Peter and the Starcatchers

A fun book to read that speaks to those that have a great imagination, enter Peter and the Starcatchers written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. It is noted as the “backstory” for Disney’s Peter Pan story.  The majority of the story occurs on the high seas with the English seaman vs. the pirates.  Peter, an orphan who grows up at St. Norbert's Home for Wayward Boys with his four friends, James, Thomas, Prentiss, and Tubby Ted.  The orphan boys get mixed up with the transportation of a secret treasure by the Monarchy of England from one port to another.  Fortunately, the pirates attacked the wrong boat, the first one that set the seas, the secret treasure was on the second boat with Peter and his pals.  After the evil pirate, Black Stache, attacked the first boat and found only a treasure chest of sand, he captured the second, with the special treasure.  During the voyage, Peter meets and befriends Molly, a young girl who is the daughter of a high-ranking British envoy.  During the battle on the seas between Black Stache and the boats carrying Peter and the treasure a major storm occurs which leads to the destruction of both ships.  The debris later ends on the island of Mollusk, as do the passengers of the two ships.  But the battle is far from over as the natives are not happy with the “invaders” and Black Stache wants the secret treasure.  Ah, what is the secret treasure… it is “starstuff” that allows those who touch it to fly and so much more.  Peter and Molly use the special “starstuff” to get out of many life threatening situations and of course use it to do battle against the evil pirates and the natives of Mollusk.  If the “starstuff” gets in the wrong hands, the world could be crippled forever!  The stakes are so high.  This is a high energy, fast-paced story with a ton of action.  It also has the burgeoning youthful “love story” of two teens who have the “hate/love” interactions early on and bond in a moment of life or death.  This “fairy tale” is a story for the ages.  One of the better stories I have read in a long time.  Throw in that it is now on Broadway – gotta go see this one!  What a great story that makes us remember when we were a little kid.  And the end, not everything ends with complete happiness, does it? Nice suggestion for my list!  This is a keeper.