Peter and the Sword of Mercy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Peter and the Sword of Mercy

First edition
Author	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 (hardcover edition)
ISBN	1-4231-2134-1
Preceded by	Peter and the Secret of Rundoon
Followed by	The Bridge to Neverland

Peter and the Sword of Mercy is an exciting adventure novel for young readers. It was published in 2009 by Hyperion Books, which is part of Disney. The book was written by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

This story takes characters and ideas from the classic tale Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up by J. M. Barrie. It follows the adventures of an orphan boy named Peter. The amazing pictures in the book were drawn by artist Greg Call. This book is the fourth part of the popular "Starcatchers" series. It came out on October 13, 2009. The next book in the series, called The Bridge to Neverland, was published in 2011.

What Happens in the Story?

A Mystery in London

The story begins in 1902, about 23 years after the events of the book Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. We meet Molly Aster, who is now grown up and married to George Darling. They have three children: Wendy, John, and Michael. Molly's mother has passed away, and her father, Leonard, is very sick.

One evening, an old friend named James visits Molly. James was one of the original Lost Boys and now works for Scotland Yard, a police force in London. He is worried about Baron von Schatten, an advisor to Prince Albert Edward. James believes that a powerful evil being named Lord Ombra is controlling von Schatten. Molly doesn't believe him at first, thinking Ombra was destroyed long ago. James tells her he will return the next night for help.

Trouble on Mollusk Island

Meanwhile, on Mollusk Island, four men named McPherson, O'Neal, Kelly, and DeWulf arrive by boat. They claim to have been lost at sea for weeks. However, Chief Fighting Prawn, the leader of the Mollusk tribe, is suspicious. He thinks they look like they've only been at sea for a few days. He and Peter decide to watch these men closely, especially O'Neal.

Molly's Disappearance

Back in London, Molly waits for James, but he doesn't return for three days. She starts to worry that he might be in danger. Molly goes to Scotland Yard to find him, but James's boss, Blake, says he's on vacation. Confused, Molly goes home. On her way, a police officer tries to grab her on the Underground train.

George, Molly's husband, is not happy when she tells him what happened. He worries that this trouble could make him lose his job. Molly decides to talk to her daughter, Wendy, about the Starcatchers. She knows Wendy is the only one who might understand. After telling Wendy she is a Starcatcher, Molly leaves for her father's house, hoping to find answers. But then, Molly also mysteriously disappears.

The Search for the Sword

At the same time, a scary monster called The Skeleton is looking for a missing part of a special sword called Curtana, also known as the Sword of Mercy. This monster is one of the "Others," evil beings who can cause great pain with just a touch. The Skeleton finds the missing sword tip hidden in a church window, disguised as a bishop's hat.

Wendy's Journey

To keep their children safe, George sends Wendy, John, and Michael to stay with their uncle, Neville Plonk-Fenster, in Cambridgeshire. Uncle Neville is an inventor. At his house, Wendy uses one of his inventions, a flying machine called an ornithopter, to find Peter. Before this, she visits her grandfather, Leonard Aster. He tells her to find Peter and to "confess" something, but Wendy doesn't understand what he means.

Molly, who is now a prisoner, notices men passing her cell every day. They look dirty, making her think they have been digging.

Wendy finally finds Peter on Mollusk Island. Some friendly porpoises help guide her across the ocean. She convinces Peter to come back to England with her to help stop the "Others."

A Risky Return to England

Chief Fighting Prawn creates a plan to help Captain Hook. Hook needs to raise his sunken flying ship from the previous book. The ship can no longer fly, but Hook can use it for piracy and to take Wendy to England. After the ship is pulled from the sea, Fighting Prawn warns Hook that if he doesn't take Wendy to England, he will be hunted down and fed to the island's giant crocodile, Mister Grin. Hook agrees to take Wendy and the four shipwrecked men.

Unknown to Hook, Peter secretly hides on the ship by rolling himself into the sails. He wants to go to London to help Wendy. Hook thinks Peter is dead, so he doesn't suspect Peter is on board.

When Hook tries to attack a steamship, Peter, Wendy, and Tinker Bell fly to the steamship. The Jolly Rodger (Hook's ship) crashes into it. At the same time, the four shipwrecked sailors escape their cell and leave in a lifeboat without the pirates seeing them. They paddle back to Mollusk Island to steal a large amount of starstuff. Peter and Wendy are discovered as stowaways on the steamship and are taken back to London.

When the four spies arrive back on Mollusk Island, they make a smoke signal using plants and a lava pit. This signal tells their own ship, the Nimbus, to come to the island.

Reunion and the Final Battle

Upon arriving in London, Wendy, Peter, and Tinker Bell escape the police with the help of some rats (Tinker Bell can talk to them!). From there, they go to Lord Aster's house. After avoiding police watching the house, they meet John, Michael, Uncle Neville, Mrs. Bumbrake (Molly's former tutor), and Lord Aster.

After a big battle, Lord Ombra and the "Others" are defeated. Molly returns home with Wendy, and they are reunited with George, John, and Michael. The story ends with Wendy telling her brothers about Peter Pan. As she begins her story, they hear a strange noise from the window.

Who are the Main Characters?

Peter

Peter is a boy who stays young forever, always between 12 and 14 years old. He lives on Mollusk Island. Wendy finds him there and asks for his help. Peter doesn't want to leave at first, but something inside him makes him go. He is touched by The Skeleton and feels terrible pain. After that, he tries to avoid The Skeleton. He has complicated feelings for Molly and is surprised when he learns she married George.

Tinker Bell

Tinker Bell is a small, magical fairy, sometimes called a "birdwoman." She is very protective of Peter and can get jealous, especially if other girls seem to get too close to him.

The Skeleton

The Skeleton is a scary, man-like monster. He can cause severe pain with just a touch of his claw-like hand. He works with the "Others," the evil group. He is responsible for Lord Aster's death. The Skeleton is killed on a flying train at the end of the book. His main goal is to find the missing tip of Curtana, also known as "The Sword of Mercy."

Baron von Schatten

Baron von Schatten is an evil baron who is controlled by Lord Ombra. He also works with the "Others." He is killed by an electric shock, but Lord Ombra survives and leaves his body. Ombra is severely weakened on the flying train near the end of the novel.

Wendy Darling

Wendy is an 11-year-old girl, the daughter of Molly Aster and George Darling. When her mother disappears, Wendy finds Peter. Together, they set out to defeat the "Others." She loves her mother very much and doesn't want Molly to sacrifice herself to stop the "Others." By the end of the story, Wendy enjoys telling her younger brothers about Peter Pan.

James Smith

James is one of the original Lost Boys who has now grown up. He works for Scotland Yard. He is the first person to realize that Lord Ombra has returned. He is captured by the "Others" along with Molly. James is a friend of Peter's. He is hurt by von Schatten near the end of the book but survives.

Molly Aster

Molly Aster is George Darling's wife and the mother of Wendy, John, and Michael. She is captured by the "Others" when she tries to find James. Because of her past adventures with Peter, she is happy to see him when he comes to help. She plans to sacrifice herself to stop the "Others."

John and Michael Darling

John and Michael are Wendy's younger brothers. John is 7 years old, and Michael is 4. John often calls Michael a "ninny," and they often argue.

George Darling

George is Molly's husband and the father of Wendy, John, and Michael. He is captured along with Molly and James by the "Others." He has complicated feelings about Peter because of Peter and Molly's past connection.

Neville Plonk-Fenster

Neville is the uncle of Wendy, John, and Michael. He is an inventor. Even though his inventions don't always work perfectly, he is very smart when it comes to science. He sometimes gets so focused on his inventions that he doesn't notice what's happening around him. However, he is always ready to help his friends defeat the "Others." His scientific knowledge is very useful throughout the story.

Simon Revile

Revile works for the Baron. He is afraid of the Baron and also afraid of The Skeleton. More than anything, he wants to keep himself safe.

Scarlett Johns

Johns knows The Skeleton. Like Revile, she is afraid of both the Baron and The Skeleton. She also wants to keep herself safe above all else.

Fighting Prawn

Fighting Prawn is the chief of the Mollusk tribe on Mollusk Island. He is a good friend and a bit of a teacher to Peter. While Peter is in London, Fighting Prawn deals with Captain Nerezza and his men when they try to steal the island's starstuff.

Mr Magill

Mr Magill is a Starcatcher who provides a safe place for Wendy, Peter, Neville, John, Michael, and Molly's former tutor, Mrs Bumbrake. He owns a bear and several tame wolves. He also appears in Peter and the Shadow Thieves and is mentioned in The Bridge to Neverland.

King Edward VII

King Edward VII is the uncrowned ruler of Great Britain. Lord Ombra has put Edward under a hypnotic spell. Ombra plans to use Edward's upcoming coronation ceremony to take control of the British Empire.

Captain Nerezza

Captain Nerezza is an agent of the "Others." He caused trouble for Peter in the second book and is now attacking Neverland using spies. He and his helper, Cheeky O'Neal, are eaten by Mr. Grin, the giant crocodile.

Cheeky O'Neal, Rufus Kelly, Frederick DeWulf, and Angus McPherson

These four men are castaways who arrive in Neverland. They turn out to be spies sent by Nerezza. O'Neal is in charge of the group, and the others are very scared of him.