Peter and the Sword of Mercy

Peter and the Sword of Mercy
Author(s)	Dave Barry Ridley Pearson
Illustrator	Greg Call
Country	United States
Language	English
Publisher	Hyperion Books
Publication date	October 13, 2009
Media type	Print (Hardback)
Pages	528 pp (hardcover edition)
ISBN	1-4231-2134-1
Preceded by	Peter and the Secret of Rundoon

Peter and the Sword of Mercy is a children's novel that was published by Hyperion Books, a subsidiary of Disney, in 2009. Written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, the book is an unauthorized prequel to the original Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie, and tells the story of an orphan named Peter. It was illustrated by artist Greg Call. It is a sequel to Barry and Pearson's three earlier "Starcatchers" books, best-sellers released in 2004-2007, and said at the time to be a trilogy. This book was released on October 13, 2009. The next book, called The Bridge to Neverland, was published in 2011.

Plot summary

The story is set in 1902, 23 years after the events of Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. Molly Aster, now Molly Darling, is married to George and a mother of three: Wendy, John, and Michael. Her mother Louise has been deceased for a while and her father Leonard is very ill. One evening, she is visited by one of the original Lost Boys: James, who now works for Scotland Yard. He informs Molly about his suspicions with Baron von Schatten, an advisor to Prince Albert Edward. James thinks von Schatten is being controlled by Lord Ombra, but Molly brushes it off as foolishness, saying that Ombra was destroyed at Rundoon. Along with this, the Starcatchers have been few since the incident. James tells her he will come back the next night, giving her some time to think the whole thing over, as he has nowhere else to turn.

Meanwhile, on Mollusk Island, four men known as McPherson, O'Neal, Kelly and DeWulf wash up on shore in a boat. They claim to have been lost at sea for a few weeks, but Chief Fighting Prawn becomes suspicious when he says that they look like they were out at sea for a few days. He and Peter keep a close eye on the four men, especially O'Neal.

Back in London, Molly has waited three days, and James has still not returned. She starts to fear that he might be in real danger. Anxious to find out what is going on, Molly goes to the Scotland Yard, only to be told by his employer, Blake, that he is on vacation. Puzzled, Molly returns home and is almost grabbed by a bobby on the Underground. George is not too pleased when she tells him her story. He fears that he could lose his job due to a minor incident like this. Molly decides to talk to Wendy about the Starcatchers, knowing that her daughter is the only one who could understand. So, after Molly tells her daughter that she is actually in the Starcatchers, Molly sets off to her father's house, hoping to find some answers. But she, too, mysteriously disappears.

Meanwhile, a hideous man-like monster named The Skeleton, one of the "Others" that can cause pain with but a mere touch, looks for the missing tip of the sword Curtana- a.k.a. the Sword of Mercy. He finds it in a church window, disguised as a bishop's miter.

To keep his children safe, George sends them to stay in Cambridgeshire with Neville Plonk-Fenster, an inventor and their uncle. At Uncle Neville's place, Wendy is able to get an ornithopter, one of her uncle's inventions and uses it to find Peter. Before this, she visits her grandfather, Leonard Aster, who gives her a locket of starstuff and tells her to seek out Peter. Before he loses consciousness, he tells her to "confess". Wendy is confused, though, as she has no clue as to what he meant.

In Molly's prison, she notices that men pass her prison every day. She believes they have been digging because of their dirty appearance.

Wendy finally finds Peter on Mollusk Island with the help of some porpoises. She convinces him to come back to England with her to stop the "Others."

Characters

Peter Peter is a boy who is stuck between the ages 12 and 14 forever. He lives on Neverland Island. Wendy goes out to get him for help. He is reluctant to come but he does anyway. He is at one point touched by the Skeleton and severe pain is inflicted on him. He hates the pain and tries to avoid the Skeleton through the rest of the story. He has feelings for Molly and is troubled when he learns that she married George. He has a fairy or "bird woman" named Tinkerbell.

Tinkerbell Tinkerbell is a fairy or "birdwoman". She dislikes anybody who tries to get In-between her an Peter. She dislikes Teacher the Mermaid and Molly Aster Darling. She can be jealous and is very, very protective of Peter.

The Skeleton The Skeleton is some sort of Man Monster that can inflict severe pain with just a touch of his claw like hand. He is working with the "Others". He kills Lord Aster. He is killed on the flying train at the end of the novel. He is on a mission to acquire the tip of Curtana aka "The Sword of Mercy".

Baron von Shattan Baron von Shattan is an evil baron who is possessed with Lord Ombra. He works with the "Others". He is zapped with electricity and dies. Ombra survives and comes out of him. He is severely weakened on the flying train near the end of the novel.

Wendy Darling Wendy is a girl at age 11. She is the daughter of Molly Aster. She finds Peter and together they go to defeat the "Others". She loves her mother and does not approve when she tries to sacrifice herself in order to stop the "Others".

James Smith James is one of the former lost boys now grown up. He works for Scotland Yard. He is captured by the "Others". He is a friend of Peters. He is cut on the head by von Shattan near the end of the book but he survives.

Molly Aster Molly Aster is the mother of Wendy, John, and Michael. She is captured by the "Others". She likes Peter and is glad when he comes to help. She plans to sacrifice herself to stop the "Others".

John and Michael John and Michael are the younger brothers of Wendy. John is 7 and Michael is 4. John consistently calls Michael a "ninny". They squabble be a lot.

George Darling George is Molly's husband. He is captured along with Molly by the "Others." He somewhat dislikes Peter.

Simon Reville Reville is one of the Baron's workers. He is afraid of the Baron. He wants to save his own skin more than anything. He is afraid of the Skeleton as well.

Scarlett Johns Johns is one of the Skeleton's acquaintances. She is afraid of both the Baron and the Skeleton. She wants to save her own skins more than anything like Reville.