While searching for food, Peter encounters a mysterious trunk and its guardian, Molly Aster, a girl about his age.

Meanwhile, the feared pirate Black Stache hears of a similar trunk containing a great treasure on board another ship, the Wasp.

Black Stache manages to run down and board the Wasp, and Leonard Aster, Molly's father, attempts and fails to escape with the trunk.

Molly tells Peter that the trunk contains "starstuff," magical dust of extraordinary power that falls from the heavens.

Molly's family is revealed to be members of a secret society known as the Starcatchers, tasked with keeping Starstuff out of the wrong hands.

The story ends with Peter discovering a washed-up plank with the printed name of the Never Land, which he decides to nickname the island.

[2] A play with music adaptation of the book debuted in winter 2009 at La Jolla Playhouse as part of an arrangement with Disney Theatrical.