Can books about Peter Pan be as
popular as books about Harry Potter?

Two best-selling authors of books for grown-ups have gotten together and written a book for kids, called "Peter and the Starcatchers." The two writers, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, tell of the events that led up to the famous story of Peter Pan.

Peter, in the beginning of his story, lived in the St. Norbert's Home for Wayward Boys. As an orphan, he didn't really know how old he was - maybe nine, maybe ten, maybe eleven - just so he could be a year older than any of his mates said they were. Since he could spit farther than any of the other boys, they never really challenged how old he was.

One morning, Peter, along with four of his group, was hauled off in a carriage to be put aboard a run-down old sailing ship called the "Never Land." Once on board, the boys found out that they were being sent to Rundoon to become servants to a cruel king named King Zarboff, The Third. While on deck, the boys saw a mysterious trunk being loaded on the ship and hidden below.

There were two other passengers on the Never Land. One was a young and pretty girl named Molly, who was about Peter's age. The other was Mrs. Bumbrake, Molly's plump governess. It seems that Molly was also going to Rundoon. Her father was to be the new ambassador to that kingdom, but he was sailing on a newly launched British naval ship, called the "Wasp."

Although the people on the Never Land and on the Wasp were unaware, a notorious pirate named Black Stache was waiting on his ship, the "Sea Devil." His intent was to steal the mysterious trunk. He also wanted to take over the Wasp and make it into his pirate ship. He had formed a devious plan to accomplish his goals. The people on the Never Land were especially fearful of Black Stache, because the worn out old ship they were sailing on wouldn't have a chance against pirate attack. The naval crew on the Wasp, on the other hand, were not worried because they thought their new ship could easily outrun the pirates.

Once the ships set sail, the plot starts moving very fast and gets increasingly more complicated. There's an island where some of the characters are stranded. The island contains unfriendly natives and a huge crocodile to which the natives like to feed visitors to the island, especially if they are British.

The reader, to have some idea of what all this plot is leading to, needs to understand that all that takes place is supposed to be an explanation of how the old and longtime popular story of Peter Pan came to be. Whether you have read and liked the story of Peter Pan or not, "Peter and the Starcatchers" is a suspense-filled adventure that will keep you involved as you follow the cast of weird characters from one unlikely event to another.