Peter & the Starcatchers…& Mr. Grin!

I have spoken about my initial reaction to this book in previous posts, but, again…initially, I was exasperated by this book. I don’t know why. Maybe my love for the original Peter Pan made me prejudice, or maybe I just wasn’t in a Peter Pan pirate mood… Now, having finished the book…I am sooooo loving it! I’m impatiently waiting for a spare moment to read the sequels. Series are so amazing…all books should have to be in a series!

I think the real turning point for me was Mr. Grin. (I love how Mr. Grin sounds in my ears!)  What a GLORIOUS name…Mr. Grin…it just makes me happy!  That whole section on what would become “Neverland” really drew me in. What was great was that I knew the story of Peter Pan, so I knew what each character would become and where they’re going! I felt like an “insider” reading this story. I knew who characters were before they were named (obviously, it’s because I’m a psychic genius!). Another tid bit of personal feeling I would like to share is that I was sooooooo waiting (as soon as Mr. Grin was introduced) for Hook/ Black Stache’s hand to come off! I was anticipating it with excitement that borders on creepiness. And what about that ticking clock? When does that come in, because that was one of my favorite things about Peter Pan. Why am I going to read the other books, because I have to, that’s why! That was both a brilliant and low-down move on Barry and Pearson’s part. Now I’m “hooked” and I have no choice….Sneaky little devils.

If I felt knowledgeable and empowered by reading this book, I KNOW students will. Aside from the obvious pirate information (like ship vocabulary, traditional pirate jobs, ect.) this book was fascinating because of all the complex literary issues. Multiple perspectives, characters who have different names from the ones we know, and fast paced action sequences make this book more difficult to follow than many of the texts children would be exposed to (I always get lost in action sequences). The writing, however, eases that burden and exposes children to a complexity of thinking and writing that is important and invaluable.

So, in closing, Mr.Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin, Mr. Grin

Mr. Grin

Advertisement