“The tired old carriage, pulled by two tired old horses, rumbled onto the wharf, its creaky wheels bumpety-bumping on the uneven planks, awaking Peter from his restless slumber.” (Peter and the Starcatchers, Chapter One, page 1)

Like what you read? Ever wonder how your childhood hero, Peter Pan, got his flying power? What about how he achieved the elixir of life? Ever wanted to know where Tinker Bell came from? If the answers to any of these questions are yes, then let me suggest two excellent books, Peter and the Starcatchers and Peter and the Shadow of Thieves. Both of these books offer you a glance at how everything came to be, providing the story before the legend of Peter Pan.

These Disney Edition books are innovative and fun to read. Written by Ridley Pearson and Dave Barry, you can be confident in their quality. Since Pearson is an intense thriller writer and Barry is a notorious humor columnist for the Miami Herald, there is never a dull moment.

“Peter, have you ever seen a shooting star?” This question triggers the mystifying story behind the magic.

According to Barry and Pearson, some shooting stars are more than just that. Some carry a substance called “starstuff” which gives you magical abilities, or magical powers, so to speak. There are two organizations seeking this force: the “Starcatchers” and the “Others”.

The books have descriptive characters such as Lord Ombra of “Peter and the Shadow Thieves”. He is described as hooded, “strangely featureless” and “dark as the night itself.” He moves “swiftly and fluidly”. In addition to his eerie presence that makes all of those around him feel a distinct chill, Ombra steals shadows leaving most in bamboozlement. Once he comes in contact with someone’s shadow, even for a spilt second, he can control them.

Barry and Pearson leave you at the edge of your seat by switching perspectives the entire time. Chapter by chapter you are taken from one plot to another. From the “she-fish” to The Neverland [a ship], to “Mollusk Island”; from London to the pirate camp to the “lost boys”; this strategy is quite clever. At one moment of suspense the chapter ends taking you to the not so captivating pirate camp. Thus leaving you jaw-dropped and wanting to read on hoping to pick up at the exciting chapter you just left behind. The pages won’t stop turning until your craving for knowledge on how the attention-grabbing situation turned out. Very clever indeed.

“[The books inspire young kids to read] Especially with these prequels to stories we've heard since we were a year old, any kid, I think, can be drawn to these books and really find reading a treasure, not a punishment,” Kayla Lopez, senior at New World School of the Arts, said in regards to Peter and the Starcatchers.

What better plan to draw kids into the wonderful world of literature then laughs? Dave Barry has supplied these laughs with ease. They were made easier because of his experience on the Miami Herald.

“I'm not surprised[of Barry’s work in humor], since in some parts of the book where something hits you like it's very somber, Barry puts in one line of humor, and it lifts your spirits and you suddenly see the situation in a different light, which is brilliant,” Lopez said.

A story that is already fascinating enough, with detailed characterizing, creative perspective changes, and humorous thrills, why would you not read it? So go on, read it, and enhance your FCAT skills. We all know the school would appreciate it.