After the Rain

After the Rain, A New Adventure for Peter Pan is an unauthorized sequel to Peter and Wendy, written by J. E. Somma and illustrated by Kyle Reed.

Somma wrote the book in the 1980s. Excerpts were published in 1999 in The Free Spirit a magazine featuring the work of Hamilton writers. The full book was published in Canada in 2002. It is set in modern times, and tells of Peter feeling abandoned, so he wishes away all the magic on earth. Three modern children - Crystal, Buddy, and Sean - intervene, helping to create a new fairy named Oliver, and teaching Peter that it's OK to grow up. The book is about 100 pages. A second edition, with a better-designed cover and improved reproduction of the art, was released at the end of 2002.

Because Great Ormond Street Hospital claimed to hold ongoing copyrights to Peter Pan in the United States, and threatened her with legal action, Somma sued them arguing that the copyright had expired. GOSH and Somma settled out of court in March 2005, issuing a joint statement which characterized her novel – which she had also argued was a commentary on the original work rather than a mere derivative of it – as "fair use" of the hospital's "U.S. intellectual property rights". Their confidential settlement did not set any legal precedent, however. Because of the legal difficulties she had publishing the book, and the limited distribution of her boutique-level publisher, it is generally difficulty to find copies.

A second sequel, Peter's First Christmas followed.