As I mentioned in my previous reviews of the Anakin Skywalker and Queen Amidala journals, as well as the journals for Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, these first-person accounts are a hit-and-miss proposition. Anakin's journal simply rehashed what we already knew from the movie and novelization. In contrast, Amidala's journal gave us a wealth of previously unrevealed backstory and personal information. Darth Maul's journal falls somewhere in the middle. Yes, we learn a few new things about the Apprentice Sith Lord, but there's still so much left unanswered. Perhaps the upcoming Darth Maul comic series as well as a rumored novel will give us more to work with.

I'll summarize the plot, then tell you what I liked about this book in The Light Side, and what could be better in The Dark Side.

Plot Summary

This 97-page offering from Scholastic is intended for a 9-12 year old audience. It's a first-person account by Darth Maul during the time-frame covered by the movie, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. Along the way, Maul takes pains to defend his actions and philosophies and to tell us a bit about his childhood and training. The last chapter was written posthumously by his master, Lord Sidious. (Oops ... I hope that's not a spoiler for anybody who hasn't yet seen the movie!)

The Light Side

• By far the best thing about the book is the revelation of previously unknown details about Maul, such as his birthplace, his childhood training, and his thoughts as he carried out his master's bidding. If you're a trivia hound this book is a must-have

• Along the same lines, we find out more about Darth Sidious, some of it unexpected. I always wondered how Maul could be so proficient at the lightsaber while Sidious never demonstrated any talent in that area. Now I have my answer, and I am stunned. Can you picture Sidious whirling a lightsaber so fast Maul can barely see it? Me neither.

• I liked the voice of this book. Maul is cocky to a fault, but it's fun to read. He is unapologetically committed to his master and his way of life. No angst here. The book begins: "You may think I am evil. I am not. I am efficient." Toward the middle of the book, he is reflecting on how he likes to fight, (this explains why he has so few lines in the movie): "Why do my opponents announce their intentions with threats and taunts? Do they really think they can intimidate me? I never speak in a battle. It is a waste of energy. I prefer to concentrate on the joy of killing."

The Dark Side

• This journal is intended for pre-adolescent children, a particularly impressionable group. However, I think the graphic descriptions of Maul's torture during training and his glib explanations about how the Dark Side is so much better than the Light might be too intense or confusing for some kiddoes in this age group. As a parent, I think I'd want to read this one with my kid and discuss the ideas presented.

• The book is printed with black ink on newsprint, rather than full color on quality paper as the other two Episode I journals were. I have to wonder why. Perhaps this one has far more words, and would have been too expensive to produce that way. At any rate, I miss having the movie images backing up each page of text.   

Overall, I rate this book an B. You can pick up a copy of Darth Maul's journal at your local bookstore, or click here to buy it at amazon.com.

(Toryn Farr knew everything about Star Wars back in 1977 thanks to Starlog Magazine. She's been trying to keep her know-it-all reputation ever since. During the 90 minutes per day her three-year-old is napping, Toryn attempts to run an internet design business and write fantasy fiction.)