Droids in Distress

Star Wars Rebels chapter books #3

by Michael Kogge

The Star Wars Rebels save Wookiees as they narrowly escape a terrible Imperial trap. On their journey, they meet beloved droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, who are on a mysterious mission to help the Empire.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

119 pages, Library Binding

First published November 18, 2014

About the author

Michael Kogge is an American screenwriter and author who has written for several Star Wars projects, including the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Star Wars Gamer magazine, Hyperspace, Star Wars Insider magazine, and the Star Wars: Edge of the Empire roleplaying game. He has also authored a series of Star Wars Rebels chapter books, adapting episodes from the show's first season.

Reviews

[Sarah Ryder · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well that was disappointing.

The first four chapters are just a very badly done recap in fast forward of the first two episodes that The Rebellion Begins already covered so why are we doing it again and worse at that? Made no sense.

The rest of the book isn’t much better—the episode Droids in Distress is probably one of my least favorite ones plus some key and funny parts were missing which soured me towards it even more. I do really like Rise of the Old Masters but was very disappointed by this bare as bleached bones execution that again cut out some really great and funny lines, not to mention didn’t dive into what could have been some great scenes and thoughts between Ezra and Kanan but nope it’s just bypassed because I guess depth in a kids book is overrated. 🙄

This book felt like no one really cared to put any effort into it which makes me wonder why they published it. I wouldn’t recommend you waste your time on this one.


‼️Content‼️

Violence: fighting with weapons and the Force (not detailed); mention that a character’s race was slaughtered

Other: the Force (“magic”)

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. The first story is a rehash of Rise of the Rebellion which is its own novel? And this just summarizes the episode instead of translating it to prose. The second story was just nonsensical and really not even essential in the Rebels show. The final story was Ezra's introduction to the Grand Inquisitor. Which was cool but also way before any of the previous stories?

There's a reason this isn't listed on the canon list apparently and I discovered it. Definitely just skip this one, the rest of the series is better, this one was confusing.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Droids in Distress adapts three episodes from the first season of the Star Wars Rebels TV show - Spark of Rebellion, Droids in Distress, and Rise of the Old Masters. I found this odd because the previous book in the series, The Rebellion Begins, is a much more in-depth adaptation of Spark of Rebellion, so this book ends up covering some of the same ground before it gets to new content. I think the disconnect is the target audience - this title is aimed at younger readers while The Rebellion Begins is for slightly older ones. This made reading this a bit of a disappointment, but at least it was a quick read.

As an adaptation the book seems to cover all of the important story beats in a fun and engaging manner. It'll keep you reading, but mainly because you'll be blowing through it so quickly. Each part has four chapters and covers one episode, and you can get through them in less time that it would take for you to watch it.

Overall I think Droids in Distress achieves what it set out to do - adapt three episodes from the series into a book for young readers. I enjoyed it as a quick little read to be a completionist, but unless you're going for that as well, you can skip this one.

[DAYADEW · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely meant for younger readers.

I got into this story thinking I could get more meat out of its corresponding episodes in Rebels, similar to how Rebels - The Rebellion Begins and Rebels - Ezra's Gamble, were written. They provided insight, a little backstory, and expounded on scenes I didn't even think needed explaining but went off without a hitch.

This book, however... it's like the equivalent of reading the episode summaries on wiki? I found my eyes going over the words as if they were on fast forward due to the hunch that I wouldn't get much more out of them than what was shown in the episodes anyway (the hunch was right). I suppose I shouldn't expect much more from a junior novelization, but I was definitely hoping for more depth. It's a nice enough read, but kind of unnecessary if you've already watched the series.

[Leensey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alas, I finally finished this book. First half started off really...disconnected and repetitive. Nothing new or fresh or engaging, I had to skip the Ezra chapters.

Eventually, the second and third parts, managed to find its footing somewhat, made for more interesting read and retelling of those particular Rebels episodes.

Overall, the weakest of the Rebels set of novels, but still all right. I acknowledge that I'm not its target audience and I shouldn't expect much from it.

I am still eager to see the remaining books though, as Star Wars Rebels is perhaps my favorite piece of Star Wars TV media, and having the books as an extension of it is satisfying.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the Rebels books I have read so far, simply because of the jumps in stories and the lack of character insight that I usually glean from these. However, it was still an enjoyable read and great way to revisit the events in the respective episodes of Rebels. I have grown to appreciate the series more and more as it continued in later seasons, but the books also have increased how I value the events of the show as well, especially the first season that these mostly pertain to.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my least favorite of the Rebels middle grade chapter books. The first story covered the same episode that the previous book did, but in such a cursory way that it was rather disappointing. Maybe it’s for a younger age range? The other episodes it covered were okay. Not as much depth as the other books in this series. Fine for young readers who love Rebels though.

[Liv · Rating 1 out of 5]

This wasn't that good. Almost a quarter of this adaptation was filler summary of the last chapter book Rebels Rising. The remaining 3/4 was compressed tightly so it also felt like a rushed summary rather than a text adaptation of the show. I felt that if I hadn't seen the Rebels animation first, I'd have been unable to follow the fractured stories in this book.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

ケイナン、エズラを訓練することに対してもう迷わないことに。
do or do not, there is no try って難しい概念だよな。
自分がきちんと訓練を終了していないという思いと一歩間違えればダークサイドに落としてまう可能性もあるわけで。
でもケイナンは迷いを振り切ってやることにしたんだね。
エズラを信じることで自分のことも信じられるようになるみたいな感じかな...これまでつちかってきた実戦経験もあるしな。

[Morbus Iff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should judge novelizations for younger folks, but there's my rating. Yep.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ezra Bridger comes across a protocol droid and an Artoo unit as he tries to evade capture by the Empire.

A novelisation of three episodes of 'Star Wars: Rebels'.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing innovative or new here, just a simple retelling of specific episodes from the Rebels series.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very pleased with this chapter book for Grades 1-4. It will probably only appeal to Star Wars fans, but I thought it was well-written. The action gets you immediately involved in the story and the presentation is engaging with illustrations interspersed.

[Brandt · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is adaptation of three episodes of Rebels, one of which was already adapted by Kogge in a much in-depth format. I have no problems with adapting existing visual media like films or TV, but we don't get much out of these adaptations, especially the adaptation of "Rise of the Old Masters" which could have been written as a great character study of Kanan, but like so many books for young readers, decides it wants to treat children like they are shallow and stupid and unable to handle more complex plots and emotions, which is just not true. Books for young readers don't need to be insipid--just ask Jason Fry.

[Athenenike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty straightforward adaptation of the Star Wars Rebels cartoon. Very quick read.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty much the barest of novelizations.

[Taren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book becus it had a lot of advencher and it was about a great thing and I like it cus I like starwars.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

My 5 year old liked it pretty well, but for me it often felt like reading in an unknown language.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

rated by my 5 year old.
"my favorite part was when they were fighting the inquisitor"