Peter and the Starcatchers

August 23, 2004
Bestselling adult authors Barry and Pearson imagine a rollicking adventure as a prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan
. Those curious about how Captain Hook lost his hand, why Peter never ages and can fly, and how a band of boys came to live in Never Land, will be sated by the magic-dusted plot points and the lively pirate confabulation here. As the novel opens, Peter and several others from St. Norbert's Home for Wayward Boys are shipped off on the ship Never Land
to be servants to the cruel King of Rundoon. On board, Peter meets Molly Aster (sharp readers will surmise she is an ancestor of Wendy), who reveals herself to Peter as a Starcatcher and imparts secrets of certain falling stars and the precious "starstuff" cache below deck. But all is not smooth sailing, as pirate Black Stache and his mates (including Smee) get wind of the treasure. Several sea chases and battles and a couple of shipwrecks later, all the key players end up on the island of Mollusk. As all sides try to obtain the gold-glowing contents of the trunk, talking dolphins and a giant crocodile also make the scene. The tale contains a few too many skirmishes over said treasure, but the authors keep the pace brisk and the chapters brief, employing humorous exchanges (e.g., Black Stache "had a real soft spot for his ma, and was truly sorry for the time he'd marooned her"), slapstick action—and flying, of course. Peter Pan
fans will find much to like in a what-if scenario that pays respectful tribute to the original. Ages 10-up.

Starred review from September 13, 2004
Having proven his talent for portraying all manner of colorful British characters with panache, Grammy-winning narrator Dale (the Harry Potter books) serves up another cast of winners on this recording. Authors Barry and Pearson take a wild flight of fancy in co-creating a prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan
. Gruff and vain pirates, wicked mermaids, talking dolphins, treasure and magic are at the heart of this adventure tale introducing orphan Peter and a spunky girl named Molly, obviously one of Wendy's ancestors. Dale seems to relish the humor and derring-do of this energetically paced story, which is sprinkled with comic scenarios. Fans of Barrie's original will get a kick out of learning the imagined origins of Neverland, Captain Hook (and his crocodile nemesis) and Peter's airborne prowess. Racing from ship to shipwreck on a mysterious island, listeners will be enthralled, eager to see what comes of the dust-ups and battles between these clashing crews. Ages 10-up.