| The release of Star Wars books for young people has always been related to a theatrical promotion. In a world that has a seen all six films, a new wave of DK Readers is much appreciated. It gives us comfort that even though the movies are finished, the Star Wars experience isn't completely 'done.' As the title suggests, "Beware the Dark Side" is a look at the bad guys. This is a great premise since Star Wars has always featured the villains that everybody loves to hate. With a non-fiction feel, the book starts with an overview of Sidious, Maul, Dooku and Vader. The book chronicles Palpatine's path to power. Beyond the Sith Order, "Beware the Dark Side" looks at both the mechanical and biological instruments of the Sith. The Droid Army, General Grievous, the Clone Army, Stormtroopers, Jango Fett, the Death Star, Zam Wesell and Boba Fett are examined. A discussion about such elements would be incomplete without mentioning the forces that eventually defeated the dark forces: Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance. The title's scope is satisfying since it pulls together all six chapters of the saga. So while there's nothing new here, this is a great read for young fans that are still making the connections between the six acts. In terms of the mechanics of the book, a glossary and idex is included. In terms of the illustrations, the vast majority of images were lifted from the films. While the pictures are high quality, the writing is also good. This new series has books for most levels of elementary readers. Given the 48 page length and elevated vocabulary, "Beware the Dark Side" is best suited for readers on a fifth grade level. "Beware the Dark Side" offers an exciting look at the Star Wars saga's villains. |