Cover Reveal: Forever Neverland by Susan Adrian

Happy Monday, friends! Just in time for #MiddleGradeMonday, I couldn’t be more excited to welcome author Susan Adrian to Pop! Goes The Reader as we share the exclusive cover reveal for her next middle grade novel, Forever Neverland! Coming to a bookstore and library near you June 25th 2019 from Random House Books for Young Readers, Forever Neverland is a contemporary sequel to the J. M. Barrie classic that asks the question: What if Peter Pan wanted to take you to Neverland? When Peter invites Wendy Darling’s great-great-grandchildren Clover and Fergus to Neverland the two jump at the chance, and quickly discover it’s more magical – and more dangerous – than they ever could have imagined. The cover of Forever Neverland was designed by George Ermos. Please read on to learn more about Forever Neverland, including a note from the author, an exclusive excerpt and cover reveal and an opportunity for one lucky reader to win a signed advance reader copy of the novel!


About Susan Adrian

Susan Adrian is a fourth-generation Californian who now lives in the beautiful Big Sky country of Montana. During college she spent a year abroad at the University of Sussex in England — which started a lifelong fascination with all things British, particularly British stories for kids. These days she splits her time as a writer, scientific editor, and mom. She is the author of the holiday fantasy Nutcracked and two thrilling books for teens. She also keeps busy researching fun stuff, traveling, and writing more books. She’s been to London many times, but hasn’t yet been invited to Neverland.

Author Links: WebsiteTwitterFacebookTumblrGoodreads

I am so excited for this book, in a way I’ve never been before. I got teary when I wrote the dedication, then again when I saw this beautiful cover. Again when I saw the map (!) that will be included inside. I so dearly love the characters in Forever Neverland — Fergus and Clover, Peter and Shoe (my favorite Lost “Boy” ever), and even Scylla. I can’t wait for you all to share the adventure.

Fergus

I asked Grandmother all about what Neverland was like, but she said it’s different for everyone. She loved horses when she was little, so she had an adventure saving a wild horse from a dragon. She says you can’t plan for it. I wish I could, though. I like to know what’s going to happen, and what a place looks like. I like to know what I’m going to be expected to do.

What am I going to be expected to do?

“Clover,” I whisper. “It’ll be okay, won’t it?”

Her eyes shine in the lamplight. She’s sitting stiffly on the edge of her bed, her feet flat on the floor. “I hope so. Grandmother will explain to Mom, after we’re gone, and Grandfather. And we’ll be back soon, she said. It’ll be okay.”

“I can see we need to teach you about the Neverland.”

I gasp. Peter stands in the window, one hand braced on the top, like the illustration in the book. He’s wearing clothes made of brown cloth, not leaves like in the picture. He leaps softly into the room. A light follows him, the size of my little finger, then another bigger one, zipping around his head, and another. Light blooms out from them.

“Pixies,” I say under my breath. I’m glad I know now what they are.

Peter stands between us, arms crossed, legs spread wide. “We do not,” he says sternly, “go to the Neverland worrying about parents or when we will come back.” His voice is high, but it doesn’t bother me like high voices sometimes do. It fits him. “I will not have that kind of talk. If you go to the Neverland, you go for fun. Adventure. Freedom. Will you go?” He looks at Clover, then at me, and it feels like he’s judging us.

Then he flings his arms out wide and he laughs, loud.

“Of course you’ll go. We will have such a marvelous time. It has been long and long since we had a Wendy to mother us.”

“I’m Clover,” my sister says sharply. “Not Wendy. I’m not going to mother anyone.”

One of the lights dives toward her and hovers in front of her face. She squints but doesn’t move. That’s her sour face. I recognize it.

Peter raises his eyebrows. “But you will sing for us, yes? Your singing brought me here last night. Better than the mermaids, though don’t tell them I said so. And you are a fine mother, I think.”

He looks at me. I squirm, feeling like I should do something, say something. I don’t know what I should do. I look down.

One of the other lights comes close to my face, and I shut my eyes against the brightness. I wish I could see the pixie instead of just the light. It’s warm, though, like before.
“You,” Peter says slowly, “are not a John. You are a Lost Boy.”

I open my eyes, and the pixie darts away. “I am Fergus.”

“Just so. You are Fergus, and I am Peter Pan.”



Title Forever Neverland
Author Susan Adrian
Pages 272 Pages
Intended Target Audience Middle Grade
Publication Date June 25th 2019 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Find It On Random House Children’s BooksGoodreadsAmazon.comThe Book Depository

What if Peter Pan wanted to take you to Neverland? Would you go? 

A contemporary sequel to J. M. Barrie’s timeless classic Peter Pan, perfect for kids who loved The Land of Stories and dream of going to Neverland.

Clover and Fergus are the great-great-grandchildren of Wendy Darling (yes, that Wendy). And now Peter Pan wants to take them to Neverland for the adventure of their lives! But Clover’s a little nervous – she’s supposed to look after her brother. Fergus is autistic, and not everyone makes him feel welcome. What will happen to him in this magical world?

Fergus isn’t nervous at all. To him, Neverland seems like a dream come true! He’s tired of Clover’s constant mothering and wants some independence, like Peter and the Lost Boys have. He wonders, Why can’t the real world be more like Neverland?

Neverland is fun and free, but it’s also dangerous and even scary at times. There are unfamiliar creatures lurking in the shadows and strange sounds coming from the waters. And then the mermaids start to go missing…

In an imaginative and thoughtful continuation of the story of Peter Pan, Susan Adrian explores Neverland with a fresh perspective and indelible warmth, offering a new adventure based on a beloved classic!

As an extra, exciting bonus, Susan has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win an advance reader copy of Forever Neverland! One winner will be chosen at random at the conclusion of the giveaway and the prize will be distributed by Susan when ARCs become available. Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

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Hi! I’m Jen! I’m a thirty-something introvert who loves nothing more than the cozy comfort of home and snuggling my two rescue cats, Pepper and Pancakes. I also enjoy running, jigsaw puzzles, baking and everything Disney. Few things bring me more joy than helping a reader find the right book for them!

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