Star Wars: Jedi Quest: Path to the Truth

I think Jude Watson really did an awesome job with the Jedi Quest books. It shows the bond between Anakin and Obi-Wan and shows off their incredible Jedi skills. It depicts the characters very well.

My 5 year old daughter recently read this book to me. She loved hearing the story of Teddy's adventures, and this book has inspired us to start a scrapbook of her adventures with her special toy animal friend. The last chapter is wonderful as it describes the bond of friendship between the bear and the little girl who loved him.

"Jedi Quest" begins on Tatooine when Anakin was still a simple, 7-year-old slave. Anakin and his friend, Amee, decide to go on a picnic on a day when they are not required to work. While on their way home, the children are shocked to see people crying in the streets, mothers screaming for their children, and Mos Espa's hovels ransacked. Then the children hear the horrifying truth: there had been a slave raid. Krayn, a space pirate, and his followers had stolen several slaves from Mos Espa. Shmi Skywalker -- Anakin's mother --is safe (although her face is petrified with fear), but Amee's mother -- Hala -- was a victim of the dreaded raid.Six years later, Anakin is the Padawan of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan and Anakin make a journey to the planet Ilum to gather the crystals that Anakin needs to fashion his own lightsaber. Once inside the cave, Anakin embarks on quest unlike any other he will ever face. When Anakin and Obi-Wan return to the Jedi Temple, they are requested to undertake an escort mission: accompanying a Colicoid diplomatic ship which will be traveling through a section of the galaxy where the pirate Krayn is know to attack. Anakin now swears to himself that he will confront Krayn and destroy him.After the Colicoid ship is hit by blaster fire from Krayn's vessel, Obi-Wan and Anakin decide to fly to the Krayn's ship in order to infiltrate. After Anakin and Obi-Wan disable Krayn's weapon systems, the Jedi are pierced by blaster fire as they are getting into their transport. The Jedi turn around to see Zora, Krayn's assistant, firing at them. But Obi-Wan does not know Zora as Zora, he knows Zora as the former Siri -- a padawan he went through Temple training with. Obi-Wan climbs aboard but before Anakin can climb aboard the transport, Zora closes the hatch and turns on the power turbines, sending Obi-Wan spinning into space. Krayn appears and Zora says that she was using this slave (Anakin) "as a cover against the intruder." Krayn takes Anakin to another planet where Anakin is now a slave.Will Obi-Wan ever see his Padawan again? Why is Siri working for the Dark Side? Will Anakin bring Krayn to justice? All of your question will be answered after you read this book. I loved this book! Read it at all costs!

The time between Episodes 1 and 2 has left us with a space of ten years to dream up Anakin's life as a Jedi Padawan. In this new novel, Jude Watson does a good job of showing how the slave boy from Tatooine grows up to be Darth Vader. But I enjoyed this book, as it gave me insight into his training and shows that he does have darker tendencies. Jedi Quest also shows how Obi-Wan Kenobi fights to ease his inner turmoil around loosing his Master, while trying to train a boy who has inner turmoil of his own. I have read all the Star Wars books, but I think that this is one of the most interesting books, and Ms. Watson's style is one that the readers can relate to. I highly recommend Jedi Quest for anyone looking for a good read, even if you don't like Star Wars.Also recommended: Star Wars Rogue Planet, the Jedi Apprentice series, and Deceptions, the Jedi Apprentice Super Edition.

Four years have passed since Qui-Gon's death. Obi-Wan is trying to do a good job of teaching Anakin, who is now thirteen, but he fears he may be letting his master down. The Jedi Council, which still has doubts about Anakin, allows Obi-Wan to take him to the planet Ilum to build his lightsaber. On Ilum, Anakin is forced to face painful memories he thought he had left behind. After their return to Coruscant, Obi-Wan and Anakin are sent on a mission to help guard a diplomatic ship against pirates. But the mission becomes more complicated than expected when pirates attack and both Obi-Wan and Anakin are forced to face their pasts. I reccomend this new novel to all Star Wars fans, not just the age group it is written for.