Star Wars: Jedi Academy (Star Wars: Jedi Academy #1)

Gr 3-8—Roan Novachez has been personally invited by Yoda to attend Jedi Academy, but he's afraid that he'll flunk out and have to attend the Agriculture Academy on Tatooine next year. This Diary of a Wimpy Kid-like graphic novel follows Roan's adventures from the summer after elementary school through his first year at the academy as he makes friends (and enemies) and struggles to learn how to use the Force. Interspersed throughout the panels depicting events referred to in the diary are other items of interest, such as the boy's schedule and report card. The book's style matched with the popular subject will guarantee circulation in any collection. With the exception of Yoda, Brown has created an entirely new cast of characters set in the Star Wars universe around the events of The Phantom Menace. While it might be disappointing for those familiar with this world to see scant representation of beloved characters, it makes the book an easy starting point for new fans. There are plenty of references to other elements (the T-16 Skyhopper and Jedi training remotes, for example) for diehards to get excited about. Brown combines Star Wars excitement with real-life kid problems to make a fresh, inspiring, and humorous take on the franchise.—J. M. Poole, Webster Public Library, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Roan Novachez thought he was destined to attend Pilot Academy Middle School, just as his older brother and father did. His dreams are crushed when he is rejected by Pilot Academy and accepted into a sketchy new school called Coruscant Jedi Academy. Roan has no idea what to expect at the academy and feels pressured after learning he is the oldest student ever to enroll there. Confused and struggling to keep up, Roan tries to fly under the radar and passes the time drawing comics of his daily life at his strange boarding school. This fantastic chapter book by Brown will satisfy those who loved his previous Star Wars works, "Darth Vader and Son "(2012) and "Vader's Little""Princess "(2013). With its mix of comics and text, it will also appeal to fans of Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants hybrid books. On a deeper level, this book tackles serious issues like failure, bullying, friendship, determination, and starting a new school in a fun and funny way. Perhaps best of all, it encourages readers to practice creativity and to start their own journals." - "Booklist "starred review