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Never Land #2
Cave of the Dark Wind
There is something irresistible about a cave. Shining Pearl had warned James and the other Lost Boys that the Cave of the Dark Wind is a dangerous place, occupied by a fearsome creature, but for the youthful adventurers, this shadowy cavern was pleading to be explored. At the beginning, this na�ve daring seemed justified by their discovery of a tantalizing clue about a long-sought haunted treasure. But the mood changes instantly when Captain Hook and his bloodthirsty gang of pirates join the plunder hunt. Before they can say "Shazam!" the boys are fleeing for their lives, plunging deeper and deeper into the gaping earth. A mesmerizing adventure story.
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2007
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1066 people want to read
About the author
Dave Barry
154 books2,245 followersDave Barry is a humor writer. For 25 years he was a syndicated columnist whose work appeared in more than 500 newspapers in the United States and abroad. In 1988 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. Many people are still trying to figure out how this happened.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
Dave has also written many books, virtually none of which contain useful information. Two of his books were used as the basis for the CBS TV sitcom "Dave's World," in which Harry Anderson played a much taller version of Dave.
Dave plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. They are not musically skilled, but they are extremely loud. Dave has also made many TV appearances, including one on the David Letterman show where he proved that it is possible to set fire to a pair of men's underpants with a Barbie doll.
In his spare time, Dave is a candidate for president of the United States. If elected, his highest priority will be to seek the death penalty for whoever is responsible for making Americans install low-flow toilets.
Dave lives in Miami, Florida, with his wife, Michelle, a sportswriter. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Sophie, neither of whom thinks he's funny.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 4, 2025
A fun adventure starring the Lost Boys and Hook’s pirates!
January 15, 2022
In this second adventure of the Never Land characters, Little Scallop's older sister is the heroine. On a boring afternoon, James & the Lost Boys suggest climbing the nearby mountain to the Goat Meadow. Shining Pearl tells the story of the scary Goat Taker who lives in the Cave of the Dark Wind on the mountain, but, instead of discouraging the boys from the adventure, it makes them want to explore the cave even more. Against her better judgement, Shining Pearl decides to help them so they don't get into trouble. Little do thry know, Hook's pirates have also discovered the cave & they all end up inside it trying to find the lost Mariposa Blind Luck Treasure & avoid meeting the Goat Taker. Can there be a good ending to this adventure?
September 22, 2020
Ahoy there, mateys!
Peter Pan is away from Neverland visiting some girl that comes up in one of the Dave Barry Peter Pan books, so it's centred (yes, that is correct in Canada, etc) on 4 of the lost boys and two girls from the native population. The long and the short of it is that James leads them all on a trip into a cave that is forbidden to enter. There seems to be some kind of lost treasure in there that makes adults go blind to look at (this is a book for children, after all). It's not long before Captain Hook and some of his pirates are in the cave seeking both the treasure and the children.
Peter Pan is away from Neverland visiting some girl that comes up in one of the Dave Barry Peter Pan books, so it's centred (yes, that is correct in Canada, etc) on 4 of the lost boys and two girls from the native population. The long and the short of it is that James leads them all on a trip into a cave that is forbidden to enter. There seems to be some kind of lost treasure in there that makes adults go blind to look at (this is a book for children, after all). It's not long before Captain Hook and some of his pirates are in the cave seeking both the treasure and the children.
June 18, 2019
My sons and I are really enjoying this series of Never Land books, even more so than Peter and the Starcatchers. These books seem more well-suited to their age range so I think that's why we are finding them more enjoyable. The Starcatcher books got a little intense at times, though they never wanted to stop reading. And it definitely helps to read the Starcatcher books first because otherwise you might not care about the characters in these books as much. Either way, these are nicely written, quick to read, and have plenty of action and story to keep everyone interested.
July 8, 2018
This is a perfectly fun little addition to a great children’s series. I can envision reading this to my children one day as a bedtime story. Naturally, it is quite short, but I think it does a wonderful job of providing an entertaining tale for its intended audience. As an adult, I finished it in one sitting and enjoyed it. If you are a fan of Peter and the Starcatchers, then you can probably get a chuckle and a smile from this.
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April 17, 2024Definitely for MUCH younger readers than the original series, I came across these tie-ins, and the fifth one by accident when looking for a copy of the first Starcatchers novel; I read the fifth one and this one today and found despite the simpler plot and writing, it felt more in line with the original than the fifth one did. It was cute, it made me remember being twelve, and it still features Greg Call's illustrations.
May 22, 2024
This was very very meh for me. I wasn't a fan of the writing style (which I found weird, because this wasn't an issue in the original trilogy), it felt much more juvenile (though perhaps that was intended?). I also just wasn't a fan of the story and I was disappointed because I like the characters in the other book but I felt very meh about them here. Definitely won't be picking up any others in this spin off novella series.
September 2, 2017
I sort of had to force myself to finish this one. My complete-ish nature wants me to read all of the Neverland stories but this one just made me frustrated with children who get themselves into trouble for silly reasons. The plat was not that great and very far-fetched (even for a series based on magical stardust).
February 16, 2021
This is a great book. I would say best geared towards kids younger than teens. But in order to understand a lot of it you have to have read Peter and The Starcatchers. This book doesn't introduce the characters all that well, it runs with the assumption that you have read the first book (Peter and the Starcatchers).
July 31, 2017
Fun book, fun series!
January 11, 2018
Very nice little middle-school adventure featuring the Lost Boys sans Peter Pan. Illustrations by Greg Call get five stars!!
July 6, 2019
Love these stories! Hard to listen to the narrator though since he narrated Harry Potter! I kept hearing Harry Potter characters. But great story.
December 29, 2019
Another great YA story by Dave Berry and Ridley Pearson Ably read by Jim Dale. This story brings the Lost Boys story forward and separate from Peter Pan. Great fun.
May 25, 2021
Another fun book.
October 20, 2021
Read a long time ago love it
June 27, 2024
Still not the target audience, but I liked this one better than book one.
December 31, 2019
I know I'm not the intended audience, but I can't leave a book on my shelf unread so its time finally came.
Like I said in my review of Escape from the Carnivale, I like that the universe of the Starcatchers was scaled down to this level. I personally liked this book a bit more than the first and found the plot a bit less predictable.
Like I said in my review of Escape from the Carnivale, I like that the universe of the Starcatchers was scaled down to this level. I personally liked this book a bit more than the first and found the plot a bit less predictable.
March 21, 2012
Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson have teamed up to create an impressive body of adventure stories for young and middle grade readers. Both of these authors are well known to adult readers: Pearson for his suspense and mystery thrillers and Barry for his creative nonfiction in the Florida press and countless books of his humorous observations of our lives.
While I enjoy both these authors in their adult work, I find that where I get really excited about their stories is in their books for younger readers. Pearson’s fast-paced, electric narratives are exciting and interesting while Barry’s sense of humor and psychological insights offer extraordinarily entertaining and accessible characters.
I will refer, today, just to their adventure series surrounding the story and characters in J.M. Barrie’s original story Peter Pan.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS was published in 2004. The idea of what Peter and the lost boys might have been before the events of J. M. Barrie’s well-known (and loved) Peter Pan is intriguing. I found the series to be rife with adventure, danger and just enough of a hint of magic thrown in to make the storyline weave together really well with the Peter Pan characters that were already so firmly implanted in my imagination. I recommend this series for 3rd grade and up. The books are longer, which is sometimes intimidating to young readers. Although the series is appropriate and enjoyable for both boys and girls, my experience in the classroom seems to indicate that it is primarily boys who are drawn to and excited about these stories.
THE NEVERLAND SERIES: Escape from Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind and Blood Tide are written to be accessible to a slightly younger audience than Peter and the Starcatchers. These books are shorter and have slightly less difficult vocabulary. The main characters in this series are both the lost boys (stranded on Mollusk Island in the Peter and the Starcatchers series) and the children of Fighting Prawn, the leader of the Mollusk tribe on the island. Captain Hook and his pirates are also present, stranded on the opposite side of the island from the Mollusk people. Although the lost boys’ and the pirates’ existence on the island is due to the events in the other series of books, it is not necessary to know that to fully enjoy these adventures.
I have read all the books in this particular series–and am hungry for more. I enjoyed each one more than the one before it! I also like the fact that the main characters in each story vary. Sometimes the girl characters take the lead, and sometimes the boy characters do so. The encounters between the children and the pirates are action-packed, but with a slapstick flair. I think these could be read as early as 2nd grade. I would consider using these stories as read-alouds in 3rd or 4th grade, but as yet I have not so.
If you enjoy adventure these are fantastic choices for early middle readers. In my opinion they offer the advanced adventure narrative many children begin to seek in 2nd & 3rd grade, without age-inappropriate language or violence.
While I enjoy both these authors in their adult work, I find that where I get really excited about their stories is in their books for younger readers. Pearson’s fast-paced, electric narratives are exciting and interesting while Barry’s sense of humor and psychological insights offer extraordinarily entertaining and accessible characters.
I will refer, today, just to their adventure series surrounding the story and characters in J.M. Barrie’s original story Peter Pan.
PETER AND THE STARCATCHERS was published in 2004. The idea of what Peter and the lost boys might have been before the events of J. M. Barrie’s well-known (and loved) Peter Pan is intriguing. I found the series to be rife with adventure, danger and just enough of a hint of magic thrown in to make the storyline weave together really well with the Peter Pan characters that were already so firmly implanted in my imagination. I recommend this series for 3rd grade and up. The books are longer, which is sometimes intimidating to young readers. Although the series is appropriate and enjoyable for both boys and girls, my experience in the classroom seems to indicate that it is primarily boys who are drawn to and excited about these stories.
THE NEVERLAND SERIES: Escape from Carnivale, Cave of the Dark Wind and Blood Tide are written to be accessible to a slightly younger audience than Peter and the Starcatchers. These books are shorter and have slightly less difficult vocabulary. The main characters in this series are both the lost boys (stranded on Mollusk Island in the Peter and the Starcatchers series) and the children of Fighting Prawn, the leader of the Mollusk tribe on the island. Captain Hook and his pirates are also present, stranded on the opposite side of the island from the Mollusk people. Although the lost boys’ and the pirates’ existence on the island is due to the events in the other series of books, it is not necessary to know that to fully enjoy these adventures.
I have read all the books in this particular series–and am hungry for more. I enjoyed each one more than the one before it! I also like the fact that the main characters in each story vary. Sometimes the girl characters take the lead, and sometimes the boy characters do so. The encounters between the children and the pirates are action-packed, but with a slapstick flair. I think these could be read as early as 2nd grade. I would consider using these stories as read-alouds in 3rd or 4th grade, but as yet I have not so.
If you enjoy adventure these are fantastic choices for early middle readers. In my opinion they offer the advanced adventure narrative many children begin to seek in 2nd & 3rd grade, without age-inappropriate language or violence.
February 8, 2015
There's a great deal to crow about this little book. The dedication alone is charming, indicating that it is a diversion from what began with Peter and the Starcatchers and would (will?) continue with future novels in the series. The dedication further suggests that this is a simpler story for younger audiences though there is still a lot of clever writing that will appeal to older readers.
In this side story Peter (Pan) is away from the island. This may seem at first a negative, but the authors use the opportunity to focus on secondary characters from the first novel--the Lost Boys and Captain Hook and his pirate crew.
What I most appreciate is the character development of James, youngest of the Lost Boys and the hopeful (yet undeclared) second in command. Hook is also a little more focal since he isn't having to share time with other foes and dangers as in Starcatchers. Also high in my marks of praise is the presence of a strong female character. Given the time period of the action and the audience, I would not judge the authors too harshly if they had gone a different direction, but the leadership and guardianship shown by the young girl Shining Pearl (daughter to the chief of the island's indigenous tribe) is a nice follow-up to the character Molly from the initial novel. Even Shining Pearl's younger sister Little Scallop shows a lot of moxie in her minor role.
[Editorially--I think Barry and Pearson have (intentionally or subconsciously) picked up on a theme inherent to the original Barrie story, novel, and play. Though pirates and a boy who refuses to grow up are at the original plot's fore, the story is just as driven and shaped by two engaging, commanding female figures--Wendy and Tinkerbell. I'm sure there are dissertations out there about it.]
The story is a bit more predictable than its predecessor (but note that it is aimed at a younger audience). Still, the writing is brisk and engaging. While it does not advance the Peter Pan mythology/backstory, it does provide a nice little adventure on the way to the second full novel in the series.
In this side story Peter (Pan) is away from the island. This may seem at first a negative, but the authors use the opportunity to focus on secondary characters from the first novel--the Lost Boys and Captain Hook and his pirate crew.
What I most appreciate is the character development of James, youngest of the Lost Boys and the hopeful (yet undeclared) second in command. Hook is also a little more focal since he isn't having to share time with other foes and dangers as in Starcatchers. Also high in my marks of praise is the presence of a strong female character. Given the time period of the action and the audience, I would not judge the authors too harshly if they had gone a different direction, but the leadership and guardianship shown by the young girl Shining Pearl (daughter to the chief of the island's indigenous tribe) is a nice follow-up to the character Molly from the initial novel. Even Shining Pearl's younger sister Little Scallop shows a lot of moxie in her minor role.
[Editorially--I think Barry and Pearson have (intentionally or subconsciously) picked up on a theme inherent to the original Barrie story, novel, and play. Though pirates and a boy who refuses to grow up are at the original plot's fore, the story is just as driven and shaped by two engaging, commanding female figures--Wendy and Tinkerbell. I'm sure there are dissertations out there about it.]
The story is a bit more predictable than its predecessor (but note that it is aimed at a younger audience). Still, the writing is brisk and engaging. While it does not advance the Peter Pan mythology/backstory, it does provide a nice little adventure on the way to the second full novel in the series.
April 9, 2010
What do the Lost Boys do while Peter Pan's away in England? They get in trouble with pirates, discover creepy caves, swim in mermaid infested waters, and hunt for treasure of course! The Lost Boys don't expect Peter to have all the fun! James and the other Lost Boys find this eerie cave which is called "The Cave of the Dark Wind" by the Mullisk tribe (the tribe that lives on Neverland). Legend says that there was once a magnificent treasure chest hidden deep within the cave. But when word gets out over the colossal jungle of Neverland, Captain Hook and his idiotic brigade of pirates want in too!
I could probably compare this book to the original cartoon movie of Peter Pan. I find that the idea of Neverland is very similar in both storys. Both describe Neverland as a vast jungle (which was wrongly a forest in the newer Peter Pan movie) and both the storys described the natives that lived there (though in more detail in the book). But I must say, it was very interesting to learn more about the Lost Boys in the book, and how they accumulated their eccentric personalities. Where as in the movie they were just a bunch of side characters in funny animal costumes.
I gave this book four stars because the wit and humor was subtle but definitely smile worthy. And I thought that was a very sweet touch. I loved how they showed behind the scenes in Neverland and how the Lost Boys managed on their own. I found it a breath of fresh air from the commercial view of the old Peter Pan and I certainly hope they make more books like it!
I could probably compare this book to the original cartoon movie of Peter Pan. I find that the idea of Neverland is very similar in both storys. Both describe Neverland as a vast jungle (which was wrongly a forest in the newer Peter Pan movie) and both the storys described the natives that lived there (though in more detail in the book). But I must say, it was very interesting to learn more about the Lost Boys in the book, and how they accumulated their eccentric personalities. Where as in the movie they were just a bunch of side characters in funny animal costumes.
I gave this book four stars because the wit and humor was subtle but definitely smile worthy. And I thought that was a very sweet touch. I loved how they showed behind the scenes in Neverland and how the Lost Boys managed on their own. I found it a breath of fresh air from the commercial view of the old Peter Pan and I certainly hope they make more books like it!
July 31, 2010
Written for a younger audience than “Peter and the Starcatchers”. Barry and Pearson tell tall tales of life on Mollusk Island while Peter is away.
In this first book of three, the lost boys learn of a strange and deadly cave and are told by their friend, Shining Pearl, the terrible tale of the monster “Goat Taker” that lives in the cave and eats the Mollusk tribes goats every full moon. Wanting to impress Peter when he returns, the lost boys, led by James, decide to find out what or who the “Goat Taker” is.
Spied upon by the ever present pirates, who also hear the tale and when they see the boys come running out with a skull with gold for eyes, one greedy look turns the pirates blind. When Hook learns of this he is convinced that the lost boys have stumbled upon the Blind Luck Gold that was taken from South America and cursed to blind all those who look on it with greed. Despite the danger, Hook sets about to get the gold. Can Shining Pearl, James and the other Lost Boys find out what the Goat Taker is and stop the pirates from getting the gold? Read “Cave of the Dark Wind to find out”!
Read by the award winning Jim Dale, whose amazing talent for voices gives extra life to the bumbling Smee, added evil to Hook and further spunk to the boys and their friend Shining Pearl.
In this first book of three, the lost boys learn of a strange and deadly cave and are told by their friend, Shining Pearl, the terrible tale of the monster “Goat Taker” that lives in the cave and eats the Mollusk tribes goats every full moon. Wanting to impress Peter when he returns, the lost boys, led by James, decide to find out what or who the “Goat Taker” is.
Spied upon by the ever present pirates, who also hear the tale and when they see the boys come running out with a skull with gold for eyes, one greedy look turns the pirates blind. When Hook learns of this he is convinced that the lost boys have stumbled upon the Blind Luck Gold that was taken from South America and cursed to blind all those who look on it with greed. Despite the danger, Hook sets about to get the gold. Can Shining Pearl, James and the other Lost Boys find out what the Goat Taker is and stop the pirates from getting the gold? Read “Cave of the Dark Wind to find out”!
Read by the award winning Jim Dale, whose amazing talent for voices gives extra life to the bumbling Smee, added evil to Hook and further spunk to the boys and their friend Shining Pearl.
November 12, 2012
Through their friend Little Scallop and Shining Pearl the four Lost Boys learn about a dangerous cave that can make people blind. Peter is away the Lost Boys want to play...well at least James does. He has to convince some of the others.
It was odd reading a Never Land story without Peter Pan and I thought I would immediately dislike it but I did not. I actually loved this story and the tying in of Hook, Smee and other pirates. I don’t know how many of these Never Land books were created but I am enjoying the new tales. Some of the book reminded me of the SyFy movie that premiered last year called Neverland which was wonderful. This book just captured the fun and excitement of unknown adventure.
It was odd reading a Never Land story without Peter Pan and I thought I would immediately dislike it but I did not. I actually loved this story and the tying in of Hook, Smee and other pirates. I don’t know how many of these Never Land books were created but I am enjoying the new tales. Some of the book reminded me of the SyFy movie that premiered last year called Neverland which was wonderful. This book just captured the fun and excitement of unknown adventure.
August 11, 2010
You’ve heard the saying, “when the cat’s away the mice will play”, well that is the way it is with the Lost Boys. When Peter is away they can’t seem to keep out of trouble. Bored James convinces Shining Pearl and her sister Little Scallop to take them to the Cave of the Dark Wind. There they find treasure, the secret goat taker, and pirates. All of these elements are brought together to solve the mystery of the cave while they once again escape from Captain Hook. This is a good addition to the Starcatcher series. This is geared for a younger reader but is still just as interesting to the older reader.
August 31, 2010
To me this felt like Lost Boys meets the Goonies. But I liked it. It was amazingly fleshed out for a short story. The Lost Boys (minus Peter) plus one of the Natives, Shining Pearl, travel into a cave looking for treasure and trying to avoid the "Goat-taker" Meanwhile, the dastardly Captain Hook plus cronies follow them in. Add in a curse, mysterious noises, and a maze of tunnels, and you have quite the adventure. I would recommend reading this after reading at least a few of the Peter and the Starcatchers.
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October 14, 2014On the Mollusk Island, the six children find a mysterious cave. Little Scallop and her sister Shining Pearl warn the boys that the cave isn't safe and that there are stories saying a mysterious creature ,known as the goat taker, is living inside the cave. This creature is so scary, that even the Mollusk tribes fears it. The boys can't resist going into the cave and unlocking it's secrets. When the boys first go into the cave, they return with a skull with a piece of a famous treasure. Captain Hook and his men soon find about the gold too. On the hunt for the treasure the children find themselves running for their lives in a dark and deadly mysterious cave.
June 26, 2010
This book was interesting, but I'm not sure if I approve of how easily the lost boys shoved aside the girls' advice and went into the forbidden cave. The illustrations were fun and fresh; I liked how they captured the moods and personalities of all the characters. The story was pretty unbelievable, but I think juvenile readers will find it entertaining, especially if they are fans of Disney fiction. I'd probably recommend.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
February 28, 2012
And yet another great book in this Never Land series. This is book two and has the Lost Boys, two of the Indian girls, the Pirates and an unknown figure from deep in a cave all involved in gold that can make you blind. Again Peter Pan is still off in London and not a part of this series. They explore a cave with lost treasure and deep secrets that will test both the kids and the pirates. Fresh and exciting it is one you can read over and over. Dave Barry is truly a master in writing this sort of adventure stories for kids of all ages.
February 9, 2012
Okay, I'm a little confused about how this series is progressing. I picked this up thinking it was the second in the Peter and the Starcatchers novels, but it turned out to be a novella for younger readers. And a horrible one at that. Dave Barry really went out of his way to dumb this down for the "less intelligent" audience. It was so slow and obvious that I felt like I was being forced to watch Barney reruns. I might try to find the real sequel to Peter and the Starcatchers, but it's going to take me a few months to get this bad taste out of my mouth.
March 5, 2014
I just read this book with my son this past week for an upcoming World Book Day event. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson absolutely rule in the Peter Pan realm! J.M. Barrie would be so proud of them because they do the story justice.
In this one, Peter is absent and it´s all about the lost boys, two Indian girls, a cursed treasure and none other than Hook (of course!).
For readers between the ages of 8 and 10, this is the perfect precursor for Peter and the Starcatchers. I just love everything Peter Pan related ;)
In this one, Peter is absent and it´s all about the lost boys, two Indian girls, a cursed treasure and none other than Hook (of course!).
For readers between the ages of 8 and 10, this is the perfect precursor for Peter and the Starcatchers. I just love everything Peter Pan related ;)
July 2, 2008
Cute, fast read. I wanted to read this because it was written by Dave Barry (who I generally think is super funny). I wanted to see how he wrote for kids. It was cute. It's part of a series published by Disney about Peter Pan. This book was about some adventures by the Lost Boys. It was fun to read since those characters are so in my head from the movie. I liked the idea of learning what happens to them after the movie...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews