“All you need is faith, trust, and pixie dust!” These iconic lines were just for the movie. This is just one example of the way Disney changed the story of Peter Pan. And before he was the adventurous, mischievous boy “who never wanted to grow up”, he was the baby who fell out of his pram.

Peter Pan, originally titled Peter and Wendy, was a play written by J.M. Barrie, but it was not adapted into a novel until 1929, twenty-five years after its theatrical release. The story follows the young character, Peter Pan, who flies to the Darling’s house, convincing siblings Wendy, John, and Michael to fly back with him to Neverland, an island filled with only children. And most importantly, no adults. The boys are swept away in the idea of being pirates while Wendy’s fantasy of playing “mother” to the Lost Boys is what draws her to the mysterious land. Along with Peter’s trusty and opinionated sidekick, Tinker Bell, the crew sets off for an adventure of a lifetime.

Although many people think of Peter Pan as a children’s book, the original story is far more sophisticated than it leads on. It explores the meaning of childhood, how long it lasts, and what it means to be a child, as well as the wonder and pitfalls of imagination, and the role Mothers play. These ideas are explored in such a way that the reader may come back time again to relive the magic and explore the deeper meaning hidden in plain sight. If you thought you knew Peter Pan, then I invite you to rethink that idea.