caitrisriding's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
While I am a big fan of the star wars movies, I have never read any of the books at all. With this being my first I was pleasantly surprised that I got to meet new characters in the Star Wars world instead of the main bunch that we hear about in the movies. I really enjoyed going on this mission with these clone troopers and the young Jedi apprentice, it was refreshing to meet these new characters while still being in a world that I'm already familiar with.
I think I will defiantly check out more of this series cause I really like the idea of seeing these little special missions in the Star Wars universe and I think this book did a pretty good job of bringing that to life.
All in all I really enjoyed this book but it wasn't anything amazing. It was a short little read and if you like Star Wars but maybe want to see some different characters and a story you don't know, I would defiantly recommend this for you.
While I am a big fan of the star wars movies, I have never read any of the books at all. With this being my first I was pleasantly surprised that I got to meet new characters in the Star Wars world instead of the main bunch that we hear about in the movies. I really enjoyed going on this mission with these clone troopers and the young Jedi apprentice, it was refreshing to meet these new characters while still being in a world that I'm already familiar with.
I think I will defiantly check out more of this series cause I really like the idea of seeing these little special missions in the Star Wars universe and I think this book did a pretty good job of bringing that to life.
All in all I really enjoyed this book but it wasn't anything amazing. It was a short little read and if you like Star Wars but maybe want to see some different characters and a story you don't know, I would defiantly recommend this for you.
oneheart's review against another edition
5.0
My 9 year old son read this on his own, as well as the 3 remaining books in the series. He then insisted that I read it too (this may be the first book recommendation he gave me)... So basically I'm saying this book was always going to get a five star review from me.
kristalee's review against another edition
4.0
Read aloud to a 6 and 4 year old. Both enjoyed it and followed along throughout. It kept their attention, I think it would be more appropriate for an older child, but they did like it.
rivulet027's review against another edition
4.0
Good intro to all the characters and an interesting situation that they find themselves in! I really like the way that Cad Bane was used.
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I've decided to review the four books in the Secret Missions series together, since they seem to be more a single story than four individual stories under the same arc. Each book has its own conflict and story, but they seem to be a backfrop for the larger story, which is the conflict between Nuru Kungurama, a Chiss Padawan, and his Master, Ring-Sol Ambrase. There are other characters in the books (four clone troopers, a droid commando, and the captain of a ship), but the central conflict that drives the entire story is that one. And since this is the Clone Wars, of course the events are all orchestrated by Palpatine for his grand scheme.
The stories are decent, in that they move quickly, and the characters are engaging, but this was the first juvenile book that felt like it was written for kids. Despite the complexities of the plot, the story was told simply, with more telling than showing, and an overuse of abverbs. Windham added some humor to the stories, though without making it cringe-worthy, like C-3PO and the droid factory from Attack of the Clones. He also used lines from the original movies, so readers can run their own Easter egg hunts to find them.
The first book, Breakout Squad, sets up the events that separate Nuru and Ring-Sol, while also creating the Breakout Squad itself. The second book, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates, gives us some insight into Nuru's past as the squad goes into unknown space and meets with a Chiss ambassador. Duel at Shattered Rock reveals a Mandalorian assassin on a new mission, and Guardians of the Chiss Key brings the main plot to a close.
When I decided to include the juvenile books into my Star Wars reading project, I decided against adding any adaptation of other works. That eliminated a lot of titles (each movie has a juvenile and an easy-reader adaptation, and there are some books which are adaptations of other books), but now that I'm deep into the Clone Wars, I'm finding that I'm missing out on some details because I haven't watched the show yet. Secret Missions feels incomplete in some ways, and I wonder if it's because Windham is relying on the readers being familiar with the show. The way he wraps up events in the fourth book leaves many questions unanswered, though maybe they're a set up for the show.
So, the books are decent, if a little basic, and they feel like there should be more story once they wrap up. Readers already familiar with The Clone Wars might have more of their questions answered, but other readers should use caution when approaching the series.
The stories are decent, in that they move quickly, and the characters are engaging, but this was the first juvenile book that felt like it was written for kids. Despite the complexities of the plot, the story was told simply, with more telling than showing, and an overuse of abverbs. Windham added some humor to the stories, though without making it cringe-worthy, like C-3PO and the droid factory from Attack of the Clones. He also used lines from the original movies, so readers can run their own Easter egg hunts to find them.
The first book, Breakout Squad, sets up the events that separate Nuru and Ring-Sol, while also creating the Breakout Squad itself. The second book, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates, gives us some insight into Nuru's past as the squad goes into unknown space and meets with a Chiss ambassador. Duel at Shattered Rock reveals a Mandalorian assassin on a new mission, and Guardians of the Chiss Key brings the main plot to a close.
When I decided to include the juvenile books into my Star Wars reading project, I decided against adding any adaptation of other works. That eliminated a lot of titles (each movie has a juvenile and an easy-reader adaptation, and there are some books which are adaptations of other books), but now that I'm deep into the Clone Wars, I'm finding that I'm missing out on some details because I haven't watched the show yet. Secret Missions feels incomplete in some ways, and I wonder if it's because Windham is relying on the readers being familiar with the show. The way he wraps up events in the fourth book leaves many questions unanswered, though maybe they're a set up for the show.
So, the books are decent, if a little basic, and they feel like there should be more story once they wrap up. Readers already familiar with The Clone Wars might have more of their questions answered, but other readers should use caution when approaching the series.
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I've decided to review the four books in the Secret Missions series together, since they seem to be more a single story than four individual stories under the same arc. Each book has its own conflict and story, but they seem to be a backfrop for the larger story, which is the conflict between Nuru Kungurama, a Chiss Padawan, and his Master, Ring-Sol Ambrase. There are other characters in the books (four clone troopers, a droid commando, and the captain of a ship), but the central conflict that drives the entire story is that one. And since this is the Clone Wars, of course the events are all orchestrated by Palpatine for his grand scheme.
The stories are decent, in that they move quickly, and the characters are engaging, but this was the first juvenile book that felt like it was written for kids. Despite the complexities of the plot, the story was told simply, with more telling than showing, and an overuse of abverbs. Windham added some humor to the stories, though without making it cringe-worthy, like C-3PO and the droid factory from Attack of the Clones. He also used lines from the original movies, so readers can run their own Easter egg hunts to find them.
The first book, Breakout Squad, sets up the events that separate Nuru and Ring-Sol, while also creating the Breakout Squad itself. The second book, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates, gives us some insight into Nuru's past as the squad goes into unknown space and meets with a Chiss ambassador. Duel at Shattered Rock reveals a Mandalorian assassin on a new mission, and Guardians of the Chiss Key brings the main plot to a close.
When I decided to include the juvenile books into my Star Wars reading project, I decided against adding any adaptation of other works. That eliminated a lot of titles (each movie has a juvenile and an easy-reader adaptation, and there are some books which are adaptations of other books), but now that I'm deep into the Clone Wars, I'm finding that I'm missing out on some details because I haven't watched the show yet. Secret Missions feels incomplete in some ways, and I wonder if it's because Windham is relying on the readers being familiar with the show. The way he wraps up events in the fourth book leaves many questions unanswered, though maybe they're a set up for the show.
So, the books are decent, if a little basic, and they feel like there should be more story once they wrap up. Readers already familiar with The Clone Wars might have more of their questions answered, but other readers should use caution when approaching the series.
The stories are decent, in that they move quickly, and the characters are engaging, but this was the first juvenile book that felt like it was written for kids. Despite the complexities of the plot, the story was told simply, with more telling than showing, and an overuse of abverbs. Windham added some humor to the stories, though without making it cringe-worthy, like C-3PO and the droid factory from Attack of the Clones. He also used lines from the original movies, so readers can run their own Easter egg hunts to find them.
The first book, Breakout Squad, sets up the events that separate Nuru and Ring-Sol, while also creating the Breakout Squad itself. The second book, Curse of the Black Hole Pirates, gives us some insight into Nuru's past as the squad goes into unknown space and meets with a Chiss ambassador. Duel at Shattered Rock reveals a Mandalorian assassin on a new mission, and Guardians of the Chiss Key brings the main plot to a close.
When I decided to include the juvenile books into my Star Wars reading project, I decided against adding any adaptation of other works. That eliminated a lot of titles (each movie has a juvenile and an easy-reader adaptation, and there are some books which are adaptations of other books), but now that I'm deep into the Clone Wars, I'm finding that I'm missing out on some details because I haven't watched the show yet. Secret Missions feels incomplete in some ways, and I wonder if it's because Windham is relying on the readers being familiar with the show. The way he wraps up events in the fourth book leaves many questions unanswered, though maybe they're a set up for the show.
So, the books are decent, if a little basic, and they feel like there should be more story once they wrap up. Readers already familiar with The Clone Wars might have more of their questions answered, but other readers should use caution when approaching the series.
aimiller's review
3.0
Even as someone who hasn't watched Clone Wars yet (shh, I'm working on it,) this was a fun little romp that I would have absolutely loved as a kid. There were parts of it that made me go 'bzuh??' specifically regarding Breaker's character--I wasn't sure like if he was being coded as like autistic at times, or if spoilers were part of that, but it was all very weird. Also there was like a very unsubtle reference to the movie that I think kids would find delightful.
I might actually look for the second book, though, because I do want to know what happens next with these characters, and these are very soft and lovely and remind me of getting into Star Wars as a kid, which is nice.
I might actually look for the second book, though, because I do want to know what happens next with these characters, and these are very soft and lovely and remind me of getting into Star Wars as a kid, which is nice.
More...