Peter and the Starcatchers (Starcatchers Series #1)

Reviewed by Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius" for TeensReadToo.com

It's always interesting, at least to me, to read a book that is the retelling of a beloved childhood tale. Whether it be a retold fairy tale such as SNOW WHITE or SLEEPING BEAUTY, or a classic such as PETER PAN, these new spins on old stories usually fall into one of two categories--terribly bad remakes, or truly amazing, imaginative stories with new twists. Thankfully, authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have turned PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS into the latter.

In this rendering, Peter is an orphan about the ship Never Land. He's become the leader of sorts to the other young orphans who have been sold into slavery to King Zarboff the Third, evil ruler of Rundoon. Not long after Peter and his boys board the boat, he meets Molly Aster. The fourteen-year old daughter of the new Ambassador of Rundoon is unlike any other girl Peter has ever met. Actually, the only other girl he remembers seeing in a very long time was the daughter of the Headmaster of St. Norbert's Home for Wayward Boys.

Peter's increasing infatuation with Molly is challenged when she lets him in on a secret--she is an apprentice Starcatcher, one who guards the magical starstuff from the Others who would use it to do harm. Starstuff is magic that, when it falls to Earth, it brings about increased intelligence, happiness, and even the ability to fly. Although Peter is, at first, quite skeptical of Molly and her Starcatcher business, he soon learns that she's being nothing but truthful.

Add to the story the dreaded Pirate Black Stache and the evil pirate crew of the ship the Sea Devil, and you have an interesting story. Throw in the a shipwreck, a missing cargo of starstuff, mermaids, a flying crocodile, and island dwellers that just may be cannibals, and the story goes from interesting to amazing. This is a remarkable retelling, or possibly even a prequel, to the well known story of PETER PAN. Kudos to both Mr. Barry and Mr. Pearson for a highly entertaining and thoroughly engrossing read!

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

A Great Read for All Ages

I'd seen this book many times at book stores and never given it a second glance. One day I decided to read the summary on the back and decided it looked slightly interesting. When I read it, I absolutely loved it. I've never really been into Peter Pan, but I thought these books were amazing. They had a perfect balance of fantasy and action. I'm only twelve, but I could see myself enjoying this if I was either much younger or much older. It's not violent when there's action and it's never to wordy or long. I would reccomend this book to anyone!

6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

Sure to Captivate Your Mind and Steal Your Heart!

"Peter and the Starcatchers," by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is the first novel in the best-selling "Starcatchers" series. The series centers around world-renowned hero Peter Pan and answers all mysterious questions surrounding him: How did Peter come to Never Land? Who is Peter Pan, truly? Where did he come from? Authors Barry and Pearson do a fantastic job of making the story exciting and impossible to put down, as they reveal the full story of Peter's past in a cool, never-before-imagined way! Filled to the brim with mystery, suspense, humor, and everything else that makes a book worth reading, this amazing adventure is sure to captivate your mind and steal your heart!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Peter and the Starcatchers is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This seems like a very interesting book that I can't wait to read! It is adds a cool twist to the classical Peter Pan story.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good

This is an excellent book. I reccomend this to readers in middle school and above. It is a little boing in the beginning but other than that its really good. It is confusing in the beginning because you dont know whats going on until one of the later chapters. Its also a page turner because it really keeps you guessing until the very end. Read this book!!!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Perfect Peter Pan Prequel

Well written and fun! This is a book for any age reader. It begins the story of the Lost Boys with a look at their humble Dickens-like beginnings. Their adventure takes off and weaves the reader through a make- believe world filled with characters for the ages. I look forward to the rest of the series and will make sure to see the Broaway version in 2012.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

The Greatest book ever!!

A definate page turner I did not want to put the book down. There is a suprise on every page!

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME!

I read this book a while back, and it has been one of my favorite books since then! I have always loved Peter Pan, so the prospect of a prequel was amazing! Peter and the Starcatchers, along with the other two books i the trilogy, were all fantastic. I love the adventure, the action, the humor, and the little bit of romance. The ending of Secret to Rundoon made me cry (in a good kid of way). If you love fantasy, adventure, Peter Pan, or just plain a really good big book trilogy, READ THIS BOOK. And if you don't, READ THIS BOOK! :) My point: It rocks!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Starcatcher

Peter and the Starcatchers is a thrilling adventure that takes you through the many stages of how Peter Pan came to be. When Peter is sailing on ships he makes a new exciting friend named Molly. Peter and Molly have to go through many phases to protect a treasure that everyone wants. The only reason that Black Stache (Captin Hook) wants the treasure is because it has some magical quality about it. So start reading the books so you can get your magic to fly you through the exciting adventures.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

OMG AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thee best, most fav book i've read in my life it is so fun and i never wanted to put the book down!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great book.

I <3 u ridly pearson!!!!!!!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Loved it!

So I was in the mood for something light and just a bit brainless, and dove into my daughter’s shelves for the first book in Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s Peter Pan prequels, called “Peter and the Starcatchers.” And oh, what fun this was.

The story is essentially the adventure that got Peter and the Lost Boys to Neverland, introduced his pirate nemesis (here called The Black Stache, as he’s pre-hook), and birthed Tinkerbell. Barry and Pearson did an awesome job of creating characters full of personality and a thirst for adventure, and villains worthy of the name.

This book was a joy to read. It’s absolutely suitable for kids (for whom it was written) as well as adults craving light, fun adventure.

4 of 5 stars.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good story except some language

This is a fun story for the kids but I do have to edit it a bit as it has some questionable pirate talk. I usually just skip over words like idiot, stupid, damn and hell.

It is really engaging and the kids beg for more chapters! Not sure why authors put language in children's books?!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely One of the Best!

Excellent adventure story for all ages. This is a wonderful series. Dave and Ridley have created wonderful characters. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

This book is all about the story of how peter pan got his powers and where captain hook came from. Will not ever want to put this book down. Any lover of a ficion book with action, excitment, and funny punns, look no farther

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Cool

Awesome

Im reading it

Im in the middle of it and i love it. I highly recamend it

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The BEST

This book is so good! I have never really been into PeterPan. But this book is so good. I highly recomend it. Ages 9 and older would be good. If i were you i would not read it at not. It is a little freaky. But sooooo good. My friend was the one that had me read it.

Fantastic book. You must read it.

If you are an adventurous reader like me, I bet you have read the Harry Potter series, the Twilight series, the Redwall series, the Ink trilogy, and the Eragon series, or whatever it's called, and a lot more. And guess what, I'm only ten! Overall this book is great. It's a great book. Really good! I'm on the Secret of Rundoon. MUST BUY BECAUSE EXTREMELY GOOD!

Great

I am reading this for class and so far im in love!! Lol