I believe as a kid I remember I attempted to read this book and may have actually gotten through it, but wasn’t very successful finishing it and reading it steadily as I usually would because the boxed set belonged to my little sister and she wouldn’t let me read them (even though she never touched them and in the end the original book of Episode 1’s junior novelization got damaged and the cover almost got ripped off from being stepped on on her room floor), I now have that copy and the old set in my collection but I also have a new set for me which I’m reading. I remember being very enthralled with the first sentences of this book, and never being able to get through the rest. Now that I have finally been able to read this book all the way through on my own time as an adult, I  really, REALLY enjoyed this book! It’s a most likely reread in my opinion, which is rare for me. But I think it’s a likely reread for me because it is so relaxing of a read, it’s an extremely casual and comforting book to read, summarizing as a novelization (one of the most clear novelizations that followed the movie the best exactly with the events shown in the movie from A to B) of a story that I know and love by heart from watching the movie so often and so much. I love how easy the book is to read and how soothing it was for me to get through and accomplish reading and finishing the book so quickly and fast, I love how many pages I could get through in one sitting while never getting bored, I love how simplified some of the events were compared to the other novelizations of Episode 1 due to this being the junior novelization, I didn’t really want to put it down and I actually took this book to bed with me and stayed up and awake to read it past my bedtime, which makes this the first book I’ve done this with of 2024. This definitely seems like a book that I can pick up again just to soothe and relax me as a casual Star Wars related read when I want a familiar story and I don’t want to read a new Star Wars story or book. I loved flying through the pages of this book, finding similarities and differences to other novelizations I’ve read of Episode 1, new likes and dislikes of how scenes were described in my mind, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the junior novelizations series just based off of this book being the start. I desperately hope that the later junior novelizations are just as good if not better than Episode 1’s junior novelization, and that it isn’t just a freak thing that the Episode 1 Junior Novelization is better than all the rest of the Star Wars Junior Novelizations. Now for my review details:  I wish the photo inserts of the book were at the back of the book because some of the photos are of events that take place AFTER where the inserts are currently placed that you haven’t read yet in the book. I didn’t like how Ric Olié was portrayed as not believing they could make it past the Blockade, not once in the movie was he portrayed in that way or has spoken a line like that even in the official novelization or other Episode 1 related written works. The explanation about what Podracing means to Anakin (and making his own decisions and fate vs his owners) makes a lot of sense and is a great explanation for why he races. The great detail in the book explains some events that aren’t explained explicitly in the movie, such as why Obi-Wan didn’t fight off those STAPS and Battle Droids in the Naboo Swamp in the intro (because his lightsaber was shorted out due to getting wet). I thought the Neimoidians skin color description was somewhat inaccurate in coloring. I like the entire opening scene and introduction with Jar Jar Binks in the Naboo swamp, I believe it was all very well written as well as Jar Jar’s character. I also liked learning the names of other Naboo native swamp creatures and animals. I still get highly annoyed on average about Padmé’s actions and reactions towards Qui-Gon and his actions as a handmaiden and her major disapproval of his actions, I believe she truly doesn’t have any right to feel that way as such a young Queen especially parading around as a handmaiden as it is, plus he is her protector and he’s there to serve and protect her and save her life and she isn’t even willing to trust him and his actions, like does she have a better idea? I don’t like also in this version of the book that Qui-Gon doesn’t seem aware that she is truly Queen Amidala and only seems to know she is an outspoken handmaiden who has too much influence over the Queen. I know based off of Qui-Gon’s character as shown in the movies and any other works involving him that he would be able to figure out that she was actually the Queen based off of those two above observations. In this way the book seems to make Qui-Gon not seem as intelligent as he truly is portrayed in other Star Wars works. Once again, the premonitions of Anakin suddenly saying strange and odd things to Padmé when they first met at the very moment in the shop, such as telling her he is going to marry her someday, is slightly odd and comes off as strange to me and probably would to anybody. I don’t think they needed to make the foreshadowing so obvious in this book even if it’s for younger readers, it didn’t need to be laid out so clearly. Also, telling her she must be an angel and just not know it sounds extremely and extraordinarily silly, like she doesn’t know she is a human herself and has been her whole life. But I guess if you want to make it into a positive you can say that the line about marrying Padmé shows Anakin’s foresight into the future using the Force. I also however found it slightly creepy, especially to a 14 year old girl like Padmé,  when Anakin pointed out “I won’t always be a 9 year old boy.” The line where Padmé thinks she, as a Queen of Naboo, is too good to ever someday marry a Slave Boy is extremely far off from Padmé’s entire character description in legitimately every single work she is in (the Prequel movies, all written works involving her) for me. Her personality is nothing like this and she would never say anything like that, even in her thoughts. When Anakin says he’s been a pilot his whole life, Padmé imagines a baby in the cockpit of a Starfighter. I don’t necessarily like this scene directly, but I’ve noticed it also takes place (or something extremely similar) in another Star Wars Episode 1 work, so the continuity is there. I don’t really like or enjoy the entire “fear attracts the fearful” concept as expressed during the near-fight between Sebulba and Jar Jar. I also don’t very much enjoy the descriptions of Anakin’s fear and pushing down/shoving down his fear to hide it. It just proves Anakin is too old to begin Jedi training as Yoda thought, because Anakin specifically says a line is that he has a fear that has been around as long as he can remember due to being a slave, and he’s hidden it so well by now that nobody senses it. I believe the whole fear scenes and explanations/concepts were unnecessary to the story/book. I never really liked the explanation and lie that Jar Jar was connected to the Hutts as an outlander to save him from Sebulba in case that ever fell through, but that’s just me personally in my opinion, I know this explanation is a constant throughout most Episode 1 related Works and even the movie. I majorly disliked how Shmi treated Anakin and the party/“his friends” when they walked in her door. I understand the surprise but the rudeness and standoffishness, sharp tone and hurtful expressions were completely unnecessary and didn’t/don’t match Shmi’s character literally AT ALL, as shown in the movie and any other Episode 1 Books I’ve read so far. This is the first I’ve read where Shmi is slightly rude. It’s explained later that the reason is because she didn’t have enough food to make everybody, and she is nicer after Qui-Gon gives her food capsules. I like that that is included as a fact and a scene because it explains a TON and is a very realistic scene and scenario/worry and fear for Slaves, but I don’t like how that is explained away to cause her to be rude unnecessarily. I don’t think that is a good enough reason to be rude and insult/embarrass in a way the fact that her son was only kind to people. She’s also kind of rude when Anakin’s going to bed. It just doesn’t seem in her character to me. Anakin notices again Qui-Gon taking his blood sample for his midichlorian count, and that is mentioned in other Episode 1 works that he notices it is for something other than “testing his blood for infections”. I like that consistency between Episode 1 written works. I like how it is expressed and explained that Anakin uses both other Podracer’s mistakes he can witness as he sees their pod remains and crash site and remembers his past mistakes on the same route and directly where they occurred and use them to make himself do better this time!! I found that super interesting and amazing and I loved that detail. I really like how this book includes what I have also read was originally in George Lucas’s Episode 1 Script, a fight between Anakin and a Rodian (in the Episode 1: Anakin Skywalker Journal book it is Wald, however according to my sources in the script it potentially was a young Greedo) after the Podrace due to the Rodian accusing Anakin of cheating at the Podrace due to being human. It was taken out of the movie’s Final Cut because Lucas didn’t want to show Anakin showing such early signs of anger so soon in his life. The Episode 1 Journal book also explains part of the reason Anakin fought so hard wasn’t due to anger at Wald, but rather anger inside of himself at Padme leaving his planet and therefore leaving him. I enjoyed this scene being included as an extra fact and understanding as well as an information/explanation in the Star Wars universe to learn more that officially could’ve been. Also to note is Qui-Gon explaining to Anakin that he cannot change the Rodian’s opinion of him cheating, so there was no point to fighting. It is amazing that this fight was also in the Episode 1: Anakin Skywalker Journal for the consistency of the Star Wars Universe. I think Qui-Gon should’ve taken Anakin with him to sell the Podracer, or at least asked him first before selling it, but in this book he did not bring him with him. The Podrace is easily understandably written and the events take place in a solid list from Point A to Point B that are super easy for readers to follow, which is especially good for the Younger Readers that this book is designed for. A scene like the Podrace would usually be difficult for writers to write and translate into something easily understandable for the reader, but this writer did great. I like how it is included here (unlike in the movie) and other Legends Episode 1 Source Material I’ve read, that Qui-Gon tells Anakin and Shmi that there is a chance that Anakin may NOT become a Jedi due to the Council’s tests. In the movie and I believe even the novelization it is a certainty and given according to the way Qui-Gon/Liam Neeson words it, that Anakin will certainly become a Jedi. I like how the scene when Qui-Gon announces that Anakin has been freed and is no longer a slave is told and witnessed from Shmi’s Point of View and expressing her feelings and emotions about it directly right away. I have heard the term “Mighty Blasters” used before in other Star Wars written Legends material and I believe it is made up (not Canon like “Karabest”) but is meant to be an exclamation of surprise and shock/even potentially a swear word. I personally don’t really like the term “Mighty Blasters” but it’s interesting to see again in another Star Wars Written Novel as I already have seen it in a previous one. I don’t like how in the scene after Anakin has been freed Qui-Gon is stated and takes some of Shmi’s direct well-known lines from the movie. There was emphasis on those lines being spoken by Shmi in the movie for a reason. I like the line where Shmi acknowledges “he was in my life for such a short time” because it truly emphasizes the sadness of the fact that at the end of the day, a mother and her son, Shmi and Anakin were separated so early on in his life. She never got to see him grow up like normal, or all of the major events of his life. The last thing she gets is to see a glimpse of him as a grown man right before she dies. They never get to speak, talk, or update each other on what they missed in their lives or anything.  It makes it feel more heartbreaking, especially for mothers. The entire scenario is just very sad overall and not ideal for either side except Anakin’s overall future. I like how Padmé cited that Tatooine and the Podrace had taught her something about taking risks and suddenly gave her the courage and boldness to propose her plan for teaming up with and allying with the Gungan Army on Naboo. It was a lovely addition of the inclusion of Anakin’s friend Kitster in the ending of the Tatooine leaving scenes, their goodbye and hearing what a good friend Anakin was to most of these kids, but especially Kitster. I, and I know probably many of us, wondered what happened to Anakin’s friends later on, and if he ever said Goodbye to them/how the situation was resolved with them. How abruptly Anakin left left it unclear with moviegoers whether or not his friends ever found out what happened to him, and if they did, left us feeling sad that they never got a face to face goodbye like they deserved. It is sad to us that through this book we learn that the rest of Anakin’s friends never got a goodbye, but I’m glad Kitster is given a proper resolution as a character. I like that these scenes work well and are consistent with other Star Wars Episode 1 Written Works, whether Legends or Canon. I think the extra additional scene of the encounter with Qui-Gon slicing the Probe Droid on Tatooine. Overall the book seemed highly repetitive in a lot of scenes but that is only because I have just read and finished the Episode 1 Journal: Anakin Skywalker and most if not all of the events are the exact same or very similar to that novel. At the same time that’s a very good thing because it shows consistency in the Star Wars universe and within the Star Wars novels and written works (whether Legends or Canon). But definitely don’t read this book if you just read that one (or Vice versa). It’s a little annoying and confusing to read the same things over again to me, but again, that’s my fault. I like how there was a short expression of Obi-Wan being worried and anxious for Qui-Gon during and after the first duel with Maul. I disliked how little emphasis (less than one sentence) was put on Anakin feeling lonely without Qui-Gon on the Naboo Royal Starship, I feel like it sort of diminished the importance of their relationship and how much he relied on him and cared about him. Coruscant, and it’s buildings, being described as similar to a pincushion with needles sticking out of it is a decent analogy to me, it just doesn’t seem to sit right within my Star Wars mind and universe, but I think it’s even better and easier to understand to kids, middle grade and the younger readers who will usually be reading this junior novelization. However a Pincushion is becoming rather outdated in 2024 (I know this book is older), so I’m unsure if kids nowadays will even know what one is, unless they possibly saw them at their Grandma’s house or something, etc. so they might be unable to use this comparison in their minds as intended. I think when they introduced Valorum on the landing platform and called him explicitly the “Current” Supreme Chancellor, that gave away a later detail of the book fairly obviously, and I didn’t really like that. Valorum is described as having an air of “nervous tension”, but based on watching the movie and reading other books about Valorum (such as Cloak of Deception, a Legends Prequel to Episode 1), I don’t think that expression and description of Valorum is even close to being slightly true. I believe Valorum may have slight anxiety if you really reach for it, but in my opinion especially in the movie, he seems very calm, just as Palpatine is described. I also think Valorum’s main emotion described should be seriousness and resolve. I LOVE how they actually explain WHERE Queen Amidala was staying and discussing politics in the Senate building as being “more than half” of Senator Palpatine’s living quarters. That makes a lot of sense and actually answers a question that previously I had unanswered in my mind that had occurred to me. Valorum’s Betrayal at Padmé’s hands to be driven out of the position of Supreme Chancellor was given a lot of exaggeration and importance and I really enjoyed reading and seeing how important the betrayal was, how hurt Valorum was personally after supporting the Naboo for so long and how bad Padmé felt for her betrayal. This betrayal was given more importance in this book in particular than any of the other Star Wars Episode 1 Written Works or even the movie that I have witnessed or read. I think the extra emphasis on this scene was beautiful and completely necessary, and added great depth to Star Wars overall for fans. The Senate scene’s emphasis on not even allowing Amidala to finish her sentences and speech about the Federation and their invasion really show how dire the situation is and why Amidala felt she had to take such extreme action, like it was her only way to save her people/her only way out to get rid of Valorum. The fear (attracts the fearful) scene with Sebulba and Jar Jar and Anakin’s description of always having had a deeply hidden fear in him as long as he can remember, and then the anger scene with the Rodian child and Anakin fighting over Anakin being accused of cheating at the Podrace already show just as Yoda describes later in the book “Fear leads to Anger…” that is the first step (obviously we all know the next lines are Anger leads to Hate and Hate leads to Suffering), we have already witnessed just within and through the events of this book Anakin having fear and then later, anger. Yoda was correct in sensing that the path had already started to Anakin leading to the Dark Side even as early on as 9 years old. Amidala explaining that “no wonder the Senators are more interested in playing political games than helping people” due to the city being all cold, hard, gray steel and metal, with no patches of green grass or other plants and forestry, completely makes sense. To the real humans on Earth, in my mind it is completely understandable that you’d get wrapped up in the burdens of doing a Senatorial job or throwing fancy parties, wearing fancy clothes, and debating issues that you know nothing about because you aren’t there in the midst of the situation and don’t know truly what is going on, you’d quickly forget the true beauty of your home planet with blue waters and green grass, the wild animals and nature, of course if you stayed away on Coruscant due to your job long enough and didn’t travel back to your home planet you’d forget the true wonders and natural beauty of it all. That would easily steal away your appreciation for the places you used to love, as well as the people living there. It would easily create a situation of you just wanting to advance yourself in your career and politically. I don’t recall and remember Sidious ever giving the order explicitly kill the Queen outright instead of just make her sign the treaty, but he does in this book when she’s on her way to Naboo. The panic the Neimoidians felt when they realized it’s far too late to break ties with Darth Sidious is sort of funny and ironic, but at the same time fully real and serious. I absolutely LOVE how they explain that in Obi-Wan’s mind after they made the voyage to Naboo that he had begun to know Anakin better and had come to see his true potential (in the time he spent with him in the starship cockpit with Ric Olié), even if he couldn’t say it aloud in his explanation and apology. I love how the book explains and states this, I never would’ve guessed this in the movie as to why Obi-Wan apologized, I always thought it was more Qui-Gon centered (such as wanting to make up with his Master) rather than truly realizing he was wrong. I also like how he is grateful Qui-Gon says he is ready for the trials. I loved how as early as the first few pages of the book Qui-Gon states this in his head and how he just hasn’t told Obi-Wan this, and I’m super glad Obi-Wan realizes he didn’t just say this because he wanted to get rid of him for Anakin, but that he truly believes it. I like how willingly Jar Jar walks off to lead everyone to the Gungan’s sacred place even though he’s risking literally everything and disobeying all laws of his people, but because the Naboo Humans accepted him more he helps them instead against his people’s wishes at first. I like how in this book Panaka’s line about the Gungans and where they might be is worded gentler and more understanding instead of as sharp as it was in the movie and other works. Anakin’s negative sounding thoughts, such as “I never should’ve left home” and “I’m not even going to be a Jedi” exactly explain why he shouldn’t be a Jedi. He is not thinking positively at all, about all of the possibilities and chances out there for his future, he is not open or even serene as Jedi are trained to be early on as children. Boss Nass assuming all the Human Naboo are going to die was blunt and bleak, but realistic and true. It’s also expressed in another Episode 1 work (I believe the Anakin Skywalker Journal) so it is consistent throughout the Star Wars universe. I like how his line about being ready to do his part with his people potentially losing their lives is worded very well in this book and novelization in particular. I believe this is the first time ever it is mentioned that the Maroon uniform that Padmé and her handmaidens wear into the Battle of Naboo is the burgundy battle uniform or the Naboo rulers. I really like that little detail and extra fact. Padmé stating she’d never forgive herself if something happened to Anakin, as well as how Anakin and Padmé both felt upon first meeting like they’d known each other their entire lives and could tell each other anything, is a really good description of their early on inexplicable connection. I like how it is explicitly noted that this is, quite memorably, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s first ever time in a lightsaber vs lightsaber battle (with a Sith Lord), the first of many lightsaber vs lightsaber battles with Sith Lords and the like that he will take part in over the years after this first one. I don’t really understand what is meant by Maul clouding Obi-Wan’s estimation and guessing of his moves and dueling, that seems more of a Sidious power to me, not something Maul was consciously capable of doing and performing in the Force. The early scenes of the Duel of the Fates are very clearly and pointedly accurately described methodically in every way by the author laid out scene by scene from Point A to Point B, I thought that was really great and easy for younger readers (like the book was designed for) to understand. The laser walls and that entire concept in the Theed Power Generator as well as the catwalk falling scenes were described especially well and understandably for younger readers to grasp as an idea. Different than some of the other Episode 1 written material I’ve read, this junior novelization determines and states that Anakin’s Starfighter is overheated in the hangar, just like in the movie. I believe Anakin’s Episode 1 Journal states it MAY be overheated, or another issue as described. I never knew in the movie that Anakin’s Starfighter was shot at two points in time before skidding into the Trade Federation Droid Control Ship. It is stated that that happens both in this junior novelization and, I believe, Anakin Skywalker’s Episode 1 Journal. The part described where Obi-Wan senses that Qui-Gon’s opponent is “wearing a black helmet” (I assume much like Darth Vader, and this is somehow meant to be foreshadowing) doesn’t really make sense to me at all, especially since it’s involving Qui-Gon and Anakin isn’t even present. The seeming fact that a “second voice” also echoed his cry of denial at Qui-Gon’s death seems wrong and also far fetched to me, but is less far fetched than the helmet, because it could be explained away as Anakin’s voice crying out denial through the Force somehow. I really like and think it makes sense that Amidala was able to make it across the room to her throne because she pretended she was “sinking down in depression over her “failure”, and it definitely fooled Gunray and proves how gullible and unintelligent he truly was in the end compared to Padmé that she was able to trick him in the very last THAT close to him in the end. I like how Artoo claims to the Battle Droids that HES the pilot of the ship, but that is also included in other Episode 1 written works, such as Anakin’s Episode 1 Journal. However, not included in any other work I’ve read so far, I especially liked that Anakin talked back to the Battle Droids when they demanded he surrender. I’m not sure if I like the fact that Obi-Wan claims Yoda also taught him with the “Do or Do Not” line as spoken in the original trilogy’s Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back to Luke Skywalker. I’m not sure why I feel odd about it being reused over the generations of Jedi being trained and taught by Master Yoda. Technically, the line “he felt the tremor in the Force as he (Maul) died” is made inaccurate and non-canon due to the canon 2008 The Clone Wars animated TV Series and all of Maul’s appearances there as well as the animated show Star Wars: Rebels and even the movie Solo: A Star Wars Story at the very end. There could be a possible explain-away explanation for the tremor Obi-Wan felt, but I cannot come up with anything at this time. I like how it’s mentioned briefly how Qui-Gon was like the only father Obi-Wan had ever known just the exact same way as Anakin had felt that, even if he doesn’t know that or sense they both share this trait and feeling. Padmé catching Palpatine/Sidious’s satisfaction and even slight smirk/smile at the fact that Valorum had been voted out as Supreme Chancellor and he had been nominated was surprising due to the fact that it hasn’t been mentioned in any other books, written works or even the movie but it makes total sense to me because in my opinion she should’ve caught it all along, she is far too intelligent to have not noticed Palpatine trying to propel himself along in his career (among other motives). I don’t like how Padmé didn’t explicitly reach out to Anakin as a friend to explain everything about her revealing herself as Queen, it seems like she kind of left him in the dust while at the same time he meant so much to her previously. Anakin at least deserved an explanation and to be told that things weren’t different between them, I know some other Episode 1 written works and such explain or have Padmé at least give Anakin a look, or even pull him aside to speak to him about it and the entire situation. Since she didn’t do this, he felt very alone at the funeral, like he’s lost almost everybody. I noticed that the scene where Anakin arrives at the Queen’s chambers to tell her he was leaving for his (hopeful) Jedi Training wasn’t included in this novelization, I didn’t think it was correct not to be included as it’s included in the movie itself.I don’t really like the line where Obi-Wan tries to soothe Anakin about Qui-Gon being one with the Force, it’s a personal preference that I don’t like how the line is worded but I know it’s included in other Episode 1 works like the Anakin Skywalker Episode 1 Journal almost legitimately exactly as that scene was worded in that book, so I guess for consistency purposes that’s good for the Star Wars Universe overall. Overall, again, I’m extremely excited to read the rest of the Star Wars Junior Novelizations, even if they all aren’t by the same author, and I’d definitely reread this book if I wanted a casual and non-pressure Star Wars read. The cover art and photo collages and modifications on this book are beautiful as well.