Peter and the Secret of Rundoon

School Library Journal Review: Gr 4 Up?Hang on to your hats, because the conclusion to this trilogy is a fast-moving roller-coaster ride. Once again, Lord Ombra surfaces as leader of the Others, but this time readers are dragged into the hot desert land of Rundoon. Orphan boys work as slaves for villainous King Zarboff, and if they don't obey, his enormous pet snake makes a snack of them. The fate of the world is left not only to Peter; all of the characters from the series play major roles in the final outcome as well. Tinker Bell plays a pivotal role, and, through her actions, readers see what this little dynamo is really made of. The end of the book reads like an action-packed movie, switching scenes back and forth as the story crosses paths between Rundoon and the island where the Mollusks have been captured by a vicious, warring tribe known as the Scorpions. One of the most intellectually engaging scenes is Lord Ombra's explanation of how the world came into existence. Two questions remain unanswered. Why was Hook taken by the Others in the first place, and what happened to Peter's parents? The story line fizzles out regarding their existence or demise. Kids who haven't read the first two books might have trouble following this one, but for fans of the series, this is a fun, intense, and totally worthwhile adventure.?Robyn Gioia, Bolles School, Ponte Vedra, FL Copyright ? Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.