Teens & Tweens Review is an opportunity for York County Public Library teens and tweens to write book reviews for their peers. Check out what our youth are reading below. In honor of May the Fourth, we are featuring reviews of two Star Wars novels.
Title: Star Wars The High Republic: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule
Reviewed by: Eli S., 11th grade
Rating: 5 of 5 Stars
Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule was probably one of the best Star Wars books I have ever read! This book sets up a whole new era in the Star Wars timeline, and Charles Soule does a fabulous job of describing it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys both Star Wars canon and legends because it does a good job of tying the two together.
To be honest, I could not really find anything wrong with this book; it is just that good. The characters are far from bland. All have distinctive characteristics that made them different from each other, which made them even more imperative to the story. The story itself is also very different from probably anything in Star Wars history thus far, which just makes the book that much more interesting. I would find myself staying up late at night reading this book, basically forcing myself to put it down after hours of reading. It is also important to note that all characters in this book will be used in future books and comics in the High Republic era. Finally, I highly recommend reading the Light of the Jedi first before reading any other books from the High Republic series. This will help you fully comprehend what is going on in the other books at all times.
Overall, this book was very good and, in my opinion, could not have been written any better. Charles Soule has done an excellent job of starting off this new era of Star Wars with a bang! I cannot wait to read the next book in this amazing series!
Title: Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston
Reviewer: Caroline B., 11th grade
Rating: 4 stars
Queen's Shadow by E. K. Johnston is a fascinating look into the life of a major character in the Star Wars universe. The book follows Padmé Amidala, who is most well-known from the Star Wars prequels, as she transitions from queen of a single planet to a senator in the massive galactic senate.
As a main character who didn’t get as much screen time in the movies, I really enjoyed how much the author focused on Padmé’s personality and inner thoughts as she learned to navigate the intriguing and sometimes dangerous world of politics. She sometimes struggles to have her voice heard and is easily dismissed as young or a woman, but through her actions the reader can learn how to handle such situations with dignity. Padmé is persistent in her goals and unafraid to speak out for what she believes in, which makes her a strong and relatable character to root for and admire. There are also many delightful cameos by other characters from across the Star Wars universe that Padmé interacts with, which helped to make the supporting cast dynamic and diverse.
That being said, I would recommend that any readers of this book have some background knowledge of the Star Wars movies in order to fully appreciate the finer details of the story. They would miss out on a lot of references and events if they didn’t have any idea of what was going on. Another thing to mention about this book is that it is very character- and dialogue-driven. The main plot of the book focuses on the innerworkings of political decisions and character interactions. This doesn’t take away from the main story at all, as the author is very skilled at interweaving drama and mystery into the plotline without having to rely on fast-paced action.
Overall, I enjoyed learning more about a character who didn’t get as much screen time she deserved in the movies. I would recommend this book to any Star Wars fan who wants to dive deeper into the history and backstory of this resilient and independent character.
Want to explore the world of Star Wars? Search "Star Wars" in our online catalog to find books, graphic novels, DVDs, and more to check out from the York County Public Library.
For more reviews from YCPL teens and tweens, check out our Teens Review series. Want to submit your own review? Email us at YouthServices@yorkcounty.gov to learn more.