Peter takes a turn for the worst.

Brom has done a nice job of creating a vastly dark world for Peter Pan. His new (not really new, but for this book's purpose it is) twisted home is called Avalon. Avalon is not the beautiful painting of Neverland instilled in our minds by Disney. It is dark, gruesome, full of war and monsters and shrouded in clouds.

Currently, I am up to page 72 (part of it on a 3 mile eliptical stint burning 365 calories...have to keep you informed on exercise...my other love!). Peter has lured a troubled 14 year old, Nick, into the enchanted Avalon. Nick meets Peter as he is about to be killed by gang/drug lord people in Central Park. Peter wants to join in the "game" of beating up Nick, but what the guys don't realize is that Peter has other things in mind. Peter basically humiliates the mess out of them and practically destroys another of them before the leader gets to the park. Blood is shed and bones are cracked...and not in places that would be all too comfortable. We are shown a really violent side of this childhood favorite.

Peter's goal is to lure Nick into Avalon to become part of his Devils. They are Peter's "Lost Boys" who are there to continue battling with the evils of Avalon. In order to get Nick to enter the Mist (the portal to Avalon), he must gain trust from him. Peter jokes around with him, destroys his enemies, steals food from a Chinese food mart and breaks into a sporting goods store so Nick can get the shoes he has always wanted. Eventually, during this night, Peter convinces Nick to come to this "fort" he has where no grown-ups live. Nick hesitantly concedes and is led into the "Mist."

In the Mist, Peter informs Nick to be quiet so as to not disturb "them." Well, one can only guess what happens. "They" are disturbed. Nick notices the bodies of teens laying around all over the place. It freaks him out. He makes noise and the Mist comes alive. Peter tells Nick to not listen or look into the eyes of whatever shapes the Mist forms. Immediately, Nick hears laughter, wailing, talking and screaming. Formations begin to arise in the Mist. Ghost-like creatures of lost souls try to pull Nick to his death and become enveloped in the Mist. Nick perseveres and makes it out. Peter is fully impressed.

When they arrive in Avalon, it is on a beach. The beach is deserted, but once again, Peter tells Nick to stay quiet or the flesh eaters will get him. Nick soon learns just that. They have to duck into a depressing forest to hide from these creatures with orange eyes. After they make it through not getting caught, Peter and Nick make camp on some boulders. As Nick falls asleep, Peter leaves to go collect more kids and leaves Nick in the hands of the Devils.

As Peter is trying to go through the Mist, the Captain appears on the beach with flesh-eaters. He seems to be up to something, but Peter cannot make out details. Peter is soon able to run across the beach into the Mist and reappear back in South Brooklyn.

We are then brought into Peter's memories. He was the son of a wood spirit. He remembers being born and his first weeks as a child. His family loved him until the day he started talking and walking...he was only 7 weeks old. The family sees him doing this and takes him to the woods, against his mother's will, to leave him for dead. He is panicked and does not want to part from his mother. A wolf tries to take Peter, but a strange creature named Goll saves him; initially Goll wanted to eat him can taste the fairy blood on him and does not want to dine. Peter cries out to Goll to take care of him and they come to a compromise. Peter should not cry and catch spiders and that is his ticket to live with Goll.

I stopped reading right at the point when Nick is having his first run-in with islanders.

I think it is a fantastic book so far. I am really excited about it!

One decision I have made is that I am going to read an award-winning kids book each week, as well. I will let you know as soon as I am finished with Brom what that will be!

:)