Star Wars: Episode I - Queen in Disguise

Star Wars Legends: Novels

by Monica Kulling

Queen Amidala's handmaidens are trained to protect her if she is in danger. But Queen Amidala wants to learn to defend herself. She joins the training disguised as Padmé so her handmaidens won't worry. Can she handle the training? Read this colorful fully-illustrated beginner reader and find out!

Genres: Star Wars, Childrens, Science Fiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.

Reviews

[Dimitris Papastergiou · Rating 1 out of 5]

Set in 32BBY

Learning to speak English? NICE!

Are you also a KID? AWESOME!

Do you like boring stories? NICE KIDDO!

This is your JAM!

G-O C-R-A-Z-Y!

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this years ago in a mall bookstore as I tried to decide what Star Wars book to buy. I still like it. It was nice to reread it, as it has always stayed in my memory. I love Padme befriending her handmaidens and that we see the handmaidens training to defend their queen. Padme shows off her leadership skills and bravery in this children's book by saving Rabe. I love that Rabe and Sabe get big roles in this story alongside their queen. My biggest issue with this book is illustrator John Alvin getting Eirtae's hair color wrong (blonde in the film, another brunette amongst brunettes in this book).

[Roz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's a beginning reader, so the prose was fairly simple but the story was great. This book gives some background for Padme disguising herself as a handmaiden to protect herself. It's the genesis of all Padme/handmaidens shenanigans and it's great.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had seen illustrations from this book pop up on the Internet over the years, so I'm happy to finally have a copy. Very cute. As a kid, I would have adored it.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was one of the first I ever read, sparkling a life long love of reading. I plan to give it to my children one day!

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to introduce the fact that the Queen pretends to be Padmé sometimes. Maddie read it.

[Mike Jozic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not much else you can say about this one other than it's an easy reader book. I picked it up to read to the kids, and to satisfy my own curiosity and interest in anything Star Wars in 2000, and for what it is it's pretty decent. The stand-out feature would definitely be the artwork by John Alvin, probably best known for his movie poster work (that's his work on the Raiders of the Lost Ark one-sheet). As a collector, I'd easily pick up others in this series (I'm looking at you, Darth Maul's Revenge) but this is for folks under ten or completists only.

[Shawn Fairweather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and age appropriate for the recommend reader however the material is extremely dated. I could see this being much more interesting to the reader when Phantom Menace was released but not so much now. Artwork is worth noting on a positive level.

[Tom-Kenneth Fossheim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book for children learning to read, but of course essential reading to my Star Wars-completist brain... Nice illustrations, but not a very interesting plot. Kids might enjoy it more, though.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may be for children but its a very cute story. Padme just wanting to be one of the girls. And honestly she kicks some serious butt at it.