The Bridge to Never Land

July 18, 2011
Pearson and Barry bring their Starcatchers series into the modern day, injecting it with a dose of metafiction in the process. Siblings Sarah and Aidan Cooper, ages 17 and 15, know all about Peter Pan's secret origin, having read the Starcatchers books when they were younger, but they never dreamed it could be real until they discover a riddle hidden in an old desk. Following the clues while on vacation in England, they find the last stash of magical starstuff on Earth, only to be stalked by the malevolent Lord Ombra. To protect themselves and keep the starstuff from Ombra, they track down the remnants of the Starcatchers and travel to Never Land, where they're swept up in the ongoing conflict between Peter Pan and Captain Hook. The book's joyful sense of adventure and wonder is tempered somewhat by the constant pursuit of authorities and parental figures, as well as scenes set in Disney World that seem to be designed to remind readers that runaway children are serious business in this day and age. Nonetheless, it's a worthy complement to the series. Ages 10âup.

April 15, 2011

Captain Hook gets an iPad in Barry and Pearson's latest collaboration.

Teenage siblings Aidan and Sarah come across a piece of paper with mysterious instructions that Sarah realizes corresponds with her old Peter and the Starcatchers novels. After a dangerous scavenger hunt through London (where their family coincidently goes on vacation) Aidan and Sarah find themselves in possession of the last cache of existing starstuff, the glitter that powers Never Land. Turns out that their favorite fantasy series is actually true. Unfortunately, their discovery attracts the attention of evil shadow-stealer Lord Ombra, who begins stalking them. It is only when they seek the help of one of the Darling descendants Disney that the brother and sister discover a portal to the real Never Land (in Walt Disney World, of course). There they have the misfortune of meeting Hook, who steals the aforementioned "magic... picture thing." But they also team up with the mythical Peter and bring him back to their world to try and defeat Ombra once and for all. While the authors take obvious delight in referencing their popular series, no prior knowledge is necessary in order to enjoy this rollicking page-turner.

Barry and Pearson effectively pull off the difficult trick of penning a stand-alone title that fans will adore while simultaneously causing newbies to flock back to their previous joint works—pretty nifty, that. (Fantasy. 10 & up)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

September 1, 2011

Gr 5-8-In the authors' latest foray into Never Land, siblings Aidan and Sarah Cooper aren't expecting to discover a coded message in the hidden compartment of an antique desk. But once they crack the code, the teens find themselves on a journey into the books in the "Starcatchers" series (Hyperion), discovering that the stories are indeed real and that they must hurry to stop a golden box of starstuff from getting into the wrong hands. Along the way, they meet up with J.D. Aster, the reluctant descendant of Molly and Wendy Aster; narrowly escape the police; and set off an East Coast search for their whereabouts. This novel doesn't maintain the wonderful humor of the original series, and much of the story seems to be a setup for later installments. The kinetic journey seems far-fetched, even for this series, and the stop-and-go plot skips from one madcap escape to the next with little cohesion or true purpose. Aidan and Sarah also seem a bit immature for their ages. Hopefully the next book will provide the plot, humor, and character development that the authors are known for.-Necia Blundy, Marlborough Public Library, MA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2011
Grades 4-6 Bringing the Starcatchers series into the twenty-first century, this chapter book features Sarah and her brother, Aidan, who find a cryptic note in an antique desk and follow the clues to London, Princeton, and Orlando. Along the way, they clash with evil Lord Ombra, find an ally in Molly Darling's great-great-great nephew, and discover Einstein's part in the plan. The plot is a thrill ride of action and adventure, with plenty of chase scenes and (no surprise here) a trip to Never Land. The ending leaves a major factor unresolved, encouraging fans to hope for another sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)