SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When a strange ship with an even stranger passenger arrives at Neverland the occupants demand to know the whereabouts of the star stuff. Wanting to save his daughter, Fighting Prawn reveals that Leonard Aster took it with him to England. Witnessing this stranger's abilities, Peter knows that Molly and her father are danger. So he heads to London, hoping to warn them.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Peter has grown accustomed to living on the Island. But because of his abilities, he often leaves his friends out of his fun. Because of his selfishness, he gets in trouble and must ask the Mollusk tribe to help.
Molly Aster is still a likable heroine for the most part. She is not only brave but smart on more than one occasion. I loved when she figured out about her shadow before she was told. I say for the most part because there were few times where she snaps at George which made her appear slightly obnoxious.
Captain Hook remains on Neverland so isn't apart of Peter's plot. He is however apart of a side plot where he threatens the lost boys.
Leonard Aster leaves Molly and his wife but is in the later portion of the book. He could have come off as incompetent, being that the guards he left behind failed their job. But no one could have foreseen a creature like Ombra.
George Darling is family friend of Molly's. He ends up giving them refuge and eventually becoming an ally. He is actually rather important and crucial to the plot. Peter dislikes him.
Slank (who was revealed to be an important player in the last book) continues to hunt for the star stuff. But he now works for Ombra. He craves revenge against Peter.
Ombra is a strange being that can stretch and bend his form like a a shadow. He is slowly revealed, but not without some suspense.
Nerezza is the captain of the Le Fantome, the ship that Ombra takes to get to Neverland and England. He is rather creepy but plays a backseat to Ombra.
Tinker bell is important to the story, as she saves Peter on two occasions in the story. She also helps find the secret entrance to the Keep (star catchers headquarters).
PACING
We actually start with a story that seems unrelated to the main plot, James getting caught by Hook and Peter having to rescue him (with help from the mollusk tribe). In between these events we learn about Nerezza and Slank. And eventually Ombra. But the pacing does pick up from there and remains steady thanks to various stories being told at the same time.
PETER'S LONDON ADVENTURES-SPOILERS
When Peter arrives in London he gets into an abundance of trouble. First, when he gets tricked by a boy to get food, only to get trapped into slavery. From there he manages an escape only to get himself thrown in jail. The pacing was good here, as it shifts back and forth once again, from him to Molly and even to Tinker Bell.
Although I do have one caveat, I felt like Peter met so many children that were being victimized. After he escaped, I wanted him to go back and help them, somehow. Just before returning to Neverland. I was disappointed when this wasn't fit in. Especially since most other aspects of the story went together like a well put together puzzle.
MOLLY & PETER
Molly and Peter spend about half the book without each other. Although we finally get to hear from Molly by page 91. From then one we get small snippets of her story while she grows suspicious of strangers while the main plot is still about Peter.
Although to be fair we get more then just suspicions. Molly and her mother, Louise learn that the last batch of star stuff was taken by the Others (that's their enemies) before they could get to it. As though they knew in advance, which is impossible.
When the two finally collide we get a dramatic confrontation with Ombra well worthy of the wait.
A COMPLICATION
When Peter arrives to save Molly, someone is kidnapped and the story takes a turn. It reminds me of how the last book went from saving the star stuff to saving the boys. A change in direction really helps the story as well as tests the relationships between characters. In this instance, between Molly and her father, in the last, between Molly and Peter.
TINKER BELL'S ADVENTURE
Tinker bell gets kidnapped and we see her perspective as she is brought to be sold to a collector. It was an interesting little story but I felt it didn't have any real relevance to the rest of the plot. We just needed to see how Tink escaped. The two side characters were interesting, but they were just never heard from again.
ANOTHER STORY
There is a side story back on the island which involves the boys being taken prisoner by Captain Hook. I didn't believe that Hook really planned to hurt them, so I kind of found this portion tedious. But to be fear, it's a small part of the book.
USE OF HUMOR
There were some instances of humor that worked quite well as they were refreshing in an otherwise quite serious story. I loved when Peter went to the post office with his scheme on how to find where the Aster's live. Not only was it hilarious but it was original as well.
There is a rivalry between Peter and George that caused me to smile on many occasions. They often took jabs at each other that were quite clever. And George's reaction to learning the truth about Peter was amusing as well.
JAMES BARRIE'S CAMEO
Jame Barrie himself makes a little appearance, with his St. Bernard, Porthos. He is actually quite important, as he saves Peter from being taken by the same young man who tricked him before. Although it does feel a little random. James learn's Peter's name, implying that's where he got the story idea (which is kind of hard to believe, as he knew nothing about Peter).
TOWER OF LONDON-VAGUE SPOILERS
Molly and Peter go to the tower of London, because Molly remembers her father often went their for business. From here on out, it's a mystery to find out just where her father is. There they meet another star catcher and end up being chased by Ombra. We witness a death of a character that will play an important role later as well as find a clue that George helps with later.
MOLLY AND HER FATHER
There is the real first bit of conflict between Molly and her Leonard, as Molly wants to save someone close to her, while her father believes that the star stuff must come first. This leads to a full blown fight where she is forbidden from leaving.
CLOSE CALL?
Ombra imitates a voice trying to trick Molly. The authors could have easily fallen into the trap of making their character suddenly an idiot so as to move the plot along and put her in danger. But luckily, we merely feel her sadness and Peter gently reminds her it's a trap.
CLIMAX-VAGUE SPOILERSS
Molly, George and Peter try to prevent Leonard from falling into a trap. They end up having to face a pack of wolves, as well as Ombra himself. Molly's mother is revealed and Leonard has to decide what is most important to him.
WINNING ON A WHIM?
Peter has to face Ombra and because he was shot, his wound allows him to focus on something else and not be overwhelmed by his enemy. I thought this was a little vague and kind of convenient. I didn't quite care for it, but it didn't ruin the story for me.
CONCLUSION
A sequel worthy of its predecessor, the story takes slightly slower to get started, but helps with plenty of suspense revolving around Ombra who is obviously our main villain.
From then on its fast paced, zipping back and forth between characters and planting hints at trouble to come.
Molly and Peter resume their friendship, but not without Peter wondering about his place in her world. And both get an ally in George, but not without a begrudging respect between the boys.
I give “Peter and the Shadow Thieves” four stars.
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