In this action-packed finale to the Starcatchers series, Peter and Molly find themselves in the dangerous land of Rundoon, ruled by an evil king who enjoys watching his pet snake consume those who displease him. But that's just the beginning of problems facing our heroes, who once again find themselves pitted against the evil shadow-creature Lord Ombra in a struggle to save themselves, not to mention the planet. It's a wild desert adventure, with rockets, carpets, and camels all flying through the air, zooming toward an unforgettable climax... Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Gr 4 Up-Hang on to your hats, because the conclusion to this trilogy is a fast-moving roller-coaster ride. Once again, Lord Ombra surfaces as leader of the Others, but this time readers are dragged into the hot desert land of Rundoon. Orphan boys work as slaves for villainous King Zarboff, and if they don't obey, his enormous pet snake makes a snack of them. The fate of the world is left not only to Peter; all of the characters from the series play major roles in the final outcome as well. Tinker Bell plays a pivotal role, and, through her actions, readers see what this little dynamo is really made of. The end of the book reads like an action-packed movie, switching scenes back and forth as the story crosses paths between Rundoon and the island where the Mollusks have been captured by a vicious, warring tribe known as the Scorpions. One of the most intellectually engaging scenes is Lord Ombra's explanation of how the world came into existence. Two questions remain unanswered. Why was Hook taken by the Others in the first place, and what happened to Peter's parents? The story line fizzles out regarding their existence or demise. Kids who haven't read the first two books might have trouble following this one, but for fans of the series, this is a fun, intense, and totally worthwhile adventure.-Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Peter discovers his identity and saves the universe from being taken over by a villain in this sweeping conclusion to the Starcatchers trilogy, the imagined backstory for James Barrie's Peter Pan. With cinematic action, short chapters, and a breathless pace, this suspenseful adventure stands on its own, but it will be more rewarding for those who recognize the ingredients of Barrie's tale. Peter, Molly Aster and her Starcatcher father, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook, and the boys from Peter's orphanage end up together in the imaginary kingdom of Rundoon, where a mad scientist is attempting to use starstuff to return the universe to its primordial darkness. The authors heighten suspense by alternately focusing on a desert adventure and events on Peter's island, where the Mollusk tribe has been conquered by dark human forces. The magical starstuff allows carpets, camels, the ship, and even the orphan lost boys to fly, and there's some satisfying middle-school humor involving camel turds and an indiscriminately greedy snake. A clever, melodramatic, and enjoyable finale.--Isaacs, Kathleen Copyright 2007 Booklist From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.