STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
Tracey West
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449920
Ages 9-11
160 pages

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For readers who just can’t get enough of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars movie, this chapter book takes readers inside all the action, retelling the story while offering insights into the hearts and minds of its characters.

Like most Star Wars stories, this one starts off with a bang. Obi-Wan Kenobi and his former apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, are on the planet Christophsis, where they are fighting a losing battle against an army of droids fighting on behalf of the Separatist Alliance that, under the command of the Sith Count Dooku, seeks to destroy the Galactic Republic that Obi-Wan and Anakin strive to defend. They’ve been unable to radio back for help, and when Yoda does send assistance, it’s in the form of a young Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, who’s been assigned to train under Anakin himself.

At first, Anakin is deeply skeptical of Ahsoka’s potential, and he tries to palm her off on Obi-Wan. But when the girl proves to be a skilled fighter (she brings down an energy shield that’s protecting the droid armies) and a reckless, impetuous person --- much like Anakin himself --- he agrees to take her under his wing.

And the two have a huge first mission together. Rotta Hutt, the young son of Jabba the Hutt, has been kidnapped, and Jabba has given the Jedi little time to rescue the baby. The Jedi desperately need to stay in the good graces of the Hutt so they can travel freely through the territories he controls. Ahsoka and Anakin soon discover, however, that Count Dooku’s Separatist forces plan to frame the Jedi for the disappearance --- and potential death --- of the young Hutt, who is very ill. Dooku has assigned the assassin Asajj Ventress to foil the rescue plans, and the Jedi-trained Ventress threatens to bring down the young Jedi and further weaken the Republic. Can Anakin and his young apprentice return young Rotta safely to his father and convince the Hutts of their good intentions?

This novelization based on the popular movie outlines the film’s storyline in great detail and will satisfy the movie’s many young fans. As a chapter book, it also has the capability of capturing the characters’ inner thoughts and motivations, especially the combination of doubt, fear and brashness that characterizes the Padawan Ahsoka. The book doesn’t hint, though, at the dark events that are just around the corner in the Star Wars chronology; instead, it illuminates a single episode in the history of the Galactic Republic that fits into, but is not necessarily essential to, the overall Star Wars epic.

DECIDE YOUR DESTINY I: THE WAY OF THE JEDI
Jake T. Forbes
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448450025
Ages 9-11
144 pages

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Just like the popular Choose Your Own Adventure series of the 1980s and 1990s, this first volume in the Decide Your Destiny series allows readers to determine the course of the action, inspired by the characters and events of Stars Wars: The Clone Wars.

Unlike most of the other titles reviewed here, THE WAY OF THE JEDI is not just a retelling of the movie’s or television show’s storyline; instead, it uses one of the main plot points (the selection of Ahsoka Tano as Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan) as the inspiration for a new story starring the reader. The story begins by reminding readers that, during such unsettled times, being a Padawan is not a job to be taken lightly: “Now, Padawans get their training on the battlefield. Being promoted to Padawan isn’t like an apprenticeship anymore; now it means becoming an adult and taking all the burdens of the adult world on your shoulders.”

That’s obvious fairly quickly, as the reader, following a clever math trick that supposedly sees “if your mind is at one with the Force,” is assigned by Yoda as Padawan to the famous Jedi Master Bant Eerin. That’s pretty much where things stop being straightforward and start being pretty tricky. The reader (who’s consistently addressed as “you” by the narrator) has some tough decisions to make. The first choice asks you whether you will follow your master’s communicated instructions or go elsewhere to verify her safety. And the questions only get more complex from there: Will you complete your original mission or veer off course? Will you remain loyal to old friends or try to form new alliances? Will you accept challenges or retreat to a position of safety?

The dilemmas are both morally and strategically challenging, and let’s just say that, as far as this book goes, I’m nowhere near ready to become a Jedi Knight. The first time I read the book and made my choices, I killed my best friend and turned to the dark side. The second time, half of my clone fighters died thanks to my poor battlefield tactics.

The good news, is, though, that these are just two of the more than 25 different endings that are possible in the book. Some lead to glory and power; others to a less black-and-white outcome; others to truly dark results indeed. Almost all the endings, however, are forward-looking, encouraging the young Padawan to keep learning and fighting --- and encouraging young readers to keep reading --- by returning to the story, and new choices, again and again.

THE NEW PADAWAN
Eric Stevens
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449944
Ages 6-8
48 pages

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This easy-to-read chapter book focuses on the opening sequence of the movie, in which the Padawan Ahsoka must prove herself by working with her new master, Anakin Skywalker, to destroy an energy shield that’s making it impossible for the Republic’s clone troopers to fight the Separatist droids. The book is divided into eight short chapters and is illustrated with numerous stills from the movie. A glossary also helps young readers identify and define difficult and unfamiliar words.

OPERATION: HUTTLET
Steele Tyler Filipek
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449951
Ages 6-8
48 pages

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Even new readers can read for themselves about Star Wars: The Clone Wars in this easy-to-read chapter book that focuses on one of the central conflicts of the movie. Anakin and his student, Ahsoka, have been assigned by Yoda to rescue baby Rotta, Jabba the Hutt’s son, who has been kidnapped. Along the way, the two Jedi, both of whom have a tendency to be fearless but reckless, run into plenty of enemy fighters and must also learn how to work with each other. The story is divided into eight short chapters and is illustrated by many scenes from the movie. An opening glossary defines specialized terms that will help young readers understand more about the Star Wars universe.

THE BATTLE BEGINS
Rob Valois
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449913
Ages 6-8
48 pages

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This picture book introduces readers to the Galactic Republic, the Jedi Order, and the conflicts that set up the action in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Illustrated with numerous stills from the movie, the book outlines the plot and captures the film’s drama and visual appeal. With its striking design and hardcover format, this would be a great gift for young fans just learning about the Force.

BATTLE AT TETH
Kirsten Mayer
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449937
Ages 6-8
32 pages

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As the title suggests, this picture book focuses on an exciting battle that breaks out when Anakin Skywalker and the clone commander Captain Rex arrive at Teth to try to rescue the kidnapped baby Hutt. Captain Rex is the star of the show here, leading his clone army into battle against the Separatist droids and the dark assassin Asajj Ventress. There’s suspense and action from start to finish, brought to life with stills from the film. The easy-to-read text also makes this book a good choice for beginning readers who want an action-filled story.

MEET AHSOKA TANO
Kirsten Mayer
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448450346
Ages 6-8
32 pages

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This easy-to-read picture book is narrated by Ahsoka Tano, the young Padawan apprenticed to Anakin Skywalker. As she recounts two of her most exciting adventures, she also reveals her creativity, her recklessness and her loyalty --- all qualities that contribute to her Jedi Knight training. The book is illustrated with stills from the film and television show, and the mix of text and illustrations makes this a good choice for developing readers.

THE GALACTIC PHOTOBOOK
Zachary Rau
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449968
Ages 6-8
48 pages

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On the left side of each two-page spread in this easy-to-read scrapbook is a large portrait of and key information on each of the movie’s main characters. On the facing page is a graphic-novel retelling of the film’s plot, with scenes starring the featured character. A large fold-out poster completes the scrapbook, an invaluable resource for kids who want to know everything about the Star Wars universe.

INTERGALACTIC ADVENTURE: ACTIVITY BOOK
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448449975
Ages 6-8
32 pages

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In addition to two pages of stickers, this activity book contains more than a dozen different games, including a memory quiz, word scramble, dot-to-dot and several codes. Kids also have the chance to build their own wrist communicator and draw their own planets, weapons, tattoos and characters. Along with these individual activities, the enclosed board game can be played with more than one child.

STICKER STORYTELLER
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448450582
Ages 6-8

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This book includes more than 400 separate stickers, which can be arranged over several panoramic scenes to recreate scenes from the movie or tell kids’ own stories. All the major and minor characters are included, many more than once and in several different poses. Vehicles, droids, clones and planets help enrich the scenes, and empty speech balloons allow aspiring screenwriters to create their own dialogue.

PAPER MODEL-MAKING KIT
Grosset & Dunlap/LucasBooks
ISBN: 9780448450049
Ages 9-11
16 pages

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This kit includes materials and instructions to make three different paper models. The models are designed for builders of various ages and skill levels, although all young Padawan would probably benefit from adult assistance or supervision.

The first, most straightforward model is a clone trooper helmet that’s actually big enough to wear. The second model is a replica of R2-D2, complete with a head that spins around. The final, most complicated model is an AT-TE walker made up of almost 75 separate pieces of paper!

Fortunately, all those pieces --- made of heavy-duty, pre-scored cardstock --- are numbered, and the clear, easy-to-read instructions include both text and diagrams. Although kids might be tempted to play with their new creations, they’re not really sturdy enough to do so --- but they make great additions to the display shelf for budding Star Wars collectors!