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By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, narrated by Jim Dale

It took me almost three full disks before I realized what this book was. It is such an inventive and roundabout way of telling this same old story that I didn’t pick up on it even though the main character’s name Peter traveling on a ship named the “Neverlander” It wasn’t until they introduced the bad guy’s sidekick that it dawned on me – “Smee? Isn’t that the First Mate from Peter Pan?” OH DAMN! I Get it NOW! So, with that out of the way I was looking for more and more points that fit with the only Peter Pan story I know from childhood. I speak, of course, of the Disney animated motion picture. You know the one with the goofy pirates and the terribly racist savages on the island. Well, guess what? This isn’t just a retelling of any old Peter Pan, Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson took that very same Disney version and wove it into something more sinister and wonderful and with an explanation for everything from how the Savages came to the island to the origin of Tinkerbell. Then they had Jim Dale (of Harry Potter fame) narrate it.

Since Barry is a coauthor on this book and it’s interesting to note where his humor pops up throughout. I think my favorite line is during a fight on the beach where one of the bad guys is getting licking. And the thinks to himself:

“Children are beating me senseless with coconuts.”

Dale delivers this line so well that I almost missed a green light for laughing so hard. If you like Harry Potter than I whole-heartedly suggest you listen to, or read this book. Jim Dale does such an excellent job with Smee that I would choose the audio version over print, but either way, I think you’ll like the story.