Peter and the Starcatchers

The Starcatchers, Book 1

By: Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson

Narrated by: Jim Dale

Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson have turned back the clock and revealed a wonderful story that precedes J. M. Barrie's beloved Peter Pan.

In an evocative and fast-paced adventure on the high seas and on a faraway island, an orphan boy named Peter and his mysterious new friend, Molly, overcome bands of pirates and thieves in their quest to keep a fantastical secret safe and save the world from evil.

This riveting adventure takes listeners on a journey from a harsh orphanage in old England to a treacherous sea in a decrepit old tub. Aboard the Never Land is a trunk that holds a magical substance with the power to change the fate of the world - just a sprinkle and wounds heal; just a dusting and people can fly. Towering seas and a violent storm are the backdrop for battles at sea. Bone-crushing waves eventually land our characters on Mollusk Island - where the action really heats up.

Peter and the Starcatchers is brimming with richly developed characters, from the scary but somehow familiar Black Stache and the ferocious Mister Grin to the sweet but sophisticated Molly and the fearless Peter.

Listen to the rest of the Starcatchers series.

©2004 Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (P)2004 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"The real lure is the richly drawn characters, especially the villains, who exhibit just the right amount of swagger and smirk." (Booklist)

"Jim Dale gives a one-man performance that is truly astonishing. He creates distinct voices for all the characters - pirates, women, British soldiers, and native tribesmen. Adults and children alike will enjoy this rollicking tale." (AudioFile)

A Nonstop Adventure

Would you consider the audio edition of Peter and the Starcatchers to be better than the print version?

Jim Dale's narration is wonderful. He totally carries you along in the story.

Which character – as performed by Jim Dale – was your favorite?

Black Stash - he's so evil and Mr. Dale performs his voice to perfection.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Heart pumping adventure.

Nice story, but it's all about the Box...

I'm not sure if I liked it more because it was narrated by Jim Dale, or just because it was a good story, but I liked it.

Great story of the beginning!

This is a wonderfully narrated story of Peter at the beginning of his adventures. Jim Dale is my favorite narrator for audiobooks. I loved it and I can't wait to listen to the next in the series.

What a fun family-friendly adventure!

This is a great story, made even more fun by the narration by Jim Dale, who made us love him by his excellent narration of the Harry Potter series. This story is a neat take on how Peter Pan came to be in Neverland in the first place. It is an excellent adventure that is exciting and yet, still safe for the whole family! This is a great family road trip audiobook! Don’t hesitate!

Smiles

it was a fun read and held my interest. the authors know their craft and how to spin a story.

Excellent story for kids and adults

Excellent story. Great take on the classic tale. My 4 and 6 year olds were a little young for the story, but we're able to follow along with a little assistance.

A JUST FOR FUN READ

This was a cute and whimsy read, done at a crisp pace.. The many characterizations were done so well, as we're the action scenes (pirates and shipwrecks), and visualization (island jungle). The story got a little too weird near the end, (science fiction kind of creatures), but I persevered because I had to now the outcome. The narration was spot on. Any age reader would like this but especially young ones.

Slow start but by the middle hard to put down

I am by no means an expert when it comes to audiobooks. I am just constantly in pursuit of a book that I can listen to while I drive long distances. In order for a book to be a good candidate it needs to be a book that keeps me alert because of how interesting the plot is, and truthfully toward the beginning of the book, I did not think this book would be any good.

As you can see from my ratings, by the middle and end of the book, it was hard to pause the book. I really enjoyed how quickly paced the last half of the book was compared the beginning. Also, it took me far too long to realize that there were three separate ships in the first half. Later this becomes obvious but because I don't listen as intently while driving, I was thoroughly confused when the next chapter would have characters that I had never heard of.


Oh, also, don't let the fantasy elements make you think this is a book only for kids, I personally found it quite enjoyable despite not being the target audience.

With all that in mind, this book is easily worth it in terms of a purchase. I used a credit for it and I don't regret it at all. It's a pity the other books aren't in audiobook format, but I guess this means I'll have to read the rest later.

A fun pre-history to Peter Pan

I always look forward to anything read by Jim Dale. I own the entire Harry Potter series on cassette tape. What's a cassette tape? Go ask your father.
Dave Berry is also a favorite author. Again, I own tapes.
This book is simply a lot of fun! Dale's great characterizations, an engaging storyline, I couldn't put it down. It is appropriate for kids and adults and would make a great bedtime activity. 👍

Peter pan with a twist

The authors do a wonderful job of rewriting the story of peter pan. They've turned a classic children's fairy tale story into a wonderul adventure and really brought it to life. I love how they incorporated the orginal bits and pieces of the story of peter with their own back story. Wonderful book, I highly recommend it!