PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
    Illustrated by:  Greg Call
    Category:  Fantasy
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 6+
    Release Date:  5/1/06
    Publisher:  Disney
    Reviewed by:  Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
    Rating:  5 Stars


    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!
Peter and the Starcatchers
by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson