Peter and the Star Catchers, by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson is a treat, especially for those who fell in love with the story of Peter Pan years ago. It’s the first of their prequal novels, and the Pearson/Barry combination expertly weave all of the magic and playfulness into a story that explains the magic and playfulness of Peter Pan, itself. I’ll post a few of my favorite quotes from the book here, and in future posts.
“The carriage interior, hot and stuffy, smelled of five smallish boys and one largish man, none of whom was keen on bathing.”
The book itself deals with unkempt boys, London, (before plumbing and air conditioning), and long days at sea. Smells play an important part. Frequently, the aromas become obstacles all by themselves:
“He fell back, momentarily staggered by the odor, then scrunched up his face and forced himself forward into the cabin, like a man walking against a gale.”
At times, those smells hinted at something pleasant, the memory of a mother for example, foreshadowing the reader’s introduction to a beautiful girl.
“But there was more: there was a . . . smell. It was flowers. New grass in a meadow right after a spring rain. A fresh orange being peeled. It was cinnamon and honey, and bread just baked and pulled from the oven. And another smell even more wonderful than all the others, though Alf couldn’t place it.”
And, that cleanliness helped create divisions in class and between characters.
“She was perhaps an inch taller than Peter, and by the look of her she took baths. At St. Norbert’s, Peter took one back a month, unless he could get out of it.”
If you recall Peter Pan fondly, you’ll love Peter and the Star Catchers . . . and the over books in the series. You can find more about the novels and authors on Goodreads.
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