SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Pearl's & Ruby's
  • Politics in Practice
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • *Best New Books*
    • Annual Best Lists
  • Reviews
    • One Star Review
    • Nonfiction
    • Toon Reviews
  • Articles
    • Authors
    • Link Du Jour
  • Covers
    • Covering the Newbery
    • Cover Curiosity
    • Unfortunate Covers
  • News
    • Books on Film
    • Morning Notes
  • Newsletter

July 17, 2013 by Travis Jonker

Review: Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown

July 17, 2013 by Travis Jonker   5 comments

Star Wars: Jedi Academy
By Jeffrey Brown

Scholastic

ISBN: 9780545505178
$12.99
Grades 3-6
In Stores September, 2013

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Find it at:
Schuler Books

Books with ties to popular television or movie franchises are a dime a dozen. Well, maybe five dollars for 12, but you get the idea. They’re usually pretty straightforward affairs and more often than not there isn’t much there to hang your hat on in terms of personality or creativity. That’s why it’s refreshing to see a book like Star Wars: Jedi Academy enter this realm. It stands out as a wholly entertaining and unique take on a franchise that is still capturing the imagination of kids.

After finishing primary school on Tatooine, Roan Novachez has his heart set on following his older brother’s footsteps to flight school. Then the bad news arrives – application denied. Roan’s life takes a turn when he receives a letter inviting him to Jedi Academy. Roan accepts but is a fish out of water, with classmates have been at the academy for years. From field trips to student council elections, school dances to first crushes Roan navigates through the ups and downs of the year, eventually realizing that Jedi Academy is where he belongs.

The story is told through Roan’s journal entries and comics, but also a host of “primary sources” – letters, school flyers, classrooom assignments – even the school newspaper. This handmade feel is a nice contrast to the smooth and sleek way the Star Wars universe is typically presented.

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.

Aside from inhabiting similar heavily illustrated territory as Bad Kitty, Captain Underpants, and the new Arnie the Doughnut chapter book (among others), it’s a perfect lead in to the immensely popular Origami Yoda series (itself another well-crafted book with Star Wars connections) . With humor and subtle heart, Jedi Academy is destined to fly off shelves everywhere. Be sure to pick up multiples.

Review copy from the publisher.

Watch the Star Wars: Jedi Academy book trailer:

 

Filed under: Reviews

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments
Scholastic

About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

A Fuse #8 Production

Throw Wide Those Cemetary Gates: Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio Discuss The Invisible Parade

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Pacheco and the Witch of the Mountain | This Week’s Comics

by Lori Henderson

Heavy Medal

Our Mock Newbery List is Up to 52 Titles

by Steven Engelfried

Politics in Practice

When Book Bans are a Form of Discrimination, What is the Path to Justice?

by John Chrastka

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Teen MakerSpace: DIY Color Your Own Stickers, Low Tech

by Karen Jensen, MLS

The Yarn

How Colby Sharp Celebrates Reading with Students

by Colby Sharp

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

Four YA Romances for Teens Watching 'The Summer I Turned Pretty'

Four Breezy YA Summer Reads for Fans of 'Along for the Ride' on Netflix | Read-Alikes

14 Videos to Spark Engagement in Elementary, Middle Grade, and High School Classrooms

The Purple Crayon on the Big Screen | Opinion

14 Videos to Educate and Inspire Classrooms | Multimedia Video Reviews

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra Rosenquist says

    July 17, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    Your review has convinced me to read the book. At first look I thought it was just another book from a movie or television show, so I ignored it. Thanks.

  2. Maria Simon says

    July 17, 2013 at 9:53 pm

    I enjoyed this too! It will be perfect for Star Wars Read Day Oct 5th.

  3. Sondy says

    July 18, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    I almost forgot about this ARC I picked up at ALA. I need to read it and get it in the prize box for our games program! Have you seen his other humor books about Leia and Luke as kids? Those are what convinced me this would be good.

  4. Adrienne says

    July 24, 2013 at 2:40 pm

    I’m a longtime Jeffrey Brown fan and just love that he is doing this. I’m hoping we see more in the series.

  5. Sage says

    July 22, 2014 at 11:39 pm

    I read this book for my meal testing at the beginning of my 7th grade school year, then I haven’t read it for a while then when I did, I just couldn’t stop rereading it over and over again, I am going to try to get the new version of it, hope it will still be in stock when I get to the store.

    P. S. the picture you show here of the cover has a color defect on RW-22, he is yellow, not red. I currently own the the one from last year, can’t wait to read that for the meap for my 8th grade school year, this new book will be interesting.

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • Author/Illustrator Blogs

    • Erin Stead Illustration
    • Hey, Rabbit!
    • James Preller's Blog
    • MATTHEWCORDELLBLOGS
    • Mo Willems Doodles
    • The Scop
  • Book Blogs I Like

    • A Book and a Hug
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • A Kids Book a Day
    • A Year of Reading
    • Abby (the) Librarian
    • Awful Library Books
    • Becky’s Book Reviews
    • Better Book Titles
    • Book-A-Day Almanac
    • Bookends
    • books4yourkids.com
    • bookshelves of doom
    • Bottom Shelf Books
    • Calling Caldecott
    • Caustic Cover Critic
    • Chad C. Beckerman
    • Charlotte’s Library
    • Cheryl Rainfield
    • Chicken Spaghetti
    • CHILDREN’S ILLUSTRATION
    • Collecting Children’s Books
    • Cybils
    • EarlyWord
    • educating alice
    • Finding Wonderland
    • For Those About to Mock
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Good Show Sir
    • GottaBook
    • Great Kid Books
    • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
    • Hi Miss Julie!
    • Jen Robinson’s Book Page
    • Kidsmomo
    • Maria T. Middleton Design
    • Nerdy Book Club
    • Neverending Search
    • Nine Kinds of Pie
    • One Book, Two Books, Old Books, New Books
    • Out of the Box
    • Oz and Ends
    • PlanetEsme
    • Read Roger
    • Reading Rants!
    • Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
    • sharpread
    • ShelfTalker
    • so tomorrow
    • The Children's Book Review
    • The Miss Rumphius Effect
    • Uncovered Cover Art
    • Waking Brain Cells
    • Watch. Connect. Read.
  • Library Blogs

    • ALSC Blog
    • Blue Skunk Blog
    • librarian.net
    • LISNews
    • Stephen's Lighthouse
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology
    • Unshelved
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books 2024
    • 2024 Stars So Far
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Pearls & Rubys
    • Politics in Practice
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • Reasons to Love Libraries
    • 2025 Youth Media Awards
    • Defending the Canon:SLJ & NCTE Review 15 Banned Classics
    • Refreshing the Canon Booklist
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Read Free Poster
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2025


    COPYRIGHT © 2025