Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson
Publisher: Disney Editions
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 482 $18.99
ISBN-13: 978-078683788-5 ISBN-10: 078683788-8
Lord Ombra, an evil shadow creature who can control minds, is plotting to destroy the whole world with the help of King Zarboff the Third. Zarboff, the greedy king of Rundoon who feeds people to his snake, thinks that his henchmen are bringing down a large mass of starstuff (an unearthly substance that comes from the sky and allows one to fly and obtain ultimate power) all for himself. But Zarboff has no clue that the starstuff they are bringing down will destroy the world. There is one thing needed to complete the plan: Peter Pan
Good thing there is Molly and Leonard Aster, both Starcatchers (people who find and return starstuff into space) who know that Ombra is planning to capture and use Peter. Lord Aster sets out for the island to warn Peter.
Peter Pan or “The Flying Boy” is the leader of a group of orphan boys. The boys have to share an island called Mollusk Island, with the befriended Mollusk tribe and its gallant leader, Fighting Prawn. The only problem is that they have to share the island with the greasy Black Stache and his band of shipwrecked pirates.
From the beginning, Black Stache had loathed Peter. Then after Peter had fed Stache’s hand to a ferocious two-ton crocodile, Black Stache had turned into Captain Hook, because of a sharp metal hook placed on the stump of a hand.
All is well on the island until the Mollusks get word of a fierce tribe called The Scorpions coming their way, and they will stop at nothing to conquer land. Peter soon spots war canoes on the horizon and he flies out to get a better look. Moments later Peter is cut by a Scorpion arrow, and thinking it is just an ordinary arrow Peter starts to fly back to the island. After realizing that the arrow contained poison Peter just barely makes it to shore.
Just days after Peter’s half recovery the scorpions begin to attack. Captain Hook and his men try to make a daring escape, along with the kidnapped Peter and the island boys, using a docked war canoe. When the island is left behind the canoes run into bubbles in the water that over turn them. The pirate crew all survived but Peter, the boys and Captain Hook were pulled down by their legs…
Lord Aster was too late; Peter had already disappeared into the swirling sea.
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson spin together a twisting tail of action, suspense, comedy, and fun. From gun battles to mystery solving, this is by far one of my all time favorite books. Detail-packed and yearning to be read, this book will get your head spinning with excitement and push you on through pages of nonstop suspense.
Now if I was to give this book a rating it would be 10/10 hands down, and if you read it you’d be thinking the same thing: I know, this book is like a double big Mac.
The top bun is the introduction to the book explaining important details about the characters and prequel. The cheese is a problem and then the patty is smacked down and the problem is turned into a disaster, and once you get to the lettuce you think things are going to be fine but NOOOO! When you are not looking another patty is thrown right at you, and another disaster occurs forming yet a major burger disaster! And then comes the smashing ending with the bun and more cheese, a deluxe wrap-up and resolution all coming down with one big bang.
This book makes me feel like I’m in it, at Peter’s side, flying, and watching all the intense scenes even though it’s only from the pages of the book. One thing that stood out to me was how Pearson and Barry portrayed the characters, they seem all too real, and I had a very vivid picture of each character in my head while reading. They told me about the appearance of the new and current characters, their attitude, what their voice sounded like, whether they are good or evil, and all the other details you need to know about the character such as the evil sweeping cold when Ombra approaches someone or the kindness of Leonard Aster and the other Starcatchers, and even the playful intelligent porpoises who communicate with the Starcatchers which play an important part of the plot. Yes, these are all vital details which make this book an enjoyable one.
Another thing I like is the theme, such as bravery, almost ever character risks their lives, for something, for the better good, or for the existence of the whole entire world! Survival, another good one, the mollusk people fight againsed the Scorpions for survival, and other times (which you will have to read about). Lastly Heroism, Peter saves people and things from sure death or destruction, and since he’s the flying boy, he has to be the hero who saves the world.
I also recommend this book to people of all ages, and genders, and for people who are familiar with Peter Pan or are not. I especially love to read about before Peter learned to fly, before the original movies, and how things came to be in the movies. Even though Peter and the Secret of Rundoon is fairytale-ish I could really see this book come to life.
I believe Peter and the Secret of Rundoon is a book worth reading. It starts out really quick, jumping from the first book to the next and tying you in.
But before you get too tied into this book I suggest you read the two prequels: Peter and the Starcatchers (1st book), Peter and the Shadow Thieves (2nd book). That will get you filled in on everything you need to know about the tragedies and triumphs of Peter Pan.
~ reviewed by Owen
