justthatstarwarsbookgirl's reviews
54 reviews

The first thing I noticed when opening this book is how beautiful the artwork was. Compared to all other Star Wars World of Reading books I’ve read, this one has the most beautiful artwork. The colors especially are gorgeous, definitely the darker and moodier tones set the mood and feeling of darkness and downtrodden emotions. I love the uses of the purples, blacks and deep blue shades. I also loved the deep green of Boba Fett’s armor, how Luke’s X-Wing fighter looked, the sunset on the first page with the Falcon; and the depiction of Leia’s character, as well as the duel between Vader and Luke (and Luke’s Bespin outfit). The story itself was a good summary of the events it was attempting to describe that occur in Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back. I thought every word was completely accurate to the movie’s events and the Star Wars universe overall. Although being shortened, that was an appropriate move for a book intended for kid’s, and I thought even though the events were shortened they were described fully enough so that you understood the complete gist of the situation overall. I loved this short story and the images presented, even though one image Luke’s eyes looked off-centered. Therefore there is a likely chance I’d pick it up again to view the images again in more thorough detail to ingrain them in my mind’s eye. Props to the illustrators of this story and once again, this World of Reading story was written by Nate Millici, who is the author of the first ever World of Reading story I read and I immensely enjoyed, which would explain why I like this story more than the ones I didn’t written by other World of Reading authors. This has now become my favorite World of Reading Star Wars book. 

There wasn’t really anything outright WRONG with the book, but the book definitely wasn’t even a decent read in my opinion. I flipped through the book and got through reading it rather quickly, and I thought it was a decent summarization of Luke’s training with Yoda for kids, but definitely had slight inaccuracies where they left important details out, including the cave scene with “Vader”, the X-Wing scene and even Luke leaving Dagobah. I thought Luke’s leaving was shortened so much so that there was no emphasis at all put on how he is damaging his use for the Force by not completing his training and leaving the planet too early/so soon. The reason for why Luke failed the cave test and even I believe the fact itself that he did fail was not included in the book at all, nor was the premonition about Luke’s face being under Vader’s mask. The X-Wing scene seemed abrupt and rushed, and the explanation about why Luke failed to lift it out of the swamp seemed too short and not descriptive enough. I absolutely disliked the ending, just leaving off so suddenly with Luke going to “use the Force” to rescue his friends, not even adding on the extra fact that he doesn’t have full control over the Force due to leaving Dagobah before his training was complete. I believe the only thing I liked and enjoyed in this book was a piece of artwork of Luke doing a flip with Yoda on his back, not even any of the writing; which is confusing because other writing from this author hasn’t been bad to me in the past. The only reason I have rated this book two stars is because of the possibility that for a casual fan (and maybe a VERY young child) this book would be an easy read and make sense to them overall. Overall for a dedicated fan or any adult readers even slightly familiar with the real Star Wars, I wouldn’t suggest reading this book. It would only irritate you in my opinion. But by all means don’t take this review as the only thing, if you’d like to read it please read it for yourself! Form your own ideas and opinions on it as a whole. This was just my thoughts on this book overall. Lastly, to note, this was the first Star Wars World of Reading book I have explicitly disliked. I’ve read two previously. I love the World of Reading books as a whole, just to acknowledge that fact and put that out there. 

I rated this book 4 stars because of the possibility of me picking it back up to reread. I flew through the book, it was a simplistic and easy read for me as an adult but I can understand how this World of Reading book in particular may be difficult for the kids it’s marketed at to follow and read. The story seems to jump around a lot from event to event to summarize a lot of events from a time period into a few pages for this book, when they deserve and are meant to have more page time. I overall enjoyed the book and the relaxing feeling it gave me as a summary of the escape from the Death Star in A New Hope, but I did however think the generalization of the word “heroes” was used to describe Han, Leia, Chewbacca and Luke far too much and far too many times in the book, on way too many different pages. It kind of got annoying and repetitive after a while. But if you overlook that, it was an enjoyable read. The art looked even more complex than the last World of Reading book I’ve read, and the little details and varying colors appear hard to manage, so I believe props to the artist and illustrator of this World of Reading book in particular compared to all the rest. I’d pick up this story again to read it again for a more relaxing time in the Star Wars universe while at the same time staying accurate to canon and also to absorb more of the information and artwork more thoroughly and fully. 

I thought the book was very enjoyable! A decent length, not too short for older readers such as myself but not too long for kids as the story was intended for. I thought the book had an accurate and detailed description of the events leading up to C-3PO and R2-D2 being purchased by the Lars homestead and meeting Ben Kenobi with Luke, in a simplified manner so that it was easier for children to understand but still not taking away the importance and emphasis of main events in the storyline. If I had one criticism it was that I noticed they said the line “R2-D2 was sad” a lot, like about 3 times, at least twice. I thought it was slightly inaccurate for some moments and R2’s feelings, but I guess it depends on the readers/movie watcher’s opinion whether or not they thought R2 was feeling the emotion of sadness in these moments, such as the author clearly did. I also thought the extra fact included about Leia’s dress being white was unnecessary and just added in for some reason, however I LOVED the artwork on every page. A ton of detail was put into every picture, including the wind blowing Luke’s hair even. The colors are bright and vividly beautiful. Lastly, I thought the story summarized this small part of A New Hope in a good direction leading accurately from point A to point B with the events very well. This story would be great for kids, and for adults it’s a super easy and relaxing read that will chill out and ease the stresses on your mind and body as you go through the short story, as an accurate portrayal of important moments in the Star Wars galaxy. The story also had a very overall positive vibe and mood to it. 

 I legitimately flew through this book, wanted to finish it within one night the storyline and plot were so addictive with their portrayal and wording. It’s highly likely, if not positive I’ll reread this book at some point in time. The book itself is extremely well written by an extraordinarily promising and talented author, I haven’t read such beautiful and consistent writing in a long time and the author is now automatically one of my favorite authors out there, definitely want to read more of their works, the talent of their writing and wording in this junior novelization is just incredible. Super easy to understand and take the reader’s mind from Point A to Point B in the storyline. I haven’t read another junior novelization yet this well written, I believe that may be because the three I’ve read (Episodes 1, 2&3 by Patricia C. Wrede) are all Legends novelizations due to being written at the times the movie came out exactly and not being able to have full information or references in the Star Wars Universe quite yet due to the Star Wars galaxy not having expanded quite that much yet into all the TV Series and Movies we have today, that is an advantage this author had over the ones of old. I honestly didn’t expect much from this book because I didn’t really enjoy the movie; it was only okay to me, not exactly enjoyable but not bad either, but once I picked up this novelization I just couldn’t seem to put it down, I was addicted to finishing the story. I liked how most if not all of the chapters left off on cliffhangers or unknown events in the chapter so you’d want to turn the page to get to the next chapter. I thought that was very clever overall for the book. I think this junior novelization is so good overall that it didn’t even need the movie photo inserts most other junior novelizations include. For a true reader who loves and is enjoying the storyline the photos are unnecessary and would only interrupt your reading. I liked how Qi’ra and Han’s bucket of eels scene on Corellia was included, because this scene I believe is also in the official full-length movie novelization, I believe it kept the book whole and completely and complexly accurate to the other works. I was wondering whether or not they’d include that scene. To me, the overall depictions of Val, Beckett and Rio are all really great depictions of their characters you don’t exactly get great insight to in the movie, you get a glimpse of their true personalities and how they relate to one another and are connected as a crew in this junior novelization. I noticed that the small, slight joke about Han and Carbonite overall during the Kessel Run scenes is ironic and slightly funny, which I’m sure is why it was included there. I’m sure it would be funnier if I had a better sense of humor and wasn’t so serious about it. I absolutely LOVED the way young Lando’s character is portrayed even better than he is in the movie personally to me. Every part of the book, every event, every mission, every plot/plan/heist, are all amazingly laid out in detail from the beginning to the end, easily understandable and highly enjoyable to read and witness occurring in the book. I LOVE these parts of the book (such as the Kessel Heist in particular). And finally, at the end of the book when Maul tells Qi’ra Dryden loved her and out of all his disciples was the only one with the potential to surpass him is a great detail that’s included in this junior novelization, I love this fact being included in this book. It ties in very nicely with the 2023 canon novel Crimson Climb by E.K. Johnston (about Qi’ra’s rise through Crimson Dawn’s ranks). The fact itself is highly accurate and truthful overall to the characters and their relationships as well as being highly relevant to the storyline and plot of the book. The book had a nice, short resolution I enjoyed reading and thought finished out and fulfilled the rest of the storyline nicely. The book is really nice as a stand-alone novel to read but also to be read within the order of all of the rest of the junior novelizations as an overall series. 

I definitely would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan, whether a casual-time fan or highly dedicated one! It was a highly enjoyable read for me and I would definitely reread it. For specific details here are some flaws or pluses about the book: To me it seems in the beginning of this book, at least twice in notable circumstances to my notice, Obi-Wan explains away/dismisses Anakin’s suspicious actions or faults due to the fact that he has saved his life, the Chancellor’s, or completed difficult and important missions. If these issues had been addressed rather than dismissed and explained away in Obi-Wan’s mind then perhaps we could’ve caught Anakin becoming Vader early. I found it interesting how it’s explained that Palpatine, from the chair during the fight, tells Anakin to use his aggressive feelings, and that he uses all the rage he feels towards Dooku just like he did at the Tuskens to conquer him in battle and “just this once” he can break the Jedi Code, just to save the Chancellor and Obi-Wan because he believes he wouldn’t be able to otherwise, I never would’ve thought of that concept or idea occurring. I’m not sure I like that concept/idea. I thought Anakin being excited about Palpatine wanting to put him on the Jedi Council because it would make him the youngest member ever and in his mind they’d definitely want him to stay even with Padmé having his child is crazy to me, and doesn’t make much sense. I much prefer the explanation in the official full-length novelization where he wants the rank of Master to research and check in the Jedi Temple Archives (with his new clearance and permissions) for a way to save Padmé from death. To me, the outright exclamation by Anakin of “I’m more powerful than any of you!” When denied the level of Mastery is overexaggerated for the circumstances and definitely would’ve gotten Anakin in way more serious trouble. I did like that it’s mentioned how Padmé and fellow Senators are beginning to distrust Palpatine and try to find something to do with his power, just like in the official novelization, when we see this is Padmé working with Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, even if they aren’t explicitly mentioned here as the collaborators. I really liked how Anakin thinks the baby is a girl whereas Padmé thinks it’s a boy, and they have one of each. I like that little fun disagreement, it’s so simplistic and happy within such a larger storyline that it’s worth mentioning for sure in my mind to bring some lighthearted joy back to the reader’s mind. I however did 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 also thought this book’s captions for the photo inserts were far too simplistic and basic unnecessarily, even compared to the first two junior novelizations of Episodes 1&2 by the same author. I thought they made the reader feel silly and stupid, as if were being treated as having basic to little or low intelligence. Also the pictures definitely seemed more movie-event based, with a lot of them including events and such that weren’t even described in this junior novelization, which therefore makes no sense as to why they’d be included here in this book. The captions definitely seemed more kid-oriented and sarcastic to me overall, but an even lower age range than this book is meant for in my opinion. I did like the reference in the Opera scene back to how when Shmi died Anakin sensed there was a way in the Force to save her but he just didn’t know it, because the ability to save others from death is shown to be canon and real, especially in the Sequel Trilogy. To me, Palpatine’s emphasis and widely apparent disappointment in how Vader’s abilities will be diminished by the result of the duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi and the fact that his limbs will all be metal now is a great detail to include. I like how it’s mentioned that when he touches his forehead (just like in the movie) that’s him directly channeling the Dark Side of the Force into his body to preserve him and keep him alive by touch. To me, the detail of baby Luke having his eyes closed but baby Leia having her eyes wide open to partially attempt to explain why Leia has “memories, just images really” of her mother is a super awesome tidbit and fact included. I also like how it’s mentioned that that’s the last thing Obi-Wan can do for Anakin. I like how apparent it is that Obi-Wan went from thinking of Anakin from one person into two at the end, with Darth Vader being a separate person altogether. I like how the first gender Padmé asks if the baby is a girl like Anakin wanted rather than her own hopes of it being a boy. To me, Order 66’s explanation of how the Clones explicitly only follow orders from the Republic and not their Jedi Generals and the fact that they were SO obedient and that was why they obeyed Order 66 is inaccurate and doesn’t make any sense at all to me, I much rather like the inhibitor chip method which is explained in multiple  other Star Wars works and is now an integral part of the Star Wars galaxy. In my opinion, the changing of the line “Unlimited Power” to “Absolute Power” was highly unnecessary and doesn’t make much sense at all when you truly think about the definition and meanings of the words. I didn’t like that part. For me, Padmé telling Anakin in the Force “Before I die I want you to know” makes it seem almost certain she will die which will only increase and make worse his fears and worries. I didn’t like that part of the book. I did like how when Palpatine reveals he is a Sith Lord his side of the conversation with Anakin is explained in detail, what he says, why he says it, taking it slow and not pushing him too hard, and explaining all his hard work through all the years preparing Anakin for this moment. However, I thought the revelation that Palpatine was a Sith Lord was very sudden, almost too sudden in this novelization. It seemed like one second we were talking about and focusing on something else and suddenly boom! Palpatine’s a Sith Lord. I did like how Obi-Wan’s scene of leaving for Utapau is portrayed. I like how Obi-Wan seems to realize this is his last goodbye with Anakin, but trying to reassure himself they can talk when he comes back, and I like the emphasis put on Anakin now feeling unhinged and lonely, like he has nobody left, and he never got to speak with Obi-Wan in depth about his problems. Trust me, I know how horrible that feeling is to have to try to remember and bottle up those thoughts and personal issues until you have another chance to speak to that special person. Lastly, I like the detail of how Anakin expressed feeling so at home in Padmé’s apartment and even the little temperature tidbit fact. Overall, I really loved this junior novelization of Episode 3, I thought it was a thorough summarization of both the movie and other Episode 3 works, I really enjoyed reading it and it brought me great joy as a fan with how well it stuck to the facts of Star Wars, including the extra tidbits of information, and I loved it and had major happiness as a result of reading and finishing it. I honestly flew through it, I took the entire last half portion of it and powered straight through it with no breaks for about an hour until I finished it. The book was extremely fulfilling as an overall story and plot and I loved the expressions and accurate portrayals of the character’s feelings and actions, just like shown in the movie. I thought the book was a great summary of Episode 3 and I’d definitely read it again to give myself a happy and joyful mood and create positivity in my mind, although a sad story the ending is meant to be hopeful and that’s what I’m taking it as an overall phenomenal read and hopeful/happy book. 

This book was an okay read. If I had to choose whether it was a good read or bad read I’d lean more towards the bad. I really loved the Episode 1: The Phantom Menace Junior Novelization as written by this same author, Patricia C. Wrede. However if this is what the rest of the Star Wars Movie Junior Novelizations will be like I’m strapped in to endure a lot of disappointment. I had hope the following books would be as good if not better than Episode 1, but if this sequel is anything to go off of, they definitely won’t be much to hope for any longer. I wouldn’t recommend this book to kids or newer fans of Star Wars due to its inaccuracies and misconceptions, both in spelling and also the confusion and brevity of scenes that deserved more time and expansion. The reason I say not to read this book if you’re a new fan is because this book doesn’t exactly resemble, represent or scream Star Wars or the Star Wars galaxy as a whole to me, it doesn’t do the beloved galaxy or even the Episode 2 movie justice. I’d suggest watching the movie or reading the official novelization to introduce yourself as a fan to this portion of the Star Wars saga and timeline. I also won’t be rereading this book. Here are some of the more particular and in depth things I enjoyed and disliked about this junior novelization, I hope they give you some insight into my opinion about why I did not enjoy the book overall and why it would be better for more simplistic readers rather than lifelong Star Wars fans: I liked how in the beginning of the novelization, when Padmé’s Starship blows up, she does not only address the death of Cordé in this novelization, but also the pilot, the ship’s crew, and her other bodyguards and handmaidens who were killed. I like how she vows to not let their sacrifice be in vain, and how badly it truly affected her being expressed a lot more than it was shown in the movie. I also liked how the Senators who are voting against Amidala are listed by name and their planet, it provides a lot of detail not given in the movie. I didn’t like how the alien species of Twi’lek is misspelled as “Twi’leck” when describing Senator Orn Free Ta in the Senate Chambers. Obi-Wan having to remind Anakin not to focus on negative thoughts again is a direct relation to lines and information in the Junior Novelization of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, especially near the ending. I honestly can’t believe they misspelled “Mandalorian” into “Mandoralian”, which sounds and looks nothing like the actual term. The term is fairly well known so I’m not sure why the author would have an issue with it. It’s kind of really irksome actually for such a big fan of Mandalorians like myself. I didn’t like that it’s expressly stated by Obi-Wan that particularly Anakin’s senses aren’t that attuned, when in the movie it’s stated a lot more casually and less direct at targeting Anakin. I did like all the extra added details and specific scenes added into the speeder chase with Zam, but I didn’t like how after the crash Anakin states Zam must be “almost as good a pilot as him”. I find it very hard to believe Zam was almost as talented a pilot as Anakin Skywalker himself. When Anakin told Obi-Wan directly “I love you” as they walked into the nightclub, I thought that was too soon and too obvious to be spoken aloud like that as such a tender subject. I noticed the difference and slight change in the line about “Jedi Business” like in the movie to “Official Business” in this junior novelization and I think Jedi Business was the more appropriate and accurate version of the line personally, but either version of the line works overall as a whole. I did like how it was stated explicitly and outright that the Jedi Council sits in a circle to emphasize the equality level of all members. I think that’s the first time in any written works I’ve read so far that that was stated as a fact, even if this book is technically Legends. I wasn’t very fond of the entire scenes with the Council assigned Anakin and Obi-Wan their missions, as well as Anakin and the Chancellor’s praise of the assignment. I’m also not very fond of the scenes overall with Obi-Wan’s doubt of Anakin’s mission and his talk with Yoda and Mace Windu, there are tons of tiny facts and little details I didn’t like from that entire bundle of scenes but I will only put in this review that I wasn’t very fond of these scenes overall as a whole altogether. Padmè bringing up so often how Anakin was an “ex-slave boy” and a child when he met her seems highly unfair and uncalled for, and way out of her character to me, but I really like the overall moments of the goodbye scene before traveling to Naboo with Padmé and Anakin to Dormé, Typho and Obi-Wan. I thought the scene with Dexter Jettster in the Diner on Coruscant in this junior novelization is too short compared to the movie’s version of the scene, and I thought that the Kamino Archive scene was thorough with the basic events and facts presented but not overly or under descriptive. I liked that it was mentioned that the Trade Federation’s droid armies were rumored to not have been reduced (which is correct I believe). It was nice to mention that fact and rumor. The description overall of the scenes of Yoda’s training of the four year old Jedi younglings, including their age, Force abilities and strength, and training lightsabers and helmets are all a very beautiful scene and moment overall. I love the descriptions and little details that are described by Yoda in the junior novelization. Yoda’s acknowledgment of Obi-Wan’s foresight and strength with the Force is super interesting and great to note as knowledge. Obi-Wan’s joking and sarcasm about Kamino’s weather was a nice, lighthearted addition to this junior novelization. In any novelization of a movie, even a junior novelization, you usually expect to see and hear MORE behind the scenes facts, extra descriptions, details and information that isn’t shown in the movie. Here they completely eliminated the scenes of Padmé’s family visit with Anakin, which were deleted scenes in the movie, and were actually included in the official novelization. Quite a few times it is mentioned of Yoda’s ears twitching up and down due to his deep thinking and such, I like this detail because usually in behind the scenes information for Yoda’s species it is mentioned how he is done with the ears as a puppet or animator. 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. Padmé and Anakin’s romance seems far too simplistic as portrayed in this junior novelization. In other works, it is explained why the romance worked even with it being such a short time they spent together. It is not explained here because the reasons would be far too difficult for young readers to understand. Padmé realizing and having slight fear over the fact that she affects Anakin’s actions and mood so much just with a few short words and actions by her was a really great idea to mention in this junior novelization. In this junior novelization it is stated that C-3PO has coverings as Anakin and Padmé were arriving. That means this book recognizes the explanation that Shmi purchased them and put them on to complete Anakin’s droid for him as an act of love, rather than the other well-known explanation that was almost in the movie itself (the scenes were filmed and it was written as part of the script of Episode 2) where Padmé attaches the coverings she finds “lying around” the Lars homestead while Anakin is away searching for his mother. I liked how it is mentioned as a tiny detail how Anakin’s adjusted to the climates of other worlds vs Tatooine. Twice it is mentioned that “Ardees” is served to drink (first at Dex’s Diner with Obi-Wan, later at the Lars Homestead with Beru and Owen), but it is never explained what exactly this drink is made of, which is an inconsistency in this book and kind of sad we never get to hear what the drink is although it is mentioned so many times throughout the book. Anakin claiming that Owen Lars had a better understanding than the rest of the party (Cliegg, Beru and Padmé) about Shmi and her situation (enough for Owen to lend Anakin his speeder bike) is possibly because in other works I’ve read Shmi talked a lot to Owen about Anakin and how much she hoped he’d come back some day.Obi-Wan exclaiming “Padmé was right!” When he found out that her assassination attempts were by Count Dooku and Nute Gunray doesn’t exactly make sense because he wasn’t there in the scene where she declared she believed Count Dooku was behind the attempts (in the Chancellors office in the Senate). He and Anakin were just getting back from the border dispute on Ansion (as expressed by Mace Windu) so Obi-Wan wouldn’t know Padmé had guessed and expressed this fact to say that she was correct. I think the line “My Anakin killed them all..” as spoken by Padmé shows she already unconsciously thought of him as and referred to him as hers, belonging to her through a romantic relationship not yet consciously acknowledged. I think the line was fitting for the moment and her thoughts, expressions and feelings after hearing that Anakin murdered all of the Tuskens. But it also contradicts something she said about bounty hunters and how she couldn’t understand how they killed intelligent beings for a living. Tuskens may have been of lesser intelligence but were still humanoid intelligent beings by Star Wars galactic standards. Although brief, the mention of Cliegg Lars losing his leg trying to find and save Shmi was a nice inclusion, although described much better in other works it allows us to know the injury was not from something previous. The explanation in Padmé’s mind that Anakin had just lost his mother, and had previously described Obi-Wan as being like a father to him, as a strong motivational reason for her to push so hard for them to go and rescue him for Anakin’s behalf, is a great reason that I wouldn’t have thought of before for why Padmé pushed so hard to go to Geonosis to save Obi-Wan. Anakin’s worrying and desperation to reach Padmé when she is in the vat in the droid factory is expressed very well from the way his lines and thoughts were worded in this junior novelization. Anakin’s negative thinking, which he is so known for (Obi-Wan states in the book he is constantly reminding Anakin about it) is SO apparent in this part of the book, when he claims he “failed to save Obi-Wan, failed to save his Mom, and brought Padmé right to the people who wanted her dead. I’ve failed at everything”. That seems like a really big generalization, especially for a “Jedi”, as Anakin is supposed to be.  The use of the word “Groping” when Padmé is searching for words to describe her love for Anakin seems inappropriate in today’s day and age. I like how the scenes of Anakin and Padmé’s trial were included, regardless of their brevity overall. The explanation about how if Padmé chose to join the Separatists as Naboo’s Senator would confine their entire planet and Queen to go along with her decision doesn’t really make sense to me as portrayed in other works of the Star Wars galaxy, with planets, their rulers and Senators, plus the People’s dealings with the Separatists and choosing sides. The Queen definitely should be able to do something if something like that happened, or even the people should be able to vote out the Senator who did that. This seems to make absolutely no sense to me. The Banking Clan being stated as the “Intergalactic Bank Clan” should be stated as the “Intergalactic Banking Clan” as is said many times in the animated 2008 Clone Wars series. That is an inaccuracy in this book. The Geonosians laughing about war and being prepared for it as well as the fact that they were weapons manufacturers doesn’t seem exactly accurate to the way the Geonosians speak and are described in the movie, but I liked this small part and thought it was rather funny. For a lot of the lines and sentences in this book, things are worded or stated incorrectly/inaccurately for their appropriate grammar, such as this line “the other trade and commercial delegates”, to me it should be “the other trade and commerce delegates” if it was worded correctly I believe. This creates a lot of annoyance as I attempt to read this book. Other terms, including terms from the Star Wars universe, such as alien species, are even spelled inaccurately. The acklay being described as a lizard definitely seems incorrect from the way he looks like an insect in the movie. The word “picador” is used to describe the Geonosians who escort the beasts into the arena, but I’m 19 years old and I don’t understand and have never heard of that word (and therefore have no clue of the appropriate definition) so I hardly believe a younger reader (as intended for this book being a junior novelization) would know what that particular word means either to describe those aliens. It hasn’t been portrayed in any works I remember reading so far/I didn’t know that Obi-Wan gave Anakin instructions on what particular beast to take on, and that he knew different facts about the Reek and Acklay that helped him fight the Acklay in particular. I knew from the movie in general that one beast was given to each character (Padmé being the Nexu, Anakin being the Reek, and Obi-Wan being the Acklay) but I never thought it was on purpose or planned as expressed here as an idea. I think it’s fairly brilliant. Of course Obi-Wan would know some facts about the beasts due to his time spent in the archives and training to be a Jedi. Obi-Wan being able to identify Mace Windu in the box from so far away due to his purple lightsaber (being the only one who carries one) is ironic, because the only reason Windu received that special color of lightsaber was due to Samuel Jackson requesting he stand out in the Geonosian arena fight, as is a well-known fact among Star Wars fans Windu’s insistence that “the Geonosians aren’t warriors” is proven completely incorrect by both the movie itself and The Clone Wars animated 2008 TV series, in legitimately every single way. This is an inconsistency and incorrect fact in this book. I like Obi-Wan’s small acknowledgement of Boba Fett after Jango’s death, wondering what would happen to him (it turns out they’ll have to deal with him and his quest for revenge in The Clone Wars animated 2008 series). I like how it’s mentioned that Obi-Wan has understanding in his eyes about Anakin wanting to lower the ship to get Padmé back after she fell, because we later learn that Obi-Wan had a love once too (if we are talking Canon that is Satine Kryze, Duchess of Mandalore who is featured in the animated 2008 Clone Wars series, if we’re talking Legends that is Siri Tachi, fellow Jedi introduced in Legends Chapter Books by author Jude Watson) Anakin claiming that charging early on Dooku kept him from showing his uncontrolled hate and rage (like he felt against the Tusken Raiders) to Obi-Wan seems completely inaccurate and makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever. Obi-Wan always seeming to be the one with the plan and the battle strategy, the lectures and instructions all seems very redundant and if I was Anakin I’d be frustrated too, being talked to like a child all the time and being told what to do in everything including battles for your life. The short duel between Anakin, Obi-Wan and Dooku is described swiftly and summarized briefly. I noticed a lot of the scenes in this book were very brief and didn’t add much or even describe the story as accurately as it should’ve, or even come close to the scenes in the movie. I like how Obi-Wan’s skills at the fight are described, but I dislike immensely the change in one of Anakin’s lines of conversation with Dooku. I like the line leading into this conversation but not the conversation’s subject, lines and ending overall. I like the emphasis placed on how Yoda realized Dooku had turned to the Dark Side and how sad he was due to him being his former apprentice, but I also thought that was too long and too far dragged out whereas other scenes should’ve been more emphasized due to being more important to the plot and story overall. Learning that the swing that Dooku performs with his lightsaber before dueling Yoda was a formal salute was awesome as a little detail and highly interesting. It was also very sad to learn Yoda himself had taught him this salute which he now uses against him. I like how in the Queen’s/Padmé Amidala trilogy by E.K. Johnston it is described how Padmé’s dress was made and its significance to the storyline. Here the entire wedding scene is brief, concise and short, with little to no emphasis put on it or any of its details. I didn’t like that very well. Overall, although this Junior Novelization of Episode 2 makes many good points with extra facts and details, a lot of the book was filled with scenes that were too brief, inconsistencies and misspelled words, as well as presenting the feeling that the author was trying to “explain away” too many unexplained events and facts in the book. That is why I have rated this book 2 stars, and the only reason it has received 2 stars instead of 1 is because other, less dedicated fans or simplistic and casual readers who don’t know the real storyline like the back of their hand might enjoy this book and tale as a separate entity than being apart of the Star Wars universe. 

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. 

I think this book is a great and concise account of all of the events of Episode 1 directly from Anakin’s perspective described in great detail, while not being overexaggerated or extended into too much detail to make the reading unpleasant. I really like how ALL key moments in Episode 1 were present in one way or another, even if they weren’t directly witnessed by Anakin (such as Sebulba sabotaging his Podracer) it is mentioned that Sebulba was walking AROUND his Podracer (when he does it) and even the Ric Olie piloting scene where he teaches Anakin the different controls (rather, Anakin identifies them himself) on the way to Naboo in the Royal Starship is present. I love the little personable details in the book, such as Anakin wearing a hand-sewn by Shmi jumpsuit for the Podrace, things that weren’t mentioned in the movie or novelization but are included in this adaption. Those details are truly necessary and really cute and add great depth and explain the love (if you can ever explain love itself) imbedded into Anakin and Shmi’s relationship. I really, REALLY liked how Anakin noticed all of the little things as shown in the background of the movie, such as Shmi and Qui-Gon speaking as he works on his Podracer (and him noticing their individual facial expressions) and Watto and Qui-Gon arguing before the Podrace in the hangar, as well as him also noticing things that weren’t shown in the movie explicitly but were implied, such as Anakin quickly noticing Qui-Gon not having a farmer’s rough hands or Padmé not looking like a farm girl when they walked into Watto’s shop, I think the fact that Anakin noticed these things really added a lot of detail and information to his character and showed successfully his intelligence level, especially for how far advanced and ahead of others that he was for a nine year old boy. I love every moment and scene with Jira, the old woman who sold the Pallies fruit. I love how we are explained in this short book that Anakin was looking out for a cooling system/unit for her as she sells her fruits from his work at the shop (and how he had just found one as he was going through his usual junk pile when he was called into the shop due to Qui-Gon and Padmé arriving), and how she is described as being elderly is so sweet and cute and sounds just like she would be described by a good and kind average nine year old boy (possibly as he would describe his Grandma if he had one). I believe the information with the cooling system is also included in the official movie’s novelization by Terry Brooks. I love how Anakin went out of his way to even leave some of his winnings from selling the Podracer to Jira so she can purchase the cooling system herself because he will be leaving and no longer be there to get her one as planned. The book does such a great job presenting Anakin as a young, innocent and kind nine year old boy as he is described by Shmi “he knows nothing of greed” in the movie, which was the entire point of Episode 1, to show just how far the innocent young Anakin Skywalker can fall into the evil and ruthless Darth Vader in Episode 3. The innocence and kindness was very apparent and clear to me in the line described where Anakin wanted to go out of his way to communicate and warn a fellow Podracer during the race about Sebulba. It’s a super unique and clever way the author came up with to show these traits of Anakin’s character. The book really exaggerates, more even than witnessing the explosions on the TV or movie theater screen, that most of the time when you Podrace, if you crash, you die. The book truly highlights just how dangerous Podracing is even better than the movie and novelization do in my opinion. The book puts emphasis on how even if you don’t win, but you live through the race, you’re still technically a winner because you’re alive still. All of the events of the Podrace, such as being thrown onto the service ramp, etc., as shown in the movie, are laid out in clear detail and a great and understandable order, which might usually (or for another author) have been harder to make clear in writing/book form. I really like how this journal includes what I have also read was originally in George Lucas’s Episode 1 Script, a fight between Anakin and a Rodian (in this 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. This 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.  I really thought it was cute how even potentially if it had been too late young Anakin rushed in his boy like way to quickly carve that Japor Snippet in a rough but lovely little item to give to Padme to remember him by. I thought it was adorable and dedicated that even if he didn’t finish it in time for Qui-Gon to give it to her before they left that he spent all that time on it carving it in such detail, and I thought it was also cute how he’d willingly trust Qui-Gon with the charm to give to Padme instead of being able to give it to her directly like he most likely would’ve preferred. 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. This book represents one of the best things and aspects about being a Legends book and author: the small amount of creative freedom that these authors have. The authors respect and love the universe enough to keep most everything in the parameters of what we know our characters and the places, etc. that we all know and love would do. But they also have a little bit of creative licensing where they can make up little bits here and there, such as small/short stories, explanations, items, sayings, or events. One of these is in this book, when Anakin climbed the “Great Dune” to save a small herd of Banthas from a group of hunters. Most, if not at all of the times you come across or read these stories in the Legends Community/Timeline, they add extra depth and detail to the characters we love, and the stories told are so relatable and understandable in the ideas of the characters that do them or are the subjects of them that we wonder why we had not thought about them first! It was a lovely addition of how much inclusion of Anakin’s friend Kitster was in this book, especially including 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. I’m glad this matter is resolved in this book, even if it is a Legends book. I like how Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi is described physically (such as his hair being in the Padawan style with the pigtail and braid, although Anakin does not know that is why/what it is) as well as his apparent attitude towards Anakin as a character, and how Anakin felt the aura and feelings of how Obi-Wan felt towards him. I think the extra additional scenes of both the encounter with Qui-Gon slicing the Probe Droid on Tatooine and Qui-Gon instructing Anakin and Jar Jar on etiquette before meeting the Senators and Supreme Chancellor (such as bowing) were very clever and smart to include, and added extra depth and enjoyment to the book, as well as extra background information. I like how they note especially Anakin’s reaction and first ever time in Space even if it was brief due to them escaping Maul. I loved how they addressed Anakin’s worries about what would happen to him if something happened to Qui-Gon and his feelings of loneliness on the ship after Qui-Gon went to his quarters. It truly expresses how to Anakin, Qui-Gon feels like the only person that he has now in his mind since he left his mother, the only one he can truly trust and rely on, the one person to take care of him, the man he gambled everything on. A minor dislike, but I didn’t like how the words chosen to describe her discussions with the Senators on Coruscant after her arrival included that she was sitting on a “Throne”. It seems completely inaccurate. First, at no time was this “Throne” shown in the movie or expressed in the novelizations. Plus, the Galactic Senate building would not have a room with a spare throne in it, especially just for temporary visitors such as Queen Amidala. I thought it was very understandable that Anakin, as a nine year old (previously) slave boy; would be blown away by the Queen’s appearance and the Queen in general. The author seemed to know and understand the scientific facts of Tatooine having two stars vs. Coruscant having one, using it to explain Anakin’s chill. If that was found out through extra research before writing this book to prepare, props to the author. It definitely makes the book seem more real. The Jedi Code above the door being dismantled into pieces by the child Anakin as to why he was the exact opposite of any of those mantras or sayings due to his Slave Upbringing definitely makes you realize the only reason he had a Slave Upbringing was because of his age, the fact that he grew up like that, out in the world, and if he had been identified and brought to the Temple at an early age he wouldn’t have all of those extra issues to deal with that were eventually his downfall, much as he is explaining here. It also shows his intelligence and thinking skills in an example. The tests of the Council really went into detail and put emphasis on how badly Anakin misses and does not want to lose his mother, as well as how devastated she’d be to lose him as well. It was also expressed earlier in the book in another line that she’s his “only living relative”.  More emphasis is placed on Shmi’s importance to Anakin here than in the movie or novelization in my opinion, even in Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. I like the inclusion of the mention of the Old Spacer who had once “flown into battle with Jedi”, because although the fact related to this Spacer’s tale is different, this same exact Old Spacer was featured in a scene in the official movie novelization by Terry Brooks, sharing stories, facts and details about the Jedi, albeit different ones than were presented in the novelization. I like that both books back each other up, even if in different ways, that at some point Anakin talked to an Old Spacer about the Jedi Order. I believe it was very clever and again, taking that liberty I explained above with being a potential Legends book and author (I believe this book is canon but I’m not positive), with how the author explained how Anakin has heard of Sith and somewhat understands what they are due to that old Holograph and the inquiry with another Spacer. It is completely understandable and possible that an old droid who had witnessed a battle involving Sith (whether between Sith vs Sith or Sith vs Jedi) had ended up somehow in Watto’s junk heap, especially if the person who owned it WANTED to get rid of it, that would be a great way to anonymously get rid of it. The old Spacer knowing so much about the Sith, however, was rather puzzling, and doesn’t seem much as likely. I never thought the general public, even an Old Republic Pilot, would know much of anything about the Sith Order overall. But I like how panicked he expressed feeling, and I like how there was a rumor that one survived, however that rumor must’ve never reached the Jedi, because if it had their number one priority in everything should’ve been to find that one Sith. Or at that point the Jedi were so arrogant they didn’t believe one Sith had escaped and believed it was only a rumor among the people/population of the Galaxy. The book does a great job breeding early-on mistrust of Obi-Wan for Anakin. Before Anakin even speaks to Obi-Wan, he senses Obi-Wan strongly dislikes him. It is described in great detail Obi-Wan trying to hide contempt for Anakin in the Council Chambers Scenes, how he tried to hide looks and glares at him, how he tried to hide his feelings of shock, surprise and mistrust. Later we learn also that Anakin overheard (using the Force) that Obi-Wan told Qui-Gon he believes he was dangerous (and cited the entire Council thought so as well). As a nine year old boy, this is all very overwhelming, and would seem to have the entire world against you. This is especially heartbreaking and confusing when that entire world is made up of strangers you had wished to impress. So, as it comes up later on, even if Anakin and Obi-Wan become like brothers after he is assigned his Padawan, I don’t believe those initial distrust issues ever really go away between them. I like the emphasis and all the explanations put out there and described how different the Naboo Swamp felt to Anakin compared to living his entire life on Tatooine. I love everything little detail that is given to compare the two places and different aspects of them. I disliked the one DEBATABLE spelling mistake I found, at one point nearing the end of the book Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan were referred to as “Jedis” and not “Jedi” as a plural. I know this is debatable among fans (in face, in this movie itself they are referred to as “Jedi” and not “Jedis” by the Neimoidians) but “Jedi” as a plural seems more proper and makes more sense (and sounds more normal, appropriate and formal). The ending of the book really exaggerated Anakin’s maturity and understanding of how desperate the Battle for Naboo really is, the terrible odds and desperation as well as how the people involved are suffering and dying. He seemed very mature sounding for a nine year old boy, especially more than he did in the movie, where some of his lines were silly and childish. He really seems to understand the importance of the battle in this book. I thought Artoo pretending he was the pilot of the N1 Starfighter instead of Anakin (ducked down, and only able to do that because he was a small child) was a really cute addition. I think one of the best moments and aspects of this book was that Anakin sensed Qui-Gon’s death at Maul’s hands (even though he didn’t know at the time) and involuntarily felt sad over it within and using the Force and using his connection to Qui-Gon through the Force. I never even would’ve thought of something like that but now that it’s stated here (like I said, I love those Legends author’s creative license), it fits PERFECTLY with everything we know in the Star Wars Universe overall, including and going all the way back to the Original Trilogy’s Episode 4: A New Hope with Obi-Wan sensing Alderaan’s destruction and all of those deaths. Of course somebody as strong in the Force/with as many midichlorians as Anakin would sense the death of somebody he cared so much for and looked up to so much, if he’s only in the Space above the Planet. Even as early on as this book, the afterlife and keeping your consciousness alive in the Force is discussed. Here, Anakin senses a “shadow” of Qui-Gon compared to what he felt before, but he was still there. Qui-Gon was the first to pioneer and discover this ability. This fits perfectly and makes perfect sense in the Star Wars Universe, even and especially the Canon Universe, although this book is not a part of it. Even if this topic isn’t really expanded into in this book, it’s a good intro and really clever to mention it and the topic this early on at this stage, long before any development in the Star Wars Universe was really made on it (way before the Kenobi Series on Disney+). I like how at the end for the first time we hear and see the line “Obi-Wan and Me” used for the first time ever, since we know later on they become like “brothers” and literally inseparable. I like how Anakin references Qui-Gon as being like a father figure to him more than anybody he’s ever known at his funeral, and how Anakin actually was expressed to have cried over Qui-Gon at the funeral. I didn’t really like how Obi-Wan expressed how Anakin should let go of Qui-Gon and has suddenly turned “caring, nice and kind” since being strapped with Anakin as his apprentice due to Qui-Gon’s death. I like how the scene in Shmi’s home where Qui-Gon said he wished no Jedi could be/were able to be killed was referenced/brought back up in the end at his funeral as very apparent foreshadowing laid out clearly for the reader. I like how the last page overall wraps the entire book up as a journal style novel and gives hope and excitement for the future of other Star Wars related writings and works, including potentially the follow ups for this series. I thought the book could’ve used the celebration on Naboo in the ending to truly wrap up the events of the movie of Episode 1, but it is fine as a complete book without it as an ending and wrapped resolution. This is my first book of 2024 I am rating 5 stars because it is already my first ever reread. I truly enjoyed this book beyond all the rest I’ve read so far. The events in this book truly bring great joy to my heart as a Star Wars fan in the way they are described and portrayed. I’d highly recommend this book!! 

I find it almost sacrilegious for me to be writing a bad review for a Star Wars book. It wasn’t that I hated this book and can’t stand it/hate the author and want to leave a bad review, I just didn’t ENJOY it whatsoever, it actually caused me feelings of minor annoyance at some of the characters and their actions and at the end of the book the last few pages sort of redeemed it in one scene but at the end of the day the rest of the book was not very memorable unless you remembered the bad aspects/parts, which weigh the entire book over on the scale of not being a good read overall. I actually LOVE almost every single one of Jude Watson’s Star Wars works, I truly loved her Jedi Apprentice Series as my first introduction to the EU Community, but one of her Jedi Quest books was my first ever DNF! So I guess it just varies with her works, but as a whole I love her works mainly, so this is sort of weird that I didn’t enjoy this book whatsoever really. The book left me with feelings of incompletion and that I may or may not have wasted my time reading all of it. Along with having nearly no feelings for the book, while I could be feeling expressions of happiness or joy, I felt annoyance at multiple times when reading scenes of this book. Overall in the book, everything seems very repetitive overall of the different events of Episode 1, like they weren’t told specifically from Amidala’s POV but from an overall outside viewer’s perspective as a summary of the different conversations and information displayed in the movie. I especially noticed this during the scene where the group eats dinner in Shmi and Anakin’s home. The author’s depiction of Padmé hardly seems accurate to me. It seems as if Jude Watson was attempting to lean more into the age factor of her being a 14-year old girl with high-running emotions and easily frustrated feelings. She seemed to behave very childishly, or at least her inner thoughts were. She appears far too fidgety as described in this book compared to her composure in the movie and novelization. I thought her relationship with Qui-Gon being so poor and the contempt she expressed feeling for him was highly overexaggerated, their relationship was nearly never this bad in the movie and novelization. The reason for this could possibly be due to how his death affected her in the end, the author could’ve been going at an attempt to make it a larger deal than it was between them for the time they spent as Guardian and Handmaiden on Tatooine. I thought the whole Queen vs Padme/handmaiden role difference was also extremely overexaggerated, with Padme believing she’d have so much more respect as a person if she was just in the Queen’s outfit. I thought that was extraordinarily silly, the royalty role and outfit would not have that much of a difference on how she was treated as a person and young girl. I thought Padmé’s character was more self-centered, outspoken and selfish than she ever was in the movies or books, as well as being far too concerned about things she shouldn’t be. I believe this book was definitely changed and made fairly overall inaccurate by the Canon Queen’s/Padmé Amidala Trilogy by E.K. Johnston published from 2019-2022, especially for the handmaiden’s basic understanding and scenes including and involving them, especially Sabé and Padmé’s swap scene early on in the book, and the explanation of the program of Panaka’s. I believe personally the Queen’s Trilogy explains these subjects much better and in fuller understanding. I think the lines with the foreshadowing between Shmi and Padmé, such as the ones mentioned where Shmi is “giving” Anakin to Padmé, is extremely odd to be written so early on, even if we know the ending of the story I thought the lines were unnecessary and weird to read. The book definitely put too much emphasis on the supposed fact that Padme relied so much on the Galactic Senate to fix things and never had a backup plan or belief that the Senate might not side with her. In the book she seems completely reliant on the Senate alone to fix all of her problems, it didn’t seem completely that way in the movie. However two pluses/positives from this book that I can seek out include: the book having beautiful images from the movie chosen for some of the appropriate chapters that were enjoyable to see and I loved the excerpt explaining that Padme did not want to have a Victory Parade due to Qui-Gon’s death, but Obi-Wan convinced her it was what Qui-Gon would’ve wanted. That part of the book was quite possibly the best part of the book overall and the most relatable to those who have ever dealt with recently deceased relatives, such as myself recently. That section of the book was extremely touching and a beautiful tribute to the character of Qui-Gon Jinn, to have  Padme and Obi-Wan have that little sensitive chat due to his passing. Overall, this book was my least favorite out of the Star Wars: Episode 1 Journals Trilogy.