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Peter and the Starcatchers

by and

Peter and the Starcatchers Cover

 

Staff Pick

Peter and the Starcatchers is a nearly perfect, swashbuckling adventure that's sure to please girls and boys alike. A brilliantly conceived prequel to Peter Pan.
Recommended by Rico, Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island, an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe and save the world from evil.

Award-winning authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have turned back the clock and revealed a wonderful story that precedes J. M. Barrie's beloved Peter Pan. Peter and the Starcatchers is brimming with richly developed characters, from the scary but somehow familiar Black Stache and the ferocious Mister Grin to the sweet but sophisticated Molly and the fearless Peter. Page after page of riveting adventures take readers on a journey from a filthy, crime-ridden port in old England across the turbulent seas. Aboard the Never Land is a trunk that holds a magical substance that amazes — just a sprinkle, and wounds heal; just a dusting, and people can fly.

Roiling seas and dangerous thunderstorms are the backdrop for battles at sea. Bone-crushing waves eventually land our characters on Prawn Island — where the action really heats up.

This impossible-to-put-down tale leads readers on an unforgettable journey, fraught with danger yet filled with mystical and magical things.

Review:

"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. (Sept.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"[A] rousing tale....The real lure is the richly drawn characters, especially the villains....[V]ery short chapters make it manageable for younger readers, and the nonstop action will keep the pages turning. This deserves the hype." Booklist (Starred Review)

Review:

"A 452-page romp that's so fun and fast-paced, kids will get whiplash from turning the pages." Cecelia Goodnow, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Review:

"With swashbuckling action, constant peril and lots of fun-to-mimic pirate talk... Peter and the Starcatchers is just the kind of book parents would enjoy reading, a few chapters at a time, to their kid....This is a book chockablock with funny bits and derring-do." Sue Corbett, Miami Herald

Review:

"[A] compulsively readable prequel....This doesn't capture the subtler literary qualities of its progenitor, but readers drawn by authorial star power or swashbuckling will come away satisfied." Kirkus Reviews

Synopsis:

The Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist teams up with the bestselling author of The Pied Piper for this "prequel" to Peter Pan. Readers will be immersed in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved boy who would never grow up. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in this story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.

Synopsis:

Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold — and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger.

Discover richly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary but familiar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.

Synopsis:

Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in this story that slowly reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.
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About the Author

Dave Barry is a Pulitzer Prize-winning nationally syndicated humor columnist for the Miami Herald. He is the author of more than a dozen books including Boogers Are My Beat, Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys, Babies and Other Hazards of Sex, Dave Barry Slept Here, Big Trouble, and Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway.

Ridley Pearson is the best-selling author of fourteen novels, including The Middle of Nowhere, The Pied Piper, Beyond Recognition, No Witnesses, The First Victim, Undercurrents, and Parallel Lies. He was the first American to be awarded the Raymond Chandler/Fulbright Fellowship in Detective Fiction at Oxford University. In addition, he secretly wrote The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, which was a companion book to the ABC-TV production of Stephen King's Rose Red.

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What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
i love to read, February 20, 2008 (view all comments by i love to read)
A group of orphans must protect a magical item important to the whole earth in this story of before a simple orphan boy, Peter, becomes Peter Pan. Ever wonder how Peter could fly? Why doesn't Peter age? Why does Hook have a hook? If you wonder, this story is for you! I read it straight through in one sitting!
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No Name Please, January 30, 2008 (view all comments by No Name Please)
This book keeps in such suspense that you find yourself not being able to put it down. You will most likely read it from cover to cover and then read the next book and the next book! This book is all about how Peter Pan and Neverland and Captain Hook (Black Stache) came to be and I highly reccomend it.

Plus: Check out the sequals: Peter and the Shadow Theives and Secrets of Rundoon!!
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pepperrow2004, August 13, 2007 (view all comments by pepperrow2004)
Rollicking good fun and I felt as though I was in the book itself flying right beside Peter and Molly or swimming with the mermaids or curling my toes to avoid the snapping crocodile as I glide over his head. It's the kind of book I will love to read over and over that tells me its just simply great! And of course, you'll want to come back for more stories about Peter.
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780786854455
Author:
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
Publisher:
Disney Editions
Illustrator:
Call, Greg
Author:
Barry, Dave
Author:
Pearson, Ridley
Author:
Call, Greg
Subject:
General
Subject:
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subject:
Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Fantasy
Subject:
Folklore & Mythology
Subject:
Fantasy & Magic
Subject:
Magic
Subject:
Islands
Subject:
Action & Adventure
Subject:
Children s-Science Fiction and Fantasy
Copyright:
2004
Edition Number:
1st
Edition Description:
Hardcover
Series:
Starcatchers
Series Volume:
01
Publication Date:
September 2004
Binding:
HARDCOVER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
464
Dimensions:
7.8125 x 5.25 in 22.24 oz
Age Level:
09-12
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Related Subjects


Children's » Middle Readers » General
Children's » Science Fiction and Fantasy » General

Peter and the Starcatchers Used Hardcover
0 stars - 0 reviews
$3.50 In Stock
Product details 464 pages Disney Editions - English 9780786854455 Reviews:
"Staff Pick" by ,

Peter and the Starcatchers is a nearly perfect, swashbuckling adventure that's sure to please girls and boys alike. A brilliantly conceived prequel to Peter Pan.

by Rico
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "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. (Sept.) " Publishers Weekly (Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "[A] rousing tale....The real lure is the richly drawn characters, especially the villains....[V]ery short chapters make it manageable for younger readers, and the nonstop action will keep the pages turning. This deserves the hype."
"Review" by , "A 452-page romp that's so fun and fast-paced, kids will get whiplash from turning the pages."
"Review" by , "With swashbuckling action, constant peril and lots of fun-to-mimic pirate talk... Peter and the Starcatchers is just the kind of book parents would enjoy reading, a few chapters at a time, to their kid....This is a book chockablock with funny bits and derring-do."
"Review" by , "[A] compulsively readable prequel....This doesn't capture the subtler literary qualities of its progenitor, but readers drawn by authorial star power or swashbuckling will come away satisfied."
"Synopsis" by , The Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper columnist teams up with the bestselling author of The Pied Piper for this "prequel" to Peter Pan. Readers will be immersed in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved boy who would never grow up. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in this story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.
"Synopsis" by , Don't even think of starting this book unless you're sitting in a comfortable chair and have lots of time. A fast-paced, impossible-to-put-down adventure awaits as the young orphan Peter and his mates are dispatched to an island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They set sail aboard the Never Land, a ship carrying a precious and mysterious trunk in its cargo hold — and the journey quickly becomes fraught with excitement and danger.

Discover richly developed characters in the sweet but sophisticated Molly, the scary but familiar Black Stache, and the fearless Peter. Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in a story that slowly and finally reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.
"Synopsis" by , Treacherous battles with pirates, foreboding thunderstorms at sea, and evocative writing immerse the reader in this story that slowly reveals the secrets and mysteries of the beloved Peter Pan.
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