The Hidden Past (Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice, Book 3)
After surviving the hair-raising events ofThe Rising ForceandThe Dark Rival, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon and 13-year-old apprentice Obi-Wan are officially master and Padawan. The two have been sent off on their first mission by Master Yoda, who has given them a boring assignment: overseeing the elections on Gala, where Prince Beju has been forced to submit his promised throne to a popular vote. As usual for our Jedi heroes, though, nothing goes quite as planned--on the way to Gala they get hijacked to Phindar, where the evil Syndicat rules by erasing the memories of its enemies. Faster than the flick of a lightsaber, master and apprentice find themselves back in hot water, struggling to help their Phindarian buddies overthrow the Syndicat crime lords. After a double-cross here and a blaster fight there, the two discover that even Prince Beju is involved in the Syndicat's nefarious schemes.Dark Rival's author Jude Watson (who's also helpedPrincess LeiaandQueen Amidalatell their stories) is back in fine form to continue this excellent series. (Ages 9 to 12)--Paul Hughes