Children Books

I started this book when I was pregnant with my second child, ended up miscarrying, but continued to read and finish it because of the respect and insight Peggy Vincent ignited in me for my own body. The learning and playful love I felt as I turned the pages outweighed my pangs of hurt and loss - I am so happy I stumbled upon this great book. Highly recommended, and although I'd wished I had found it before my first pregnancy, some women (and men) may want to wait until they have one birth under their belt as the images Ms. Vincent creates will definitly churn the emotions. Turned my western-culture hospital attitude on its head.

My best friend gave me this book as a thank-you gift for flying from Nor Cal (60 miles from Berkley, where most of the action is set) to Phoenix, AZ on a few hours' notice, five days ahead of schedule, in order to be her doula for her first baby. I had read it before I left for California again some days later.

Fast, engaging, memorable life experiences follow a decades-long parade of shifting ideas of how women give birth in our country, from "all stirrups-and-forceps, all the time!" (slight exaggeration... slight.) to the reemergence of midwifery care and homebirth. The chapters tend to be short, which is great if you've only got a few minutes to squeeze in some reading. The stories are exhilarating, often hilarious, sometimes terrifying.

One of my favorite books. I hope someday to meet Peggy and learn more from her as I also work with laboring women, and maybe even get to catch a few babies, myself.

I love that Peggy begins her career as a shy, girlish candy striper & goes on to become the take-charge, seasoned veteran she ultimately is. I love that she chose what appear to be the most exciting, interesting, poignant & pivotal birth stories of her professional career to share with us. She gives the people what we want - action! I've read lots of hum-drum, normal homebirth stories, so I found it refreshing to be riveted at every page.
BTW, Peggy, you got screwed & it's not fair! I was so spitting mad about her lawsuit that happened >20 years ago that I will rant about it whenever the topic comes up. A page-turner, but perhaps not for first-time pregnant mommies. If you're really into childbirth, like me, wait until your postpartum time, when you need something to get your heart racing & overemotional eyes pouring in happiness & sadness.

I was born in my house and witnessed the births of my two younger brothers. Yet I hate to say, I never imagined that I myself could deliver at home. All my friends were born at hospitals, so that must have been normal, right? I used a hospital midwife for my first child and had an amazing birth experience. If I hadn't, (and if I didn't already LOVE my current midwife who will also deliver in a hospital) I would certainly call up a local midwife and "do it at home."
I have to say, as much of an education this book was, it was FUNNY! Peggy Vincent has a great way with telling a story. Its one of those books where you laugh out loud, and then read the passage to whoever is in the room. Even my 20 year old brother laughed at the part when the husband is ready to catch the baby and started screaming.
Another thing I liked about this book is that the chapters are pretty short, so if you have other responsibilities (and really shouldn't be reading a book) you have several good stopping places.
If you are pregnant, or planning on becoming pregnant, or have already had children, are a nurse or doctor, or just want to be entertained, I would highly recommend this book.

I've read several births on midwifery and Peggy Vincent's is by far one of the most readable in terms of reaching a broad audience. If you reach for a midwifery book, in general you are pregnant and considering it as a birth option or interested in midwifery itself. There aren't a lot of general interest readers but Vincent's book is in a position to change it. It is both a memoir of a powerful personal journey and a piquant social commentary but beyond those two facets it is a testament to the power of women and the beautiful normalcy of birth. In fact, it's the stories of the women--both happy and sad--- that make the book so compelling, particularly because the author doesn't try to ignore or whitewash births that did not end as planned.
I recommend Babycatcher to any pregnant mom who wants a glimpse of her own birthing capabilities and to any women considering midwifery. I also recommend it to anyone else who wants a moving, informative, often funny adventure into the exciting world of baby catching.

This book is not for those with a weak stomach but is great for a first time parent to be. It shows week by week development of the unborn child. I would highly suggest it to any new parent.

This is an amazing book. I bought the first edition when I was pregnant with my first child and thought it was awesome. Now it has been reprinted and updated with photographs of the fetus using modern technology. I got the new one for my daughter who is expecting her first child. I just can't believe the photos in the new book! She is enjoying viewing and learning about her baby's development. This book is a compilation of amazing photos of the development of a child from conception to birth.

Beautiful full color images of all parts the pregnancy. I was referred to get this book by another teacher who said she gave it as a gift at a baby shower and it was a big hit. Includes images from a 3-D ultrasound, progression of baby growth, and other cool pictures.

Product very good, just as described. Shipping quite slow, but was still within the time frame described.

I absolutely LOVE this book!! The pictures are incredible! I have not seen anything else that compares. I received the order quickly, it was packaged well and in perfect condition. Love it!!

Your books are a joy to read. You are a wonderful writer. I couldn't put down each one of your books. I loved all your personal stories and learned so much from you. We have a lot in common. Thank you for being so honest and open.

All your books are up there in my top favorite non-fiction list. The other two super heroes up there with you are Dr. Brian Weiss, "Same Soul, Many Bodies", and Dr. Elizabeth Kubler Ross, "The Wheel of Life", her autobiography and her best book ever. (Also "The Yeast Syndrome" by Dr.John Towbridge is a must read! Candidiasis is the main cause of everything from athletes foot to severe mental illness.)

I've never read or heard other people talk about some of the things you talked about in your books, although I've felt them, like wanting to go home. I also have a very deep rooted sorrow and I thought it was from child abuse, but I think you're right about it being a global consciousness we sensitives tap into.

I love how you make all the things that I thought made me weird, or weak, make me sound enlightened and desirable. Awesome.

I'm so happy to have found you and I'm looking forward to seeing how all this new information frees me and changes my world.

Thanks for all the love, learning and encouragement. You are so much fun, so warm and so charming. I hope I get to meet you someday, even if it's when we finally make it home.

Very enjoyable for knowers & seekers. I grew up in L.A., so it was fun reading for me.

I love this book! It's sound and grounded and keeps its simple enough to follow. Judith Orloff offers a possibility into healing and wholeness as part of a self-care program. Intuition often has answers that the intellect can't find. So when your left and right brain work together ... more healing is possible.

This text gives voice to a near silent wisdom that underlies human evolution in consciousness, i.e., health & wellness, and validates the lives of many intuitives challenged to make sense of a dominant world view. My mindbody, my cells, my emotions all respond to this intelligence in an life-affirming way. This is profoundly healing.

I feel very lucky to have stumbled across this book while browsing through one of my favorite local bookstores. I am a seeker trying each day to develop my intuition, look within myself for answers, and feel the power of our Divine Creator flow through me. I am a strong believer in the mind, body, and soul connection and Dr. Orloff does an excellent job in this book explaining our energy systems, the power of the mind to heal, and our very own connection to Source that has been with us since the time of our birth. We all possess the ability to heal ourselves and it is time we start looking within to heal any emotional wounds that have manifested into physical symptoms in order to catch our attention. Dr. Orloff is an amazing Doctor, healer and writer. This novel is very profound and sure to change your life!

What a wonderful story! My daughter is 3 1/2 and after one reading this quickly became her favorite book. It is so much fun to read and she enjoys it. It is great at teaching kids about being patient and waiting for a parent when they call them from their room. Also, about teaching them that mama is close by and they don't have to be scared to be alone after lights out. Our favorite line from this book (and Llama Mad at Mama) - "stop all this llama drama!" We are so blessed by this wonderful story.

What a cute book. My daughter loves this book and red pajamas. What a fun book to read to your child.

This clever little book is my child's new favorite bedtime story, and the illustrations make me laugh out loud! We certainly know about Llama Drama around here, and my child is currently calling herself, "Little llama!"

My almost 2 year old daughter never sits for a whole book - until "llama llama red pajama". I picked it up, I didn't expect for it to get sooo much usage, but it does! We're going on 3 weeks and she's starting to remember the words and loves to shout "llama Mama!" all over the house. So, we purchased the second book, "llama llama mad at mama", this is a little more complex and may take some more time. However, this book has helped her become more patient when I am reading. Well, we're loving it and have introduced it at playdates. I can't say enough good things about this book.

The rhyming and the facial expressions are also very easy for her to interpret and understand, I appreciate that too.

My son received this book on his first birthday, and 3 months later was a die-hard fan :) I loves the illustrations and the cadence of the words. It's the book he brings to us when he wants to be read to. Highly recommended for your toddler!

I was in love with Katia Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov from the moment I first saw them skating together. Their classic routines were perfect enough to win many world championships including a 1988 Olympic gold medal in Calgary Canada.

Romance eventually blossomed and the beautifully matched pair were married in April of 1991. Their daughter, Daria Sergeyevna Grinkova, was born in my favorite Morristown NJ a little over a year later.

Reading Katia's memories of their life and love still brings tears to my eyes.

I recommend this book for its portrait of pure innocence enframed in the magical world of ice skating.

I'm really glad I found this book at a library book sale last year. Though this story is no longer current news, I hadn't forgotten about the tragic death of Sergey Grinkov or watching him perform with his wife Katya in the 1994 Winter Olympics. And even though the world has long since moved onto other headlines and stories of interest in the figure skating world, the love story told in this book is truly timeless. As a Russophile and a historian whose field of expertise is Russian history, it was a double joy to read because of all of the descriptions of Russian culture, the differences between Russian and American customs, and what life was like in the late Soviet period and the early post-Soviet period. (Although I have to say that the transliteration style wasn't completely pleasing to me; for example, I don't think I've ever read any other book where a double O is used in place of the letter U, as in Ligooshina or Katoosha, and I'm still trying to figure out how the nicknames Serioque and Katuuh are supposed to be written in Russian characters.)

Though the book begins and ends sadly, in between there's a lot of happiness and love, making this into a beautiful heartfelt love letter to a wonderful person, skating partner, friend, lover, husband, and father. The love between Katya and Seryozha is so pure and genuine, nothing like the type of superficial and problem-plagued celebrity relationships we're used to hearing about. It even made me a little jealous of their storybook love story! All throughout, Katya is very honest and open, about their relationship, the world of young skaters in the Soviet Union, what goes on behind the scenes at the Olympics, the hectic life on the road of skaters, and how difficult it was to constantly have to leave their daughter Darya behind while they skated. While I'm sure there are some things she chose not to write about, overall a very detailed and honest life and love story emerges. She was so lucky to have this wonderful man, who was so much more than just an athletic partner, for (what was then) half of her life.

Because the love story is so beautiful and like a dream come true, the reader can really feel her deep grief and sorrow expressed at the beginning and end of the book. It's a terrible thing to lose the love of your life, the father of your child, the only person you've ever skated with for the past 13 years, when you're only 24 years old. This beautiful love story isn't diminished for me by knowing that Katya has since moved on with her life and found love again. She had a child with Ilya Kulik six years after Sergey died, and married him a year later; it's not like she jumped into his bed soon after this book was published! (And since Kulik is six years younger, he would have been a bit too young for her then anyway.) When you're widowed at such a young age, you should hardly be expected to be in mourning forever, and it may help the more current reader to not feel quite so sad at the end, knowing that this intense pain and sorrow isn't such an overpowering force in Katya's life anymore. And new husband or not, there's no denying that her first husband, her first love, was indeed the greatest love of her life.

What a wonderful story this was. I love to watch skating and have not missed watching an Olympics since I was a kid. I am familiar with a lot of the skaters mentioned in this book. I thought this story was so touching and full of emotion. Katia considers her life with Sergei almost too perfect. They were so in love and their life together was indeed a fairy tale. I commend Katia for being able to pick herself and go on with her life no matter how difficult after Sergei's unexpected death in 1995. I thought the comparison between Russian and American customs was very interesting. This was an enjoyable and heartwarming read.

I remember watching this pair when they were competing. I wasn't an ice dancing fan, but they were so incredible to watch, I started watching any competition they were in. When Sergei died, I was devastated for Ekaterina. When her book came out, I read it, and cried all the way through. But really, it isn't a sad ending. I find it to be very inspirational to see how Ekaterina faced the worst that could happen, and came out on the other side with a wonderful attitude and will to go on. It is now 12 years later, and this book STILL makes me cry, and still inspires me.

I read this book lastyear in the Hardcover edition and I cried. It is such a moving, loving, tragic, and heartwarming story full of love that a young widow had for her husband and skating partner and the child Daria that they had together. It told of their skating years, marriage, how they met, and came to america along with the tragic death of her young husband Sergei. I couldn't put this book down. A great story that you will love. Well written.

We purchased this book for our school library and it hasn't been on the shelf since! It is a really cute book that my sons (7 and 9) have really enjoyed. We are eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Also - The binding is really great on the book.

My 9 year old daughter loves this series. I bought this for her as a Christmas gift and she was 130 pages deep by the second day. I can hear her laughing out loud in the other room while she is reading this book. I've already pre-ordered the next book in the series.

After my son (then 6) read this book for the third straight time I decided to give it a try. My husband found me an hour later in my son's bed, him asleep, me reading the book. This book is what reading is all about - something so good that you not only don't want to put it down, but you read it again to get another point of view. Just thinking of it now puts a smile on my face. Can't wait for number 3, and would love to see a number 4.

Santa brought the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself for xmas. What a great exercise is the fun and whimsy of keeping a journal (NOT a Diary!) for boys. If you have a reader who loves the books, get the Journal as well.Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

"Rodrick Rules" is a winning and often hilarious account of a year in the life of diary writer, Gregory Henfield. His accounts of life with a bullying older brother, tattle-tailing little brother, nerdy best friend, and annual life events such as holidays, vacations, and school events are right on target.

Kids will love the pictures and easy to follow text. Educators and parents will love that the kids are enjoying reading so much.

These books are laugh out loud funny! The first was great and the second one was just as good. These books turned my son on to reading and have lit a fire under his interest in reading and writing because of the diary that accompanies book one. I can't say enough good things about the Wimpy Kid!

We purchased this book for our school library and it hasn't been on the shelf since! It is a really cute book that my sons (7 and 9) have really enjoyed. We are eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Also - The binding is really great on the book.

My 9 year old daughter loves this series. I bought this for her as a Christmas gift and she was 130 pages deep by the second day. I can hear her laughing out loud in the other room while she is reading this book. I've already pre-ordered the next book in the series.

After my son (then 6) read this book for the third straight time I decided to give it a try. My husband found me an hour later in my son's bed, him asleep, me reading the book. This book is what reading is all about - something so good that you not only don't want to put it down, but you read it again to get another point of view. Just thinking of it now puts a smile on my face. Can't wait for number 3, and would love to see a number 4.

Santa brought the Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself for xmas. What a great exercise is the fun and whimsy of keeping a journal (NOT a Diary!) for boys. If you have a reader who loves the books, get the Journal as well.Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

"Rodrick Rules" is a winning and often hilarious account of a year in the life of diary writer, Gregory Henfield. His accounts of life with a bullying older brother, tattle-tailing little brother, nerdy best friend, and annual life events such as holidays, vacations, and school events are right on target.

Kids will love the pictures and easy to follow text. Educators and parents will love that the kids are enjoying reading so much.

These books are laugh out loud funny! The first was great and the second one was just as good. These books turned my son on to reading and have lit a fire under his interest in reading and writing because of the diary that accompanies book one. I can't say enough good things about the Wimpy Kid!

I had a hard time putting this book down! It is amazing, and horrible, the things that this woman went through as a child, and I am so grateful she relived the nightmare so that we might know what went on.

I feel that the book depicts exactly the kind of life the Jews lived in Germany. The author did very good when giving discriptions of the horrific sights of everything that was going on.

I just finished another very painful but interesting and shocking memoirs in "Thanks to my Mother" by Shoshana Rabinovici and started this book. It's absolutely shocking and heroic struggle to do everything possible to survive day-by-day and minute-by-minute the Systematic Nazi Plan to annihilate the Jewish People.
Highly highly recommend to every one who is interested in Holocaust and to everybody to read and to learn what was really WWII about.

An avid reader of Holocaust memoirs, I found "Alicia" an unforgettable story of survival.

Only a child at the onset of World War II in her native Poland, Alicia Jurman soon lost both her parents and all four brothers -- murdered, in different ways, for one reason, being Jewish. It was only through a strange destiny that young Alicia kept surviving herself -- once being pushed through a gap in a train window, heading for a concentration camp; another time, falling unconscious and being presumed dead by the Nazis, only to be rescued by an astute and caring Jewish gravedigger.

Yet even when a person is at her lowest, she can always find others even worse off. It would have been easy for Alicia to say she had nothing left to give; yet even during the most destitute and desperate of times, she shared food and supplies with other Holocaust survivors.

It was also this loving attitude that made Alicia take action after the war, when she noticed a number of starving orphaned children roaming city streets. Only 15 and an orphan herself, Alicia took it upon herself to establish a Jewish "orphanage," moving some 24 youths aged 10 to 15 into a vacated apartment and securing financial help to get their new lives underway.

Still a teenager, Alicia eventually sought refuge in Israel. But, as always, problems arose...

Alicia Jurman is a modern-day hero, guaranteed to inspire readers for generations to come.

This eye witness account of the holocaust in Poland is so horrific it would be too depressing to read, if it weren't for the author's lucid, straight forward prose. Alicia Jurman was 13 years old when she fought for survival against literally impossible odds in southeastern Poland and witnessed the destruction of her entire family, friends and neighbors. Her survival was accomplished through truly incredible pluck, strength of character, resourcefulness, and unbelievable good luck.
We already know (or should know) all about the horrors of the holocaust: the depth of depravity to which the human soul can sink; and we know that to forget this worst of all possible nightmares is to face another genocide in our lifetime (we already have in Darfur, Rwanda, Bosnia, and elsewhere).
What distinguishes "Alicia: My Story" despite the unspeakable horror is this horror as viewed through the eyes of a girl who simply refuses to give in and give up. She is an amazingly strong girl who used everything she had to survive. And she tells the story in a matter of fact way that propels the narrative forward and keeps the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next.
If one has never been exposed to what went on during World War Two, this excellent book is the perfect place to start.

I'm a fifteen year old high school student and i am thouroughly in love with this book. I enjoy many different types of books, but this book stood out to me from the moment i first read it. My mother got me this book and i put off reading it for a while. But eventually I picked it up and finished it that day. I was absolutely captivated and unable to put it down. I have re-read it many times and i am still in awe of how beautiful the story and Shannon Hale's writing is. I will cherish this book for many years and will continue to re-read it. I love Shannon Hale and her book The Goose Girl!

Oh I love this book! So beautiful, it can make you cry, laugh or bite your fingernails. This is one of my favorite books of all time! Thanks Shannon Hale!=]

This is another of my "good, clean fun" favorite books. The characters are engaging, and the storyline is clever. The story doesn't go like you'd expect (unless, perhaps, if you've read the fairy tale first). The world-building is very good, and the pacing is excellent. I liked the romance. For those who care, there were no sex scenes.

Genre Reviews
[...]

For years I thought I was the only person on the planet familiar with the fairy tale of the Goose Girl. How thrilled I was to read a novel based upon the story!

Shannon Hale, as most writers of fairy tale retalings, goes an extra step to make a threat of warfare behind the simple story of a betrayed princess.

Ani is a princess with a load of responsibilities and loyalties, including an arranged marriage with the purpose of creating a union between two kingdoms. She also happens to have a special gift--speaking to nature (which fits very well into the original fairytale).

This is a story full of the usual romance and adventure, but it also packs an extra dose of magic and a surprisingly delightful addition of political strategy.

A great read

Goose Girl by Shannon Hall is like a realistic fairytale. Sure, it has its share of magic, but everything just feels so possible and there is such a struggle for finding one's place. Princess Anidora is such an inspiring character because her problems don't just solve themselves and she needs the help of others.
Ani, also known as Isi, is someone that you want to sympathize with because to be in her position just seems like there are so many obstacles to over come. And even though she seems shy and humble, she has such a strong soul and such perseverance. Her fight against someone who she once thought was her friend is so intense in every aspect. There are so many moments where you feel that Ani's fate is sealed, yet at the last moment where you realize that you are clutching onto something, she somehow escapes. Although many of her company were not so fortunate, she never forgets them and their devotion to her. I think that many of her traits such as these are so admirable. She is such a caring person when it comes to the people who have helped her in various ways. She never acts as though people owe her some sort of service, even when she is a princess.
One of the happiest moments to me was when she finally felt loved again from Geric, yet so sad when it seemed as though it ended. It broke my heart and I thought to myself that she is so lucky to at least have loved at all.
Although some parts seem gruesome and nerve racking, it makes you feel as though you are in the story itself and are in Ani's shoes. Ani is the kind of person a girl can look up to which I think is so important, and I think ads to the book's appeal to readers such as myself. The ending was spectacular however I won't go into detail, you'll just have to read it yourself, but trust me, the length may be daunting, but it is defiantly a page turner.
One last thing before I go, for those who have already read this book and are looking for another good read that is very close to the Goose Girl is The Book of Three series by Lloyd Alexander. They are just as captivating, but are still a different style of writing.

So this is the first of 18 book series featuring Obi-wan Kenobi and it didn't disappoint. I couldn't help but thinking something more is needed for this book to merit a 5 star, but maybe because I read the two Darth Bane stories before this one (which are excellent btw)I was expecting more "action". Anyway the good thing about this book is that it eventualy draws you on wanting to read the next book to see want happens to Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon.
All in all a good read.

I was a bit disappointed with this book because there was not as much action as in most other Star Wars books.
Twelve-year-old Obi -Wan is an exceptional student at the Jedi Temple, although his anger sometimes clouds his judgment. Only a few more weeks until his thirteenth birthday and then forced to leave the Temple, he has one last chance to be a padawan. When Jedi Master Qui-Gon-Jin arrives, Obi-wan is hopeful. Unfortunately, Qui-Gon is skeptical and rejects Obi-Wan. Though Fate has placed them on a same trip to Bandomear, Obi-Wan is to farm and Qui-Gon is on a mission.
I would only recommend this book to Star Wars fans because you have to know who a lot of people are such as Master Yoda and Master Windu. Other than that, it is a fairly good book.

Even though this is a young readers book(ages 9-12), any fan of the Star Wars series will enjoy this well told story about the little known history of Obi-Wan Kenobi's teenage years.
The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of Obi-Wan's struggle within to control his emotions and immerse his mind and body ionto the Force. Realizing the reality that he won't be chosen as a Padawan Learmer before the age limit deadline, and will become a member of the Agro-Corps, using the Force to help grow food on planets that struggle to do so.
The ever stubborn and persistent Kenobi learns that Qui-Gonn Jinn, a well respected Jedi Knight is coming to the temple to view the young students who are eligible for apprenticeship, he tries his hardest to impress the Jedi Knight. Even though Qui-Gonn is slightly impressed by young Kenobi, he refuses to take him as a Padawan because his first students fall to the Dark Side has left him skeptical of taking another.
The two find themselves traveling together on a freighter to a small mining planet, Obi-Wan to join the Agro-Corps and Qui-Gonn on Jedi business. Trouble arises and thus begins the first adventure of the two classic heroes.
As I said before any Star Wars fan can enjoy this book and the entire series is just as compelling.
Enjoy and May the Force be with you!!!

One of my favorite characters in the Star Wars Episodes I, II, III, and IV has been Obi-Wan Kenobi. My second favorite character is Qui-Gon Jenn. The Jedi Apprentice Series answers many of the questions that one might have wondering through their minds about these two characters. Some of these questions being how do you become a Jedi Apprentice, what was Obi-Wan like growing up, how does he learn to use the force and did Obi-Wan ever get to experience falling in love etc...? Dave Wolverton starts this series off with Book 1 and Jude Watson writes Book 2 -18. Both writers are good but Jude Watson is the one who bringing to light the emotions and bonding experiences between the Jedi Knight and his Apprentice. Their adventures together are interesting and imaginative leaving you wanting to know what's in the next book.
The Jedi Apprentice series was written for young teens, but it is enjoyable for all ages. These books are what I call easy reading, because you can finish it in just a few hours or faster if your a quick reader. I personally bought the Rising Force out of curiosity about Obi-Wan's character and to find answers to the questions that ran through my own mind after seeing episode III. I decided to buy the whole series to keep for my future grandchildren, so they too will know what isn't told in the movies about the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jenn, his Apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and the force that souranded their lives.

Obi-Wan Kenobi is a Jedi student hoping to be chosen as a Padawan by a Jedi Master, particularly one named Qui-Gon Jinn. But after proving his anger can get the better of him, he is not chosen as a Padawan. Instead he is sentenced to be a farmer on planet Bandomeer (yawn!) But he is stranded on a mysterious planet with Qui-Gon and the ship passengers. It leads to an unexpected adventure with Qui-Gon... This is an extremely poignant adventure with action and peril. I'd recommend it for any kid over 10 years old, maybe for some adults. I'm serious! Even if you think Star Wars is the most stupid thing ever, you'll love this book. Probably the second best in the whole series. It just rocks! Why? Because author Dave Wolverton comes up with excellent alien characters and writes about them with great poignance. And the Jedi wisdom written down in the book rings true. Overall, a smart mini novel. It rocks.