Jedi Knight Tahl went to Melida/Daan where the inhabitants can't agree on anything, even their own planet name. The peacekeeping mission went awry and Tahl was gravely wounded and captured. Now, Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his young apprentice, Obi-Wan Kenobi must go to Melida/Daan and rescue Tahl. A Melida named Wehutti agrees to smuggle the Jedi into the contested city of Zehava, but it's a trap. The Jedi escape from the Melida compound with the help of the young, lead by Cerasi and Nield.
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As Jedi they're not supposed to take sides, but when Obi-Wan meets the charismatic leaders of the Young, his heart is torn between their worthy cause and his Jedi codes. The Young are proud to say that they are everyone, children drawn from both the Melida and the Daan. Cerasi and Nield are no older than thirteen-year-old Obi-Wan. The Young wish only for peace, but for that they must fight their Elders, the defenders of the dead. Both sides fight desperately while the children starve, avenging battle after battle. No one remembers why the fighting began. The middle generation is gone, dead because of the hatred that rules the planet of Melida/Daan.
Using toys like laserballs shot from slingshots and fake explosives, which are all flash and bang and no death, the Young launch an attack against the Elders. They steal the weapons from the Daan and the Melida blow up their weapons, thinking that the Daan are coming to steal them. During the fighting, Cerasi leads Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon into the Melida compound to save Tahl.
The Elders refuse to enter peace talks with the Young. Obi-Wan reluctantly agrees to help Cerasi and Nield blow up the shield towers so that the Scavenger Young from outside Zehava can link up with the Young from the city. Together, they'll be powerful enough to force the Elders to enter peace talks. The problem is that Obi-Wan defys his orders by getting further involved and worse he risks their starfighter, the one chance they have to get Tahl off planet and to safety.
Obi-Wan has never felt so right about doing something, but it's also tearing his heart apart to stand against his Master. They even raise lightsabers against each other when they face off in front of the starfighter. Then, Obi-Wan hands Qui-Gon his lightsaber and says he will stay with the Young. He knows full well that his actions means giving up life as a Jedi. He returns to the city to help his new friends fight for their lives and their just cause: peace.
The review of this Book prepared by Julie Gilbert
