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Karate Kid Novels #2
The Karate Kid Part II
If you loved the movie, then you will enjoy reading the book that continues the story after Daniel wins the tournament.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 8, 2024
This was my favorite movie in the trilogy when I was a kid, but I have since come to my senses. I've always had good sense regarding the third one, though. It sucks and even my 10-year-old self knew it when it came out. It cast a bucket of cold water on 1989 which was otherwise a bumper crop year for movies (as long as you also ignore Star Trek V: The Final Frontier). I've seen part three in its entirety once, and seeing the last 20 minutes or so a couple of years ago has reaffirmed that one complete viewing was more than enough.
But this isn't the third book (which I won't be reading), this is the second, and like its predecessor, it does just fine for what it is: a kid's novelization. Like with the first one, the actors bring something extra to the roles they play, and it's easy to see the extra dimension on the screen but not so much on the page. Still, this isn't striving to be great literature. It's just telling a story for elementary/middle-school age kids, and it pulls that off, no problem.
As for the story itself (I'm going to go more into the movie here), it tries to recapture the magic from the first film, and it doesn't quite do it. It's kind of cliched, and dorky, and eh, though I didn't feel that way about it when it came out. Like I said, it was my favorite back then. My less discerning eyes didn't see the silly, improbable parts and just enjoyed the ride. I still like the movie in spite of its shortcomings (parts of it drag, also), but the first one is far superior. I think I liked Chozen more as a villain than Johnny, and that was a major part of it.
One other thing I've noticed in rewatches is that 22-year-old Ralph Macchio could pull off a 15/16-year-old in 1984, but 24-year-old Macchio can't quite do it in 1986. Oh, sure, it's not as bad as 27-year-old Steve McQueen playing a high schooler in The Blob (which is just a joke), but it's clear it was time for Macchio to graduate to slightly older roles.
As for the soundtrack, I'm afraid it pales in comparison to the first. However, part two gives us the best song from any of the movies: Peter Cetera's Glory of Love which went to number one in four countries, including the US where it stayed for two weeks.
Aren't I supposed to talk about the book on Goodreads? Damn, another misplaced review.
But this isn't the third book (which I won't be reading), this is the second, and like its predecessor, it does just fine for what it is: a kid's novelization. Like with the first one, the actors bring something extra to the roles they play, and it's easy to see the extra dimension on the screen but not so much on the page. Still, this isn't striving to be great literature. It's just telling a story for elementary/middle-school age kids, and it pulls that off, no problem.
As for the story itself (I'm going to go more into the movie here), it tries to recapture the magic from the first film, and it doesn't quite do it. It's kind of cliched, and dorky, and eh, though I didn't feel that way about it when it came out. Like I said, it was my favorite back then. My less discerning eyes didn't see the silly, improbable parts and just enjoyed the ride. I still like the movie in spite of its shortcomings (parts of it drag, also), but the first one is far superior. I think I liked Chozen more as a villain than Johnny, and that was a major part of it.
One other thing I've noticed in rewatches is that 22-year-old Ralph Macchio could pull off a 15/16-year-old in 1984, but 24-year-old Macchio can't quite do it in 1986. Oh, sure, it's not as bad as 27-year-old Steve McQueen playing a high schooler in The Blob (which is just a joke), but it's clear it was time for Macchio to graduate to slightly older roles.
As for the soundtrack, I'm afraid it pales in comparison to the first. However, part two gives us the best song from any of the movies: Peter Cetera's Glory of Love which went to number one in four countries, including the US where it stayed for two weeks.
Aren't I supposed to talk about the book on Goodreads? Damn, another misplaced review.
June 3, 2019
This book was about Daniel and mr myagi going to Okinawa and Daniel finds a girlfriend but he mostly went there to help support Mr Myagi’s dad because his dad was dying. Daniel finds a vicious Karate person who will stop at nothing to defeat him.
I gave this book 5 stars because it made sense and it was straightforward. It had twists and cliff hangers. My favourite scene from the book was at the end so I don’t want to spoil it .
The character I liked the most was My myagi because he wrecked everyone in fights but he didn’t want to fight his friends / brother and he just kept on refusing to fight him as his karate calmness kept him calm.
I gave this book 5 stars because it made sense and it was straightforward. It had twists and cliff hangers. My favourite scene from the book was at the end so I don’t want to spoil it .
The character I liked the most was My myagi because he wrecked everyone in fights but he didn’t want to fight his friends / brother and he just kept on refusing to fight him as his karate calmness kept him calm.
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October 29, 2025i miss johnny lawrence
April 7, 2020
This book was about a young boy called Danny Laruso journey 2 Okinawa with Mr miyagi, his teacher.
April 26, 2023
The quickest of reads, unsurprising for a junior novelization. Can’t say it added anything to the source material, but it was still a fun ride.
February 13, 2020
It got better towards the end.
April 30, 2023
Probably more of a 2.5 star adaptation of Karate Kid Part II.
The novelization is not even 100 pages and every few pages is a full page photo from the movie. The book only barely covers the events of the film. A lot of the details have been removed. It’s not poorly executed, but there’s so little there it’s almost just a Cliff Notes version of the movie.
The novelization is not even 100 pages and every few pages is a full page photo from the movie. The book only barely covers the events of the film. A lot of the details have been removed. It’s not poorly executed, but there’s so little there it’s almost just a Cliff Notes version of the movie.
December 18, 2019
Another short read for the book/movie combo that my sister and I are doing. This is combo #582 for me. I don't remember the movie much. But I thought the book was very good with some valuable lessons. Takes place on Okinawa and even involves a typhoon.
February 4, 2022
Great novelization, though I wish it had been a bit longer. I also loved that it had some pictures in it, it reminded me of the movie and book novelizations I used to buy as a kid. Now I want to go watch the movie.
June 18, 2017
Second book in the series that teaches about life, believing in yourself and then standing up for not only yourself, but those you love.
August 31, 2017
Great Book.....Read this or movie first...Doesn't matter.
March 26, 2021
The greatest novel from the quadrilogy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2021
Two star writing, four star story.
October 30, 2023
Almost as good as the first one. Enjoyed the movie and the book. Great story and plot turns.
January 31, 2024
I read this book of the movie at age 7.
March 21, 2024
Youtube
June 29, 2025
Bigly!
*** 3 Stars.
*** 3 Stars.
November 5, 2025
Ok read. Goes better if you have seen the film first.
February 14, 2017
In the book "the karate kid" there is a kid that had no friends and got beat up all the time. He did not like that so he wanted to do karate so that he could fight back and beat them up when they come at him. He was training and at first he tought he was just doing chores, but he was really training. he becomes the best at what he does and wins every sing time, his master was one of the best becaouse he knew everything.
Daniel: Daniel need to learn how to do karate so he can get better at it so he can be the best. there is also another character that wanted the same thing but he is a little bit older than daniel. his sensei wanted to be the best when they where kids. those 2 are not the same becaous the both like differnt things and his sensei is like 50 and daniel is like 15.
In the book he learns a big lesson, and that is that he need to do hard training so the can get better no matter how hard the training is. He tought that he was doing chorse for his sensei, but it was training. he learns how to do some cool tricks so he can do out on the map such as a backflip. he did a backflip and kicked hs aponet in the face and won.
I really liked this book becaous it was about fighing and Ireally like book that have fighting in it. he also like sports and loved to do most thing, and i like all things, so it was perfect for me. I dint like the book for 1 reason and that was all the training he had to do becaous it looked really hard and not jun to do. he also didnt have any freinds and he didnt even try to get any freinds ecetp for like 1 or 2 he could have done something to do about that.
Daniel: Daniel need to learn how to do karate so he can get better at it so he can be the best. there is also another character that wanted the same thing but he is a little bit older than daniel. his sensei wanted to be the best when they where kids. those 2 are not the same becaous the both like differnt things and his sensei is like 50 and daniel is like 15.
In the book he learns a big lesson, and that is that he need to do hard training so the can get better no matter how hard the training is. He tought that he was doing chorse for his sensei, but it was training. he learns how to do some cool tricks so he can do out on the map such as a backflip. he did a backflip and kicked hs aponet in the face and won.
I really liked this book becaous it was about fighing and Ireally like book that have fighting in it. he also like sports and loved to do most thing, and i like all things, so it was perfect for me. I dint like the book for 1 reason and that was all the training he had to do becaous it looked really hard and not jun to do. he also didnt have any freinds and he didnt even try to get any freinds ecetp for like 1 or 2 he could have done something to do about that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2025
Daniel glanced over at the cheering crowd searching for his teacher his friend there he was Mr. Miyagi beamed, proudly back at him, Daniel LaRusso, and never better in his life”
I’ll always love the karate kid, I carried this book close to my heart, It was a beautiful story and my favourite from the karate kid series and always will be.
I’ll always love the karate kid, I carried this book close to my heart, It was a beautiful story and my favourite from the karate kid series and always will be.
December 13, 2019
its goodd
September 19, 2007
HA-YAH!
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October 2, 2007Hiller, B.B. PB
March 6, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews