~ The sequel to the classic Peter Pan ~. Review on Peter Pan - James Barrie

For almost 100 years, there has been no word from Peter Pan. Now, he has been found living happily ever after in a sequel. And although the boy who never grew up remains a child at heart, his friends have certainly changed. Among those romping through Neverland in the official sequel to JM Barrie's children's classic are a High Court judge with a taste for a cross-dressing.

The character in question, Tootles, was a sweet Lost Boy in the original tale set in Edwardian England. In the sequel, Peter Pan In Scarlet, he has become a judge. One who is referred to as 'she' when, on his return to Neverland he wears pretty frocks, 'long yellow plaits and knows ballet positions one to five'.

Peter Pan in Scarlet, by British children's author Geraldine McCaughrean, was published in 30 countries recently. Miss McCaughrean was chosen to write the suquel from nearly 200 authors worldwide after Great Ormond Street Hospital, which owes copyright to the original, began searching for a successor in August 2004.

Cross-dressing jokes aside, her sequel is much darker than the original. Set in 1929, two decades after the original, the story opens with the children grown up. But Wendy and baby John Darling have lost their brother Michael. He was killed in the Great War. The morality of the war is one of the story's recurring themes.

Wendy, the kind-hearted motherly little girl of the original story, hsa become a mother and wife with rather feminist tendencies. She and the grown-up Lost Boys jump at the chance to make one more trip to Nevrland accompanied by a greedy fairy called Fireflyer.

Back in Neverland they reunite with Peter - and later Tinkerbell - and revisit most of their old haunts. Along with a circus owner Ravello, they take charge of the deserted Jolly Roger, now renamed The Jolly Peter, and set off on a swashbuckling journey. But Peter, clad in the scarlet coat of the title, starts to resemble the ruthless and fearsome Hook whom he thought he killed long ago.

There are adventures with beasts, warring fairies, harpy birds, deserts, junior parties, watches and dragons before Ravello unravels his true colours - as the reincarnated Hook.

In the story, Wendy retains her bossy streak, with the added authority of being truly grown up at last. She nags the 'boys' about the need to retun to their jobs, responsibilities and wives. She also knows she should get home to her daughter. So, very reluctantly, they leave Peter safe in Neverland, resolute as ever in his refusal to grow up.

The plot and new characters were a fiercely guarded secret, with a pre-publiucation embargo on the book. Great Ormond Street's copyright, bequeathed to it by JM Barrie in 1929, runs out next year. The royalties for the sequel will be split between Miss Caughrean and the hospital.

The gift of Peter Pan was the most generous present J.M. Barrie could possibly have given to the hospital, a cause close to his heart.