Book Club: Lost Boy

Title: Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
Author: Christina Henry
Year of publication: 2017
Genre: Fantasy/Horror
Setting: 
Map from AmberSkies Creations - Photo by Blair Fraser on Unsplash
Premise:
There is one version of the story of Captain Hook that everybody knows. And then, there is the truth. This is the story of how a boy went from Peter Pan's favorite to his greatest enemy.

Context:
Christina Henry is a pen name for Tina Raffaele. The name is a composite of Chris (husband) Tina, and her Henry (son). 

Characters: 
  • Jamie (Captain Hook)
  • Peter Pan
  • Fog
  • Nod
  • Nip
  • Charlie
  • Sally
  • Del
  • Tinker
  • Crow
  • Harry
Character Map:


Plot Diagram:


Themes/Symbolism:

First Words:
Once I was young, and young forever and always, until I wasn't. Once I loved a boy called Peter Pan.
Last Words:
I hate Peter Pan.

Popularity: 



Memorable Quotes:

Author's Biography:



Literary Links:


Beyond the lines
Adaptations:
Ruth B. has composed a son, aptly titled Lost Boy, that seems to have been inspired by the book by Christina Henry. The song is about all lost boys, like James Cook once was.


Book vs. Book: 
There are countless retellings of Peter Pan, not many focus on Captain Hook. Like Lost Boy, Hooked by A.C. Wise, tells the story from James Hook perspective and paints Peter Pan in not such an innocent light. Which one do you prefer?
Tasty Titles: 
There are some scenes in Lost Boy that can be coupled with a drink or two, and since pirates like rum, I do not see how James Hook would not grow up to like it too. Monin has a recipe called Lost Boy with a base of coconut rum and pineapple liqueur that can be a perfect match for the book.
 
Six Word Review: 
Hook's story of outgrowing Peter Pan
Rambling Words:
Neverland is a fictional place; nevertheless, fans have figured that if any location on Earth could match the description of Neverland, it would be the Turneffe Atoll in Belize. The location has been identified by the YouTube Channel The Film Theorists based on the following clues: First, Peter flies southwest when leaving London, indicating the location to be somewhere in America. Second, Neverland is surrounded by lagoons, a common feature of atolls. Third, the presence of saltwater crocodiles in the island puts Neverland somewhere in the Caribbean. Fourth, Blackbeard, the real pirate on which Captain Hook is based on, used Turneffe Atoll as a base during his lifetime. 

There is also a famous statue of Peter Pan at Kensington Gardens in London that book lovers visit year long.

Turneffe Atoll: Photo from ChabilMaravillas.com; Peter Pan: Photograph by Sebjarod

Bookstore on Location:
Well, Neverland doesn't exist (or maybe I am already too grown up). However, the next best thing might be Neverland Books. This bookstore sells pre-owned books in bundles and by the pound, saving tons of books from landfills every year. Neverland might be a fantasy, but getting pounds of books delivered to your door is a very good consolation prize.

Bibliotherapy: 
The Cover Story


Book Candy:

Our Review:

Discussion Questions:
(Questions by OprahDaily.com)

General Book Club Questions

1. What was your favorite part of the book?

2. What was your least favorite?

3. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?

4. Which scene has stuck with you the most?

5. What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?

6. Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?

7. Would you want to read another book by this author?

8. Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?

9. What surprised you most about the book?

10. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?

11. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?

12. How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?

13. Is this book overrated or underrated?

14. Did this book remind you of any other books?

15. How did it impact you? Do you think you'll remember it in a few months or years?
16. Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?

17. Who do you most want to read this book?

18. Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?

19. Did the book strike you as original?

Fiction Questions

  1. Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?
  2. Which character did you relate to, or empathize with, the most?
  3. If you had to trade places with one character, who would it be?
  4. Guess the characters' zodiac signs.
  5. What do you think happens to the characters after the book's official ending?
  6. What are your thoughts on the book's structure? Did it serve the story well?
  7. How did the setting impact the story? Would you want to read more books set in that world?
  8. Did the book feel real to you?
  9. Did the plot proceed in a way that felt natural? Or did you feel manipulated by the storyline?
  10. Are there any characters you'd like to deliver a lecture to? If so, who? What would you say?