Editorial Review

This elegant volume--perhaps one of the best gift books on the planet--contains all six adventures of the irrepressible, mischievous Madeline (the smallest and spunkiest of the twelve little girls in two straight lines). Ludwig Bemelmans's Read more

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Reviews (15)

A Classic
I visited a friend in a Malaysian hospital, and on the TV in the lobby was an animated series allegedly about Madeline. Tis an abomination devoutly to be missed.
The complete tales of Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
As the title indicates, "Mad About Madeline: The Complete Tales" has the virtue of providing all six of Ludwig Bemelmans stories about the irrepressible Madeline, who first made her appearance way back in 1939.There is also an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Anna Quindlen; an essay by Bemelmans on how he invented Madeline entitled "The Isle of God"; and never-before-published photographs of the Bemelmans family and working sketches of Madeline.I was rather surprised to learn Madeline was celebrating her 60th birthday and even more surprised to learn these stories were not originally written and published in France (I thought it was obvious they were).
-----> :-D
Okay, so my title is cutesy, but so is this glorious book. Why it is the publishers waited through four generations of appreciative readers to give little girls (and not so little girls) all the Madeline stories in one volume is beyond me, but who's to complain now that they're finally here? I bought this on first sight. In fact my hand was reaching for it at Borders before my brain had quite coordinated with my eyes what I was seeing. These tales of the spirited little Madeline and her life at the French orphanage are full of the sort of lovely, bright illustrations children react to and remember. (I've written about it before but there's something about vivid colors in a book that stimulates a young mind as little else can, and Madeline is brimming with them.) Now that all Madeline tales can be held in two hands, the opportunity is finally there to settle into bed for the night and read through these beloved little stories until sleep carries you away. Simply grand!
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Subjects:  1. Boarding schools    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children's stories, American    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Fiction    6. General    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Paris (France)    9. Schools    10. Juvenile Fiction / Classics    11. Bargain   

Editorial Review

Anyone who has ever entertained the notion of "little people" living furtively among us will adore this artfully spun classic.

Reviews (44)

The Borrowers
The book I chose to read is called The Borrowers, written by Mary Norton.I would have to say that the main conflict or theme to this story is about a girl named Arrintrey.She starts on a jouney to find or get in touch with members of her family who live far away with the help of a special boy.Throughout this journey they help one another and become good friends who rely on each other very much.
The Borrowers
The book I chose to read is called The Borrowers, written by Mary Norton.I would have to say that the main conflict or theme to this story is about a girl named Arrintrey.She starts on a jouney to find or get in touch with members of her family who live far away with the help of a special boy.Throughout this journey they help one another and become good friends who rely on each other very much.
PARALLEL LIFESTYLE--IN MINIATURE
Did you know that the real reason for human beans is to Keep Borrowers--unwittingly of course--supplied with oddments and bits of foot, hat and water?Mary Norton's children's classic remains as delightfully fresh and entrancing today as it did when it first appeared in 1953.Recounted by an insightful, elderly Mrs. May to a little girl, the story takes place in a country house in turn-of-the-century England.The author introduces her readers to a hidden race of little people called Borrowers--well, They don't consider it Stealing! Even their last names are borrowed--depending on where in the house they take up secret residence:Avoiding detection by the "human beans" on whom they rely
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Family - General    5. Fantasy    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    8. Juvenile Fiction / Family / General   

Editorial Review

Poor Miss Clavel! In "an old house in Paris that was covered withvines," Miss Clavel oversees the education of 12 little girls, the littlest of whom isthe mischievous Madeline. Despite her size, she fearlessly pooh-poohs the tiger in thezoo and frightens Miss Clavel with her adventurous antics. When she awakens the entirehouse with her plaintive cries in the middle of the night, Doctor Cohn whisks theappendicitis-stricken Madeline off to the hospital where, some two hours later, sheawakens to find a scar on her stomach! The scar (not to mention the flowers, toys, andcandy given to Madeline by her father) proves quite interesting to the rest of MissClavel's charges when they make a special trip to visit her. Ludwig Bemelmans's liltingrhymes are music to children's ears, and the quirky, oddly perfect drawings of the girls in"two straight lines" lend an enticing Parisian flavor to this perennialchildren's favorite. Read more

Reviews (27)

Enjoyable
I am not a fan of France, nor of Madeline, but this book was given as a gift and I have to say my daughter begs for it and I enjoy it more than I thought. In fact, I am even going to purchase more Madeline books. My only quibble is that the rhyming is often a bit off but to be honest, I think that makes the book more enjoyable and more reflective of the time in which it was actually written. It is a classic after all.

Ludwig Bemelmans introduces little Madeline to the world
I have had several occasions to read "Madeline" over the years, yet had never read anything about her.So learning that she had celebrated her 60th birthday was something of a surprise because I did not think of this first story of that irrepressible little girl as something that was first published on the eve of World War II.But the bigger surprise was learning that "Madeline" was not originally written and published in France, which I had always assumed was the case.That means all of those times I was reading this book and wondering what it would read like in the orignal French, I was completely off the mark.Live and learn.
Everyone Loves Madeline
Madeline is the story of a fearless little girl lucky enough to grow up in Paris, France.She lives with 11 other girls in "an old house...covered in vines", and she has a wonderful time scaring her care-giver, Miss Clavel.In the middle of the night, Madeline is rushed out of the old house and to a hospital, frightening her housemates but she somehow manages to make them jealous of her stay there.The book is easy to follow and the pictures are clear - they're all VERY yellow, but are detailed and help tell the story. A classic everyone should read at least once.I would think anyone between kindergarten and maybe fourth grade would enjoy the story, with the two older grades able to read it themselves in addition to having it read to them. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Classics    5. Fiction    6. Sick    7. Stories in rhyme    8. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Editorial Review

After surviving the hair-raising events of Read more

Reviews (50)

The Absolute Best in the Series!
[...]
The absolute best in the series
Finally! Qui-Gon has taken Obi-Wan as his Padawan learner, right when Obi-Wan turns thirteen, and they are off on a mission to the planet Phindar, a planet ruled by a group named the Syndicat. The evil members of the group renew people as punishments. That means they wipe their memory, and send them off to another planet far, far way. Pretty cruel, huh? Plus, Obi-Wan gets to meet his Phindian friend Guerra Derida again, and Guerra's sister Paxxi. To paraphrase the two... not so! Paxxi is Guerra's brother, and they are both extremely likable, funny characters. Together the four work to outwit the Syndicat, plus maybe recover Terra's memory. Terra is Paxxi and Guerra's sister, but she has been memory wiped and now leads the Syndicat. Can Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, with help from the Derida brothers, foil the Syndicat's evil? Read The Hidden Past to find out.
fine 3rd instalment about Obi-Wan's apprenticeship
Obi-Wan has at last become the Padawan of Qui-Gon Jinn and is about to leave on his first official mission.Things couldnt be better, right?Think again!The Jedi are kidnapped and taken to Phindar, a planet ruled by a criminal who has people's memories erased.Things only get worse when one of the Jedis falls into his clutches and is slated for a memory wipe!Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Science fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

It took Ludwig Bemelmans years to think of Madeline's next adventure after the 1939 original Read more

Reviews (16)

Miss Genevieve, the noblest dog in France, rescues Madeline
By this third book in the series, readers know that Madeline is the smallest one of the twelve little girls in two straight lines who live in an old house in Paris that was covered with vines.They know that she is not afraid of mice and that "nobody knew so well, How to frighten Miss Clavel."In fact, Ludwig Bemelmans accompanies those familiar words with a simplified version of the same scene accompanying the same words from the original story of "Madeline."That is because things happen differently this time, as Madeline slips and falls into the river."Poor Madeline would now be dead, But for a god, That kept its head."
A long-time favorite!
My sisters and I loved this book when we were small and I'm having fun reading this book to my little one. Poor Madeline, always ornery, never learning, falls into a river and a dog rescues her. It's very sweet to see how the girls fight over the dog but, when she gets out one night and returns, there was enough "hound to go around," as the book says when dear Genevieve has a litter of puppies, one for each girl.This is a darling classic and quite worthy of the Caldecott Award it received.
To the tiger in the zoo...
If you were to walk up to the first person you met on the street and asked, "Are you familiar with the works of Mr. Ludwig Bemelmans?", you would probably get a funny stare.If, however, you were to walk up to another person on the street and said, "In an old house that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines", you might still get a funny stare but at least they might be familiar with darling "Madeline".Though its author hasn't received much interest over the years, the Madeline books have garnered a great deal of love from many members of the literary world.And of these, the only Caldecott winner was "Madeline's Rescue".Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Kindergarten    3. Classics    4. Dogs    5. Fiction    6. France    7. General    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Paris (France)    10. Stories in rhyme    11. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (68)

Read it if you must
Good story, terrible writing.
Oh dear...
First off I'd like to tell you that this is only the second Star Wars book I've ever read, 'Jedi Search' being the first. I actually liked the first book, it drew upon the Star Wars lore well and was a decent read. However, this book made me groan in so many places that I felt almost compelled to create an account here to have a little rant about it (BE WARNED, THIS MAY CONTAIN A FEW SPOILERS). Thusly:
A good book!
I thought that this was a very good book. Not really one of my favorites, but still a good one.
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Subjects:  1. Fiction - Science Fiction    2. Science Fiction    3. Science Fiction - Space Opera    4. Science Fiction - Star Wars    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction / Science Fiction / Space Opera   

Editorial Review

Just before his 13th birthday, Obi-Wan Kenobi left Yoda and the other teachers at the Jedi Temple. But he wasn't supposed to become a Padawan, a future Jedi Knight, he was assigned to be a farmer! Read more

Reviews (125)

Nate's Rview
I was a bit disappointed with this book because there was not as much action as in most other Star Wars books.
A great introduction to two of the best Star Wars characters
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.
Easy Reading
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.
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Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Science fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (44)

Star Wars Jedi Apprentice: Mark of the Crown
Star War Jedi Apprentice:Mark of the Crown
The best!
The Mark of the Crown was really an extrordinary book in the Jedi Apprentice series. The same great characters are back and are on another adventure. The plot kept my attention through the entire book. For all who like the series or are new to it, this is definitely one you'll like!

one of the best of the Jedi Apprentice series
Jude Watson continues to write intereszing stories about the adventures of Qui-Gon Jinn and his young Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi.He also writes about their developing relationship, with both men longing for connection and not realizing that they are coser than they think!Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Juvenile Fiction    5. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    6. Science fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Madeline, in all her incarnations over six decades, has remained first and foremost one of "twelve little girls in two straight lines" in an old house in Paris. Now, with news that will astound her many fans, not to mention Madeline herself, she and her 11 cohorts find themselves on their way to Texas, U.S.A. Madeline a wealthy cowgirl? Why not! She handles her marvelous windfall with her usual aplomb, donning denim and boots to hop aboard a horse for a tour of her newly inherited gold mines, stampeding cattle herds, and gushing oil fields. At the end of the day, Miss Clavel prepares to tuck 12 little girls into bed--but wait... there are only 11! Where's Madeline?Read more

Reviews (4)

Madeline
The book is so precious, I loved it and gave it to my granddaughter.

One More Time!
When Ludwig Bemelmans passed away he was working on a final Madeline book. Although he had completed the text, the pictures were only in sketch form. His grandson has apparently inherited all of his artistic talent and done a beautiful job completing his work. Adults and children alike will love thisstory. Plus - there are two other marvelous children's stories by Bemelmansre-published. Three books for the price of one!

A must for your Madeline Collection!
Although the "Madeline" story doesn't live up to the earlier books (the rhythm is bumpy), it is entertaining. The other stories areabsolutely marvelous, as are all the illustrations. John Bemelmans Marcianois a worthy successor to his granddaddy. This would make a great Christmasgift for any Madeline fan. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Christmas    4. Holidays & Celebrations - Christmas    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Literary Criticism & Collections    7. Literary collections    8. Short stories   

Editorial Review

Babe is a sensitive soul, deeply loyal to those who are kind to him. So when he is taken in by Farmer Hogget's sheepdog, Fly, it's only natural that he would want to follow in his foster mum's paw-steps. Even with Babe's considerable handicaps as a sheepdog--namely, that he's a pig--he manages to overcome all with his earnestly polite and soft-spoken ways, proving once again that might doesn't always make right. After saving the sheep from rustlers and wild dogs, Babe convinces Hogget that his idea of becoming a sheep-pig "b'aint so stupid" as it might look. But neither Hogget nor Babe, nor anyone else, could have predicted what follows.Read more

Reviews (25)

Kristen's review
In this book, a pig was a prize to be won at a fair in sheep country.Mr. Hogget played the game for the pig. Mr. Hogget told his wife that he played the game for the pig.Mrs. Hogget said I'd like a pig. We can feed him scraps and eat him for Christmas dinner.Fly was training her four puppies when she saw the pig that Mr. Hogget won named Babe.Babe was adopted by Fly and soon learned to herd ducks, chickens, and other farm animals.He really wanted to meet the flock of sheep so he could be like Fly.Will he ever become a useful farm animal instead of a Christmas dinner?Babe saved the flock and convinced them that they would never eat him.Hogget was training Babe for the Grand Challenge Sheep Dog Trials.Mr.Hogget said to his wife see the telly and took off with Babe and Fly..... I reckoned this book for all ages, because it is a cute little book.
Maggie's Pig Review
Mr. Hogget, a sheep rancher, won a pig named Babe at the fair, very much like the one I went to in Sheridan, WY!When Babe came to the ranch, he was a very little pig, so Fly, the sheep dog, decided to mother him along with her five puppies.Babe was soon calling Fly, Mum.Babe also became friends Maaa, an old ewe who at the time needed to be taken care of separately.Maaa was always complaining on how sheepdog treated sheep.Babe asked, "Mum, will you train me to be a sheep-pig?"She said, "Yes."So, Fly started to train him how to be a sheep-pig on ducks, and soon he was fairly good.One day, when Maaa was back in the pasture with the flock and Fly and Farmer Hogget were at market, he decided to go meet the flock.It was chaos!There were sheep rustlers there!Babe ceased them from stealing all the sheep.From then, on Farmer Hogget let Babe come with him and Fly to check the sheep.The first time he came with them Farmer Hogget tried to get him to work the sheep.He did it perfectly!From then on he did most of the sheep work.One day, he decided to go visit the sheep.Again it was chaos!This time it wasn't rustlers, but worriers!They had Maaa down!Before they could kill her, Babe chased them away.Maaa died soon after.Farmer Hogget was readying babe for the sheep dog trials!Will he win?I recommend Babe the Gallant Pig, because it's very outstanding, exciting, and suspenseful!

Richard's Piggy Review

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Subjects:  1. Animals - Farm Animals    2. Animals - Pigs    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Domestic animals    6. Fiction    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Pigs    9. Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Pigs   

Editorial Review

The exciting tale begun in Read more

Reviews (79)

Star wars the dark rival.
I think this book is a good star wars book for 13 though 8.Qiun Gon Jim is having a stuind that wants to kill hem.But Obe One Kenobe is a stuind that Xanitos wants hem to be on the darkside. Later in the book there will be a light saberbatlie that is asome.They will drive vicles be capture and met people they nafer seen before.Soon they will find a person and talk to Yoda.I hope you like this book.

AWESOME!!!! S.B.
I just loved this book!I don't know how anyone could NOT like this book!I can't wait to read the next book in the series: "The hidden past"!!!You just HAVE to read this book!!!

*exciting, and suspenful*
This was one of the first Jedi Apprentice books i read and i loved it! In this book Qui-Gon actually starts to realize that he's kept Obi-Wan in the dark and that he should have explained more about his old apprentice Xanatos. Also there's this part where Qui-Gon is going to rescue Obi-Wan and starts to notice how much Obi-Wan deserves to be a jedi. this book is very emotional and gratifying, i wish Jude Watson would write more! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Science fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (12)

Star Wars Jedi Apprentice (The Threat Within)
Title/AuthorStar Wars Jedi Apprentice The Threat Within
A Certain Point Of View
I realize that a number of people did not enjoy this book. I, however, did. I supose that it all depends on what you are looking to get out of the book. If you are looking for character developement, realationships, and interaction, as I was, then you will be very pleased. However, if you are looking for an outstanding plot with twists and complexity, then you might be dissapointed. (Let's keep in mind that these are still children's books; once I admitted that, I think I enjoyed them more, because I did not expect as much.) A good book, yet a not so good way to end the series
I love the Star Wars Jedi Apprentice Books. I have been reading them ever since they were published. Although I must admit this is a good and well written book I would have liked to see this series end better. I was hoping perhaps it would lead us into Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, and judging from the cover I bought the book believing that Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan would be forced to fight each other, yet what it turns out to be is just that they are just practicing their light saber skills. I was dissapointed but I cant deny that I enjoyed reading the book. It shows Qui-Gon starting to really look at Obi-Wan not as a child anymore but rather as a fellow Jedi Knight. For the first time we see Obi-Wan really take charge of a mission. This book was pretty good, exciting, and full of suspense. I just wish this wasnt the book that ended the series. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure    2. Action & Adventure - General    3. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    4. Children: Grades 3-4    5. Fiction    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Movie Tie - In    8. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    9. Science fiction    10. Teacher-student relationship    11. Teacher-student relationships    12. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Editorial Review

Do you want to try your hand at drawing Madeline yourself? Feel like wandering through a maze to help Madeline find her dog Genevieve? This playful activity book--packed with crossword puzzles, pictures to color, hidden-object games, and more--folds out on both sides to large, full-color glossy pages that depict spectacular Parisian scenes of a park, the old house, and even the hospital room with the bunny-shaped crack in the ceiling. The most excellent full-color Madeline stickers, all reusable, populate the scenes most magnificently. A must-have for those mad for Madeline. (Ages 3 and older) ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great for travel too!
The "vinyl stickers" in this book are actually the same material as window clings. We took this book on a car trip, and my daughter wound up sticking the clings to the window and making a play scene there. Great fun, highly recommended.

excellent little activity book for young Madeline fans
We purchased this activity book to help keep our toddler entertained during a plane flight, and it was perfect.There are about 50 reusable vinyl stickers that can be placed on four scenes -- two-page spreads showing the park in summer and in winter and two one-page views of the Eiffel tower area and Madeline's hospital room.The stickers feature Madeline, the other girls, Miss Clavell and Pepito in various attires and performing a variety of activities, miscellaneous characters from the Paris milieu, and accessories like balloons, a kite and a snowman.The book also contains the complete Madeline poem by Ludwig Bemelmans, simple instructions on how to draw Madeline herself and one each of a hidden word, fill-in-the-blank, matching, hidden picture, maze and crossword puzzle as well as one page for coloring.Very nice little activity book.

This sticker book is great.
This Madeline sticker book is great, I really liked it because it has a lot of reusablestickers I see in the Madeline videos.It is fun to play with because you can move thestickers wherever you want. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 1-2    3. Children: Preschool    4. General    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. People & Places - Europe    7. Juvenile Fiction / Classics   

Reviews (72)

Best Jedi Apprentice book
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan go to Melida/Daan to rescue Tahl, the Jedi peacekeeper who went there.She was gravely wounded and captured by the Melida, and so Yoda dispatches more Jedi to rescue her.
great for kids or SW fans
This entire series is a great children's series.Even though I'm an adult, I still love these books.Set before Episode I, they follow Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn through their early years together as master and apprentice.If you like Obi-Wan, Qui-Gon, or the master/apprentice relationship in general, you'll love these books.

A amazing book even for adults
Obi-Wan is on Melida/Dan. A planet steeped with violence for as long as anyone can remeber.Jedi should not take sides Qui-gon tells Obi-Wan but he ends up taking sides with a group named the Young who are fighting against there parent to stop the war. Debate rages between Obi-wan and Qui-gon and ..... well you will see what heppens.It includes Obi-Wan getting kicked out of the Jedi Order and staying to help the Young read the next books to see if Qui-gon will except Obi-wan as his apprentice again. I [16] found this to be a great book when i was younger and still do! now that iv finished the NJO series the clone wars series and the Jedi Apprentice series i cant wait for a new one . You will love this book guarenteed.If you dont well i cant give you your money back..... but you would have to be insane not to like it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Science Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    7. Science fiction    8. Juvenile Fiction / Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic   

Reviews (19)

A young Kenobi must save Qui-Gon Jinn
This story is set early in the relationship between Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Kenobi is still uncertain in the ways of the force, so when Jinn is kidnapped and tortured, although he is determined there is an uncertainty to his actions. The kidnapper is an evil scientist who creates diseases and cures. She releases the disease and when it starts to take lives, announces the cure and is lauded as a hero. Jinn is kidnapped so that he will be forced to use the force to survive and by studying the force, she hopes to learn how to use it for profit.
The Experiment Is a Success
Jude Watson delivers yet again with The Evil Experiment.The novel is excellently paced and ma