Return of the Padawan (B&N Exclusive Edition) (Scholastic Star Wars: Jedi Academy Series #2)

by Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

Author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown returns in the highly anticipated sequel to the NY Times Bestseller Star Wars: Jedi Academy!

It's time to return to middle school in a galaxy far, far away. . . .After surviving his first year at Jedi Academy, Roan Novachez thought his second year would be a breeze. He couldn't have been more wrong. Roan feels like he's drifting apart from his friends, and it's only made worse when Roan discovers he's not the amazing pilot he thought he'd be. When the school bullies take him under their wing, he decides they aren't so bad after all—or are they? This year, Roan will have to face alien poetry tests, menacing robots, food fights, flight simulation class, online bullies, more lightsaber duels, and worst of all . . . a girl who is mad at him. This incredible, original story captures all of the humor, awkwardness, fun, and frustrations of middle school—all told through one boy's comics, journal entries, letters, sketches, e-mails, and more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545621250
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	07/29/2014
Series:	Scholastic Star Wars: Jedi Academy Series , #2
Edition description:	B&N Exclusive Edition
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	GN670L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Jeffrey Brown is an Eisner Award winner and the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Darth Vader and Son, and Vader's Little Princess, both imagining what it would have been like if Darth Vader had raised a young Luke and Leia. Jeffrey has created dozens of graphic memoirs, humorous parodies, and cat books. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Jennifer, and his two sons.

Editorial Reviews

When your middle school is Jedi Academy, you know that the semester will be interesting, but for the sometimes blundering Roan Novachez, it often becomes a bit too eventful. In his second year amidst teachers, students, and robots, he learns that letting the class bullies take you under wing can cause major implosions and discovers that letting your jaw flap too freely can alienate even your best friends. Fans of both Star Wars and the Wimpy Kid will appreciate Jeffrey Brown's foray into a galaxy far, far away. The former will also relish this Barnes & Noble Exclusive Edition's Ewok translator!

Jeffrey Brown won an Eisner Award for Darth Vader and Son in 2013. Also, the 1st Jedi Academy is a NY Times Bestseller and an ALA Top Ten Quick Pick TitleReviews for: STAR WARS JEDI ACADEMY #1“Even the most critical Star Wars fans will give Lucasfilm points for licensing this subversive graphic novel.” -Kirkus Reviews"Brown doesn't just regurgitate Star Wars details – he gives a sense of what the universe would be like for a kid. This fresh perspective results in humor that often hits its mark. With humor and subtle heart, Jedi Academy is destined to fly off shelves everywhere. Be sure to pick up multiples.” -100ScopeNotes.com (SLJ Blog)“Everyone reading this who reads with young children has just found their next purchase.” -BleedingCool.com“So much fun! As a casual enthusiast of Star Wars, I was fully engaged by this story of Roan, a young boy from Tatooine (sound familiar?)” - Teen Librarian Toolbox (blog)“Brown has taken his skill for making the day-to-day of a science fiction universe entertaining, and has expanded it on a wider scale. Old and new fans of George Lucas' creation will find something fun in Star Wars: Jedi Academy.” -The-Trades.com

From the Publisher

06/01/2014
Gr 4–6—Roan Novachez is back for a second year at Jedi Academy—a typical middle school with a Star Wars twist. Students communicate via messages posted to holobook and endure disgusting cafeteria food served by the new Gamorrean chef, Gammy. Roan spends his days training to be a Jedi while navigating problematic situations with friends, embarrassing moments, bullies, and the worries of report cards. Classes are taught by Librarian Lackbar, Master Yoda, and other characters from the films. Yoda is an exception, but other familiar characters have slightly different names, like T-P30 and RW-22. The full-color cover is a bit misleading, since all graphics inside are rendered in black-and-white; however, the content makes up for any disappointment. This series of diary-format graphic novels is sure to be popular with elementary and middle-grade readers. Recommended for all public and school libraries.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

School Library Journal

2014-04-16
The line between humor and heartbreak is very thin in this new Star Wars graphic novel.Readers who've seen a horror movie or two know that anyone who says, "I'll be right back!" is doomed. The second Jedi Academy book follows the same sort of logic. Roan is training to be a Jedi pilot, so the moment he says, "…I'm going to beat all of their test scores by a whole bunch," readers will know that the starpilot simulator is about to start smoking and shooting off sparks. The whole book is a series of disasters, which is to say that it's a classic comedy. Before the end of the story, the class pet has disappeared, and Roan's friends have stopped talking to him. The more horrors he faces, the funnier the comedy gets. Brown's doodles of teachers are hilarious, too. Most of them are takeoffs on Star Wars characters, like off-brand versions of the originals; the instructors include librarian Lackbar and Kitmum the Wookiee gym teacher. If you haven't seen a Wookiee with a sweatband, you haven't lived. Roan is a very sympathetic main character, and readers will feel his pain and laugh at his misfortune in equal measure. Roan's hand-lettered journal entries alternate with short paneled sequences and "screenshots" of academy message boards and other ephemera.Future installments—and further disasters—will be most welcome. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews