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kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Fifth in the Peter and the Starcatchers fantasy adventure series for kids. This installment takes us beyond what we expect of Peter Pan in a contemporary America.
My Take
Okay, it is a fun adventure but there was something missing in it for me. I suspect part of my disappointment was in the story's contemporary setting when I was expecting something with more "history".
There is a most unexpected use for Facebook and Craigslist, but it does result in an email from a J.D. Aster.
It's still a clever manipulation of the Peter Pan fantasy that weaves in our own Disney World with the even more clever inclusion of Albert Einstein. With luck, it'll inspire kids to explore or at least be more open to Einstein and quantum mechanics.
The Story
In 1905, the Starcatchers approached Albert Einstein for help in protecting Never Land. A protection that was modified in 1971 by Pete Carmoody.
Today...
While chasing Aidan down to get her iPhone back, Sarah and Aidan inadvertently discover a secret hideaway in their dad's new-to-him antique desk. A letter from Aster to Mister Magill. It's Sarah's encyclopedic knowledge that enables her to recognize the name Magill. And it is the impetus that sends Sarah and Aidan on their quest to solve the clue in the letter.
Lucky for them, their parents have planned a family trip to England making their quest possible. Unlucky for them, as finding the starstuff triggers a chase by the enemy.
Sarah and Aidan must persuade Dr. Aster before the police arrest them all to follow the trail to Florida. With still more clues to decipher and adventures to follow. To convince Peter. To rescue Aidan from Ombra's clutches.
The Characters
Aidan Cooper enjoys the usual relationship most siblings have with older sisters. Sarah, the older sister, practically has the Peter and the Starcatcher series memorized. Tom and Natalie Cooper are their history-minded parents.
Lord Ombra is still weak from the battle in Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. Lester Armstrong is a private investigator (and not the most ethical of men) with a talent for computer research, and he is soon hot on the trail of the runaways. Hector Gomez and Wanda Blight are the FBI agents in charge of retrieving the "kidnapped" children.
J. D. Aster is a physics professor at Princeton University and a non-believing descendant of the original Lord Aster. Allen "Mac" Macpherson, a friend of Aster's, turns out to have been involved much later with the bridge projecte. He does remember that Pete Carmoody was involved in a project to make a smaller, more portable bridge. Fay is Pete's widow.
The inhabitants of Never Land from Captain Hook, Smee, and his crew; Teacher; the chief of the Mollusk Indians, Fighting Prawn and his son Bold Abalone with the rest of the village; a very suspicious Peter Pan and Tinker Bell; the Lost Boys: Tootles, Nibs, Curly, Slightly, and the twins; and, Mister Grin.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a murder of ravens chasing, surrounding Sarah and Aidan as they flee across a bridge at Disney World.
The title is too true as quantum physics has allowed a safe dimension for the island as well as The Bridge to Never Land.
My Take
Okay, it is a fun adventure but there was something missing in it for me. I suspect part of my disappointment was in the story's contemporary setting when I was expecting something with more "history".
There is a most unexpected use for Facebook and Craigslist, but it does result in an email from a J.D. Aster.
It's still a clever manipulation of the Peter Pan fantasy that weaves in our own Disney World with the even more clever inclusion of Albert Einstein. With luck, it'll inspire kids to explore or at least be more open to Einstein and quantum mechanics.
The Story
In 1905, the Starcatchers approached Albert Einstein for help in protecting Never Land. A protection that was modified in 1971 by Pete Carmoody.
Today...
While chasing Aidan down to get her iPhone back, Sarah and Aidan inadvertently discover a secret hideaway in their dad's new-to-him antique desk. A letter from Aster to Mister Magill. It's Sarah's encyclopedic knowledge that enables her to recognize the name Magill. And it is the impetus that sends Sarah and Aidan on their quest to solve the clue in the letter.
Lucky for them, their parents have planned a family trip to England making their quest possible. Unlucky for them, as finding the starstuff triggers a chase by the enemy.
Sarah and Aidan must persuade Dr. Aster before the police arrest them all to follow the trail to Florida. With still more clues to decipher and adventures to follow. To convince Peter. To rescue Aidan from Ombra's clutches.
The Characters
Aidan Cooper enjoys the usual relationship most siblings have with older sisters. Sarah, the older sister, practically has the Peter and the Starcatcher series memorized. Tom and Natalie Cooper are their history-minded parents.
Lord Ombra is still weak from the battle in Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. Lester Armstrong is a private investigator (and not the most ethical of men) with a talent for computer research, and he is soon hot on the trail of the runaways. Hector Gomez and Wanda Blight are the FBI agents in charge of retrieving the "kidnapped" children.
J. D. Aster is a physics professor at Princeton University and a non-believing descendant of the original Lord Aster. Allen "Mac" Macpherson, a friend of Aster's, turns out to have been involved much later with the bridge projecte. He does remember that Pete Carmoody was involved in a project to make a smaller, more portable bridge. Fay is Pete's widow.
The inhabitants of Never Land from Captain Hook, Smee, and his crew; Teacher; the chief of the Mollusk Indians, Fighting Prawn and his son Bold Abalone with the rest of the village; a very suspicious Peter Pan and Tinker Bell; the Lost Boys: Tootles, Nibs, Curly, Slightly, and the twins; and, Mister Grin.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a murder of ravens chasing, surrounding Sarah and Aidan as they flee across a bridge at Disney World.
The title is too true as quantum physics has allowed a safe dimension for the island as well as The Bridge to Never Land.
latida94's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
samcurler13's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
pablito's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
gimpyknee's review against another edition
4.0
Peter Pan, Twink, Capt Hook, Never Land, the Lost Boys, et al., eventually make a long awaited and very satisfying appearance to bring the read to an end thus raising it from three to four stars. It's been ten long years with no sequel. I hope there will be since some closure must take place.
cleah's review against another edition
4.0
Sarah and Aiden Cooper are playing around the house when Aiden accidentally opens a hidden compartment in an antique desk. Inside is an old, mysterious message, and the two quickly decide to follow it and see where it leads. They track leads from Pennsylvania, all the way to London (due to a convenient family trip), then back again through multiple states. But with every mystery they solve, a dark force is gaining strength and chasing their trail behind them.
I read the previous four Starcatchers books, and they were just okay. The series had an awesome premise that I was totally drawn to, especially since it related to Peter Pan. But I felt a lot of the books were drawn out too long. There was plenty of action, sure, just not enough interesting story to keep me glued to my seat. With The Bridge to Never Land, I was hooked from the first chapter. The series became self referential and mentioned the previous books by name! How cool is that?? I enjoyed this story much more, perhaps because it took place in modern times, with easily recognized technology and places (Disney World!). Ombra was also better in this book than in previous ones, with his control over Raven's being honestly spooky! I am not sure I agreed with the authors that Sarah was seventeen - she acted much younger. And then the reader is asked to pretty strongly suspend their disbelief towards the end. But these little missteps are largely over shadowed by the fun and action of the rest of the story. Definitely the best book in the Starcatchers series - and would be a great tie-in to the Kingdom Keepers!
I read the previous four Starcatchers books, and they were just okay. The series had an awesome premise that I was totally drawn to, especially since it related to Peter Pan. But I felt a lot of the books were drawn out too long. There was plenty of action, sure, just not enough interesting story to keep me glued to my seat. With The Bridge to Never Land, I was hooked from the first chapter. The series became self referential and mentioned the previous books by name! How cool is that?? I enjoyed this story much more, perhaps because it took place in modern times, with easily recognized technology and places (Disney World!). Ombra was also better in this book than in previous ones, with his control over Raven's being honestly spooky! I am not sure I agreed with the authors that Sarah was seventeen - she acted much younger. And then the reader is asked to pretty strongly suspend their disbelief towards the end. But these little missteps are largely over shadowed by the fun and action of the rest of the story. Definitely the best book in the Starcatchers series - and would be a great tie-in to the Kingdom Keepers!
acidmeringue's review against another edition
3.0
Throughout the entire book, I had the strange feeling I'd read this before. I concluded that I picked it up once not knowing it was related to a series. I wanted to give it a higher star because duh, it's peter pan, but eventually I realized I was honestly bored the entire time that we were in the "real world" and was only interested toward the end, in Neverland. The main characters were boring and every major plot point felt like it had been done before, in a previous book, in a similar way. (in some instances, like when hook captured peter, it happened the exact same way once before.) Not great presentation, if you ask me. A cheap ending to a great series.
chelse34's review against another edition
3.0
This book started out really good and really intense, but then it sagged by the end, which I why I gave it only a 3. But I liked how they took the characters from the star catcher books and created a story to involve them in modern day time.
fractaltexan's review
5.0
A great ending to Peter and the Starcatchers. A worthy mention of Science used to access Neverland. By far one of my favorites!
emmykippy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5