This is the first adaptation on Peter Pan I've ever read and it was interesting. I wasn't very invested in the characters. The secondary characters were particularly flat, but I did enjoy the relationship Kevin had with his brother Jesse - very realistic.
I think Straight on Til Morning was written in the 80s, but it doesn't show (which is a good thing) unless it's in TV, clothing, & music references. I didn't feel dates which was nice.
My biggest beef with it was I felt like I was watching a made for TV movie. I didn't have the pacing of a novel. There were burst of well timed gratification that felt unnecessary to the plot line or the development to the story.
I did like that Golden had the guts to kill a character. I always appreciate "killing a darling" when it serves a plot purpose.
I think Straight on Til Morning was written in the 80s, but it doesn't show (which is a good thing) unless it's in TV, clothing, & music references. I didn't feel dates which was nice.
My biggest beef with it was I felt like I was watching a made for TV movie. I didn't have the pacing of a novel. There were burst of well timed gratification that felt unnecessary to the plot line or the development to the story.
I did like that Golden had the guts to kill a character. I always appreciate "killing a darling" when it serves a plot purpose.
August 14, 2009
Kevin Murphy has had a hidden crush on Nikki for years but she is older than Kevin by 15 months. He has been waiting until he turns 14 to tell Nikki how he feels. Unfortunately, shortly before his birthday, Nikki starts dating Peter, an older boy who has had a running confrontation with Kevin's group of friends. Kevin tries to warn Nikki but she can't see past Peter's charms. When Nikki disappears, Kevin is sure Peter and his cronies have abducted her. Kevin and his friends follow the trail of second star to your right and straight on "till morning, ending in another dimension and right in the middle of a war between fairies.
This is a great book for young adults but is enjoyable for all.
This is a great book for young adults but is enjoyable for all.
July 26, 2015
Loved it!
I won't waste time or space writing about what a fun, magical read it was. I love Christopher Golden the more I read his work. I have but one request from the author; utilize the art of a new paragraph when moving on to someone else or another time. I've not run across this in his other books but one minute your in Kevin's head, the hero of this story, and without warning at the end of the sentence you're in someone else's head. Bereft of the value of a new paragraph, it was confusing at first. Once I realized this would be the norm throughout the story, I fell into it's rhythm but I don't recommend it. New paragraphs are a beautiful thing and so is this story. Enjoy the trip and perhaps when it's over your childhood won't seem so far away after all.
I won't waste time or space writing about what a fun, magical read it was. I love Christopher Golden the more I read his work. I have but one request from the author; utilize the art of a new paragraph when moving on to someone else or another time. I've not run across this in his other books but one minute your in Kevin's head, the hero of this story, and without warning at the end of the sentence you're in someone else's head. Bereft of the value of a new paragraph, it was confusing at first. Once I realized this would be the norm throughout the story, I fell into it's rhythm but I don't recommend it. New paragraphs are a beautiful thing and so is this story. Enjoy the trip and perhaps when it's over your childhood won't seem so far away after all.
November 28, 2011
Very enjoyable on the whole. The first few chapters were setting the scene and establishing the characters, these chapters dragged a bit for me but as soon as it got into the action I was hooked. I really liked the story, the otherworld and the conclusion.
I do not remember ever encountering this author before but I am very glad Matt passed this book on to me.
I do not remember ever encountering this author before but I am very glad Matt passed this book on to me.
April 25, 2009
I'm not sure how I feel about the ending of the boo. It didn't sit well with me. I wish the ending was a bit more satisfying. On the whole, it was pretty different. I will have to say, I've never heard of a Peter Pan telling like this one!
*Read in 10 days*
*Read in 10 days*
September 29, 2010
This YA novel is a dark, utterly unchildlike treatment of the Peter Pan story, set in 1981. Its setting (small town), choices of music, language, TV shows, pace of life are intimately familiar to me. I liked it a lot and gave up several hours of sleep to finish it yesterday. Yes, it was worth it.
October 6, 2010
can i just say....even though it is a dark story...it is exactly what i wished would happen when i was a youngster! i always hoped that neverland was real and that some day i would find my way there. very very very good book!
October 18, 2014
The book kept me interested all the way through. I like the references to the childhood story with the adult content. I have to say I was honestly disappointed with the ending. I expected a bigger finale with the amount of climax that the book had in Part 3. Good Read overall.
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