As a lead up to the release of Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, I have been indulging in the fun retelling of the original trilogy of Star Wars. A couple weeks ago, I reviewed Alexandra Braken’s A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, & the Farm Boy and I couldn’t wait to jump into Adam Gidwitz’s Empire Strikes Back: So You Want to be a Jedi?
The story takes you through the entire story, but with a unique twist. the reader takes on the role of Luke Skywalker. While the story takes you almost scene by scene, it also serves as a guide book to becoming a Jedi (much like Luke learning from Yoda and the ghost of Obi Wan). At the end of each chapter, Gidwitz provides exercises/lessons that gives you the opportunity to see if you have what it takes to be a Jedi.
The writing is fast-paced, action-packed and funny. Gidwitz does an amazing job of creating the vivid worlds of Hoth, Dagobah, and Cloud City for the reader to experience. I found myself seeing all the wonderful things I remember from the movie playing out in my mind.
I highly recommend this book for any middle grade reader, lovers of the Star Wars movies, and those of us who are still kids at heart. Who knows, you may find that you have what it takes to be a Jedi Master!
If you aren’t familiar with Gidwitz’s other work, you should check out his A Tale Dark & Grimm, a dark and funny retelling of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
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