I love fantasy. It’s therapeutic, to be able to transpose myself into a new world. Peter and The Starcatchers written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a fantastic retelling of Peter Pan in historic London and the seven seas. It is such an amazing story that despite being more a middle school book, it still lies on my shelf 8 years after I read it.

The series follows the young Peter as he embarks on a journey aboard The Neverland to Rundoon where he will work as a slave for King Zarboff the Third, with a mysterious and beautiful Molly and the cruel crew headed by Mister Slank. The story follows Peter and his friends as they try to save the magical starstuff that has heavenly capabilities from Mister Slank, The Others as well as the notorious pirate Black Stache who roams the seven seas pillaging and looting. I’ll give this book the highest form of praise by saying this is a story I would have loved to write.

The entire series follows Peter and Molly as they continue to try and save the starstuff, and because the fantasy is so intricate and complicated and basically perfect I’m going to review the series book by book.

Peter and the Starcatchers

As the story kicks off, we see Peter already showcasing classic Peter Pan characteristics. He’s been carted off and now he tries to keep his friends alive and his curiosity is piqued when he sees the starstuff and what can do. This is my favourite of the three books. The introduction to all the characters is so well done, it’s riveting. The characters jump off the page, I can practically see Black Stache rushing for the Wasp. The World-Building seems incomplete but this works well for the series because it’s children who are doing the world-saving. If Molly were to spout philosophical truths of the star-stuff it would be unrealistic. But the other aspects of the world-building were so well done. Like the way mermaids are created and the way Leonard Aster creates Tink, the healing powers of the starstuff. The writing is simple and aimed towards middle schoolers and that actually adds to the story because so much is happening content-wise that if it were flowery language filled with over the top metaphors it would take away from the plot.

Peter and the Shadow Thieves

This instalment is far darker than its first companion novel. Peter has been living on Mollusk Island which he has named Neverland as all original Peter Pan fans would be familiar with. The Starstuff from the first novel remains unreturned but is supposed to be safe with Lord Leonard Aster in England. The Others recruit the sinister Lord Ombra who consumes shadows and is seemingly undefeatable and indestructible. I did like this one but there were times I felt a chill crawl up my spine. I can never read this one without the lights on. There are scenes where Peter is navigating London and you see what a grim place it is for so many people. The fantasy aspect takes more of a backseat as the book focuses on Peter’s search for the Aster house in an attempt to warn them. The fantasy content comes roaring back in the latter half of the book and we find out more about the Starstuff, but more mysteries are introduced. I did find myself not as interested in James and the other Lost Boys, but they had a negligible role to play in the book.

Peter and The Secret of Rundoon

While this is my least favourite in the series it is still a fantastic book. In fact, it ties most of the loose ends, the plot twists are marvellous and the mysteries of Starstuff that have been circulating since book one. We finally meet King Zarboff the Third (scroll up for the gif please) and his snake and Lord Ombra returns with a plethora of other interesting characters. We see Hook and the Starcatchers work together as he is captured and taken to Rundoon alongside Peter. Mollusk Island is caught in a skirmish of its own with a vicious attack from a neighbouring tribe. This book is all about tying things up. We find out the reason that Peter seems unaffected by the Starstuff, Ombra explains the philosophy and history behind the Starstuff, Peter’s parentage is revealed. It’s a fantastic end to a trilogy. The book actually sets up the premise for the original Peter Pan story, including the ones made by Disney with Wendy and the mystery of Peter’s shadow, the introduction of J.M. Barrie.

I wish I could travel in time and space to be apart of this series. It’s magical, fantastically written, filled with stunning plot twists, pirates, mermaids and lots and lots of adventure. It’s a must read series.