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

by Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey Brown (Illustrator)

Overview

Author-illustrator Jeffrey Brown takes readers to a middle school in a galaxy far, far away.... in this first volume of the New York Times Bestselling series!

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, doodles, and newspaper clippings. The setting? A galaxy far, far away...Roan's one dream is to leave home and attend Pilot Academy like his older brother, father, and grandfather. But just as Roan is mysteriously denied entrance to Pilot School, he is invited to attend Jedi Academy — a school that he didn't apply to and only recruits children when they are just a few years old. That is, until now...This inventive novel follows Roan's first year at Jedi Academy where, under the tutelage of Master Yoda, he learns that he possesses more strength and potential than he could have ever dreamed. Oh, and he learns other important things too — like how to make a baking soda volcano, fence with a lightsaber, slow dance with a girl, and lift boulders with the Force.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338552553
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	04/30/2019
Series:	Scholastic Star Wars: Jedi Academy Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)
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

Praise for Darth Vader & Son

"Jeffrey Brown (Incredible Change-Bots) crashes headlong into George Lucas's galaxy far, far away with endearing, funny — and fully licensed — results." —Publishers Weekly

"[A] hilarious and oh-so-charming comic reimagining of the Star Wars series for kids." —The Toronto Star

"It is funny and sweet and the perfect stocking stuffer for Star Wars-loving dads." —The Victoria Times Colonist

From the Publisher

01/01/2014
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

School Library Journal

Even the most critical Star Wars fans will give Lucasfilm points for licensing this subversive graphic novel. On the 2012 census, 176,632 people in England and Wales listed their religion as Jedi. At this point, Star Wars books may qualify as religious texts. Some of the comics and novels would be considered apocrypha, as they depart wildly from the plot of the films. Brown has cornered the market on Jedi Sunday school stories, as it were, with two previous picture books about little Luke and Leia and their dad, Darth Vader. This graphic novel stars Roan, a reluctant young Jedi-in-training. He'd rather be a fighter pilot like all his friends. This chronicle of his year at Jedi Academy takes familiar Star Wars tropes and runs with them and is at its best when it subverts the traditional doctrine. The scenes with Yoda are hilarious; Roan can't understand a word he says. YODA: "Ohhhh! Good to meet me, it is, hm? Heh Heh!" ROAN: "Um, what?" The plot rambles from time to time, and not every joke works, but even the Bible has its share of dubious puns. If this book is apocryphal, it's more fun than some of the actual movies and a lot funnier. One of the droids breaks down like an old VCR, right when it's supposed to deliver an urgent message. Sacrilege of the most satisfying kind. (Graphic fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews