When I first found the book Tiger Lily, by Jodi Lynn Anderson, I was thrilled. Many people recommended it to me because of my love for Peter Pan. As a harsh critic of romance novels, I was skeptical at first, but Anderson’s twist on the classic Peter Pan tale erased any hesitance I had.

Tiger Lily is the daughter of the shaman of her tribe, the Sky Eaters. Unlike other girls, she isn’t concerned by the women’s duties and breaks the mold. Instead, she prefers going on solitary hunts and exploring the woods, never thinking about womanhood or love until she runs into the mysterious Peter Pan.

The book pulls the reader in from the beginning with its mysterious prologue. From there the reader is shown the fantastical world of Neverland in a whole new light. You get to meet never before seen characters, like my personal favorite, Tik Tok, the tribe’s shaman and Tiger Lily’s father. The story also includes new antagonists like Aunt Fire, a village elder, and her son, Giant.

The story also highlights characters that don’t get much spotlight in other works. For instance, Smee gets a backstory and a key role in the book. Even the mermaids have a bigger role, which I really like. Anderson even finds a way to make lovable Wendy into one of the most despised characters.

Tiger Lily is excellently written with constant action and superb characterization. Anderson’s decision to have Tinker Bell tell the story provides a fantastic way of showing what happens to all characters throughout the story, and shows a bond between Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily that we don’t get to see in other adaptations. Tiger Lily provides a fresh take on the tale of Peter Pan and is aimed at teenage audiences.

I really enjoyed getting to read about my favorite Peter Pan character and learn her story and place in Neverland. This book is definitely worth reading, especially if you’re a fan of adaptations of classic tales or Peter Pan stories. Tiger Lily tells a wonderful tale without altering the core of the original plot. The romance of the novel is balanced out by the action and adventure. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes adaptations, romance, or the story of Peter Pan. I give it 4.5/5 stars.