Reviews

Anakin Skywalker by Todd Strasser

ofclumsywords's review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The addition of Anakin making Padme’s necklace was by far my favorite part of this book. But besides that, there seemed to be fewer additions to the stories than the other two journals (Maul & Padme’s). The writing wasn’t my absolute favorite and seemed a little stiff and childish to me. Yes I know this is told in a 9 year olds perspective, but when compared to the other children’s novels in the Star Wars universe, this one seemed to stand out more and make the reader more aware its a children’s book. 

thebookslayer's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A deeper look into Anakin thoughts and actions. Following the story line of StarWar Ep.1. A nice addition to the Ep.1 Journals trio.

fandom4ever's review against another edition

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Star Wars Episode I Journal – Anakin Skywalker is another wonderful addition to Phantom Menace’s story! In this book, unlike the other two, Anakin is writing his journal after the events of Episode I have taken place so we get a few moments of hindsight and his new understandings of some events. And like the other novelizations, here we see him as the more serious child without the movie moments. I especially loved seeing a bit more of his interactions with Qui-Gon. It really helped to flesh out his short relationship with the Jedi Master and why Qui-Gon would have such an impact on Anakin’s life going forward.  Indeed, the ending held some real emotion. 

I also can’t believe it, but if I had read this book years ago, I would have figured out what the heck Jar Jar was saying when he said he ‘crashed his boss’s headlibber’. It turns out it was Boss Nass’s favorite vehicle!! Well that’s a 25 year old mystery solved!! 

I would recommend this book as another great companion to your Episode I reading and viewing. 

justthatstarwarsbookgirl's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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!! 

glomdi's review against another edition

1.0

Out of all the Star Wars books I've read, this is probably my least favorite. Though it gave some interesting viewpoints from Anakin, the writing was bad and it made the story seem bland. There wasn't colorful language or exciting reveals- it was, "Qui-Gon said this, and I agreed with him. Then Obi-Wan did this and Qui-Gon said this and Padme asked this..."

This style of writing, as if he's recording everything in the journal, can work with some. Having no quotation marks for the people actually talking bugged me, because like I said before it's just a he said this sort of thing. With Queen Amidala's Journal, it worked. With Anakin's, it did not.

teachinsci's review against another edition

3.0

My daughter enjoys this story of Episode 1 from the perspective of Anakin. She has me read it to her at least once every few months.

sable_m's review against another edition

3.0

3
Average book, a few contradictions to other renditions of the events, specifically in character's internal dialog (especially the youth Phantim Menace retelling which has the same target audience)
It follows Anakin's remembrance of the events of the Phantom Menace after they've happened, as a way to remember everything that's happened to him, with some remeberance of events before the movie that play relevance to his knowledge of certain things going on around him.
It's written as his feelings and emotions as they happened instead of a more 'present tense' reflection on the events and reflecting on how he'd felt then (Basically it was all present tense type writing "I need to do this" instead of "I had to/I did do this"). Events were heavily skimmed in favor for shorter set up to what the scene was in the movie before shifting back to anakin's internal thoughts.

Very quick read. Only took a few of hours with multiple pauses and breaks.

nerdypotsie's review against another edition

5.0

I actually really enjoyed this one! It was somewhat of a novelization of the first movie, but it was all from Anakin’s perspective and it was really cute.

quigonchuy's review against another edition

2.0

It's alright, not much added to the story really. Mostly an Anakin focused retelling of EP I.

dinosaurhorrorshow's review

2.0

Since all the star wars journal books were written by different authors some are more well written than others. This one in my opinion is not as well written as the darth maul one or the older ones.