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Bridge To Neverland (2000)

by Dave Barry(Favorite Author)

4.05 of 5 Votes: 2

languge

English

genre

Fantasy

series

Peter and the Starcatchers

review 1: Action: 7.5Characters: 5.2Plot: 6.0Pace: 7.1Overall: 6.8Struggling Reader Score 7.0All scores out of a possible 10If you read any of the first books in the Starcatcher series, you probably already know how amazing these books are. They are definitely one of the more creative re-imaginings of a classic story that I have read in a long time, second best to The Looking Glass Wars. They are grand adventures that are incredibly engaging, humorously witty, and easy to read. For the record, I think my favorite in the series is Peter and the Shadow Thieves. But I digress. As much as I love this series, I felt let down by this installment. Let me begin by saying that my three sons (ages 5-10) vehemently ... moredisagree with the overall ranking that I gave this book. They could not get enough of this story and are already clamoring to read the next one. They loved the book’s adventurous nature and easily identified with the main characters. They also enjoyed how the book returns to Neverland but still feels like a brand new story. To be totally honest; though, I think their enjoyment of the book was the only reason that I rated it as high as I did. Otherwise, my score would be nearer to a 6 than a 7.I do not want to spend too much time bashing a book in a series that I adore. And again I feel I must reiterate how much I enjoyed the first four books. Nevertheless, this book is missing so much that I feel obligated to point out a few things. To begin with, as my low score for the characters no doubt indicates, the characters are nowhere near the standard that I have come to expect from this pair of amazing writers. I confess that I was exceedingly disappointed to not have many of my old favorites involved in the story.Peter isn’t even involved until about three-fourths the way through the book. When he does finally show up, we find him to be much more like the original, self-centered prat from J.M. Barrie’s book, Peter Pan, than the mischievous, fun-loving and loyal character that I have come to love from the Starcatcher series. This alone is a major step back in my opinion. Whether it is an intentional ploy to show how Peter the Starcatcher becomes Peter Pan or just a new take on the character, I’m not sure. Either way, I found it annoying. Then suddenly, in a scene seemingly only there for this purpose, Sarah saves Peter’s life by risking her own and within seconds he is a completely changed boy. This feels ridiculous and forced. One experience cannot change a person’s character so completely. But even assuming that it can, Peter’s character is reduced to little more than a side story to help whenever the protagonists need to him and his powers to get out of a jam.I miss Tubby Ted.I also struggled mightily to identify with Sarah and Aiden. There is no way that these two kids, 17 and 15 respectively, acted their ages. Between their banal dialog and predictable actions, they strike me as more likely to be 13 and 10. Moreover, their constant bickering followed by an almost immediate reconciliation makes them feel more like annoying props for a storyline than organic characters that I can buy into. For me, one of the most serious speed bumps on the road toward liking them is what they put their parents through. I know this is mainly the parent in me speaking, but their complete disregard for their parents feels unjustified and mean.The final thing that I will complain about is the lack of a real villain. Unlike the way Rowling brings Voldemort to life despite the fact he is little more than an evil parasite living in Professor Quirrell’s turban for most of the book, Barry and Pearson never make Umbra feel like an actual threat. A bunch of birds? Really? Instead they expect the reader to remember all the bad things he has done in other books. I guess the best way that I can explain this is by putting it like this. When I asked my kids who they thought was the villain in the story, they all said it was “Captain Hook,” a character, like Peter, that doesn’t even show up until the end of the book.Overall, Peter and the Bridge to Neverland is an okay story and is worth a read, assuming you have already read the first four books in the series. However, I think most of the fans of the Peter and the Starcatcher series will hope, like me, that Barry and Pearson decide not to continue down the path that Sarah and Aiden began and instead return to the characters that we fell in love with in the original Peter and the Starcatchers. I miss Tubby Ted.
review 2: A lot of people don't seem to like the modern day setting but this was not a problem for me.Discovering the past and that Peter was real played out in a convincing manner for me.The story was a modern update with believable younger people.My only real gripe is that the ending seemed somewhat rushed and no proper explaination was give for the modern device to connect Neverland to Earth. Suddenly not needing starstuff was not properly explained.Sure I prefer the older time period and would like more books in that era, but the modern story was a thoroughly enjoyable read.I do hope this is not the final book in the series. less

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Reviews (see all)

stylewithmir

I'm not a series reader as a general rule (of laziness) but I've loved this series. This book wasn't quite as magical for me as the others, but it did hold my attention. My one beef with this series would be to not leave the story hanging at book 5 with no immediate plans to write another (from what I could tell). One of the author's website says while he loves the series he is busy right now with another project. That's super, but then end the series, buddy.

Yosse

I haven't read the entire Starcatchers series yet, started w/ this one (I know, terrible, right?), but this book kind of revolves around the other four, which, in my eyes, is not the best thing for a plot line. The book basically praises itself. Also, USE A VERB OTHER THAN SAID! Seriously. I will not be able to emotionally connect with the characters if words like "exclaimed" or "sighed" are not used. Other than that, good book.

Crystal

I really liked this book and I think my children will as well. The whole series is good!

sid

It was an amazing adventure, it would be awesome if it became a movie.

Higgott

Action packed and it keeps you always on your toes!

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