A great treat for young—and not-so-young—Star Wars fans that provides a thrilling back story for a compelling character
Ahsoka Tano is a Jedi on the run.
She is a Togruta who managed to survive the aftermath of Order 66, the Empire’s plan to eradicate all the Jedi. Ahsoka is forced to hide on planets in the Outer Rim, so as to not attract attention while she tries to reconcile her new fate without the guidance of her former master, Anakin Skywalker. As a Padawan left without counsel, Ahsoka must rely on her Jedi training to keep her true identity a secret. Taking on a new name, Ashla, she finds refuge and work as a mechanic on the farming moon of Raada. After the Empire makes a surprise visit in an attempt to occupy the moon, a failed resistance plan by farmers incites an Imperial attack on Ahsoka’s new friends, and she is forced to openly use her Jedi powers to temporarily save them. Now that the Empire is aware that there is indeed a Jedi still alive in the galaxy, they spare no expense to find her. Johnston offers up an emotional and exciting chapter in the Star Wars saga, filling fans in on what exactly happened to at least one Jedi that survived Order 66. The best revelations come when familiar faces treasured by fans appear from the shadows as Ahsoka’s allies, as the fight between Light and Dark continues.
A great treat for young—and not-so-young—Star Wars fans that provides a thrilling back story for a compelling character . (Science fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: Oct. 11, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-4847-0566-7
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm
Review Posted Online: Aug. 1, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2016
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes.
The Plague has left a population divided between Elites and Ordinaries—those who have powers and those who don’t; now, an Ordinary teen fights for her life.
Paedyn Gray witnessed the king kill her father five years ago, and she’s been thieving and sleeping rough ever since, all while faking Psychic abilities. When she inadvertently saves the life of Prince Kai, she becomes embroiled in the Purging Trials, a competition to commemorate the sickness that killed most of the kingdom’s Ordinaries. Kai’s duties as the future Enforcer include eradicating any remaining Ordinaries, and these Trials are his chance to prove that he’s internalized his brutal training. But Kai can’t help but find Pae’s blue eyes, silver hair, and unabashed attitude enchanting. She likewise struggles to resist his stormy gray eyes, dark hair, and rakish behavior, even as they’re pitted against each other in the Trials and by the king himself. Scenes and concepts that are strongly reminiscent of the Hunger Games fall flat: They aren’t bolstered by the original’s heart or worldbuilding logic that would have justified a few extreme story elements. Illogical leaps and inconsistent characterizations abound, with lighthearted romantic interludes juxtaposed against genocide, child abuse, and sadism. These elements, which are not sufficiently addressed, combined with the use of ableist language, cannot be erased by any amount of romantic banter. Main characters are cued white; the supporting cast has some brown-skinned characters.
A lackluster and sometimes disturbing mishmash of overused tropes. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)Pub Date: Nov. 7, 2023
ISBN: 9798987380406
Page Count: 538
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2023
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away.
A Mexican American boy takes on heavy responsibilities when his family is torn apart.
Mateo’s life is turned upside down the day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents show up unsuccessfully seeking his Pa at his New York City bodega. The Garcias live in fear until the day both parents are picked up; his Pa is taken to jail and his Ma to a detention center. The adults around Mateo offer support to him and his 7-year-old sister, Sophie, however, he knows he is now responsible for caring for her and the bodega as well as trying to survive junior year—that is, if he wants to fulfill his dream to enter the drama program at the Tisch School of the Arts and become an actor. Mateo’s relationships with his friends Kimmie and Adam (a potential love interest) also suffer repercussions as he keeps his situation a secret. Kimmie is half Korean (her other half is unspecified) and Adam is Italian American; Mateo feels disconnected from them, less American, and with worries they can’t understand. He talks himself out of choosing a safer course of action, a decision that deepens the story. Mateo’s self-awareness and inner monologue at times make him seem older than 16, and, with significant turmoil in the main plot, some side elements feel underdeveloped. Aleman’s narrative joins the ranks of heart-wrenching stories of migrant families who have been separated.
An ode to the children of migrants who have been taken away. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 4, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7595-5605-8
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2021
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