Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

Compare and contrast Lost Boy with J. M. Barrie’s original Peter Pan play, novel, or Barrie’s short stories. How does Henry both honor and subvert the source material to create new themes and messages in his retelling?

Jamie ultimately concludes that Peter deserves to die because of all the carnage he has inflicted. Analyze Henry’s version of Peter and identify the hidden drives that cause him to play a villainous role.

Analyze Henry’s use of foreshadowing to highlight Jamie’s inevitable transformation into Captain Hook. Is her characterization of Jamie entirely sympathetic, or is Jamie himself an unreliable narrator of his own story? Use examples from the text to support your position.

Compare and contrast Lost Boy with another such adaptation, such as Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson or Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth by J. V. Hart.

Explain Charlie’s importance to Jamie’s transformation. As the youngest “lost boy,” and one who still has a family in the real world, what does Charlie represent for Jamie? How is Charlie different from all the other boys who have come before him?

The end of Lost Boy leads into the beginning of Peter Pan. Are there any elements of Peter Pan or Captain Hook’s characterization that Lost Boy omits or fails to explain? Why are these elements absent from the story?

When Jamie realizes that Sal is a girl, his feelings for her gain a romantic edge, and he starts to grow up faster than ever. Why does Sal have this effect on Jamie?

Henry’s version of the Peter Pan story includes many dark and violent elements. To what extent does Henry draw out the existing themes of the original story, and to what extent are these dark themes her own invention? Compare and contrast specific story events and individual characterizations to craft your response.