A Light Summer Read!

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink (Pilgrims #1)

by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Paperback, 204 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by HMH Books for Young Readers

ISBN13: 9780547564593

Signed Copy From YA Conference

About:

Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

A cute, contemporary, summer camp story. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to special or stand outish about this book. It’s your basic YA summer romance story with a bit of comedy thrown in. It’s short and sweet which makes it a good beach or plane read. There’s historical geekyness to it with a touch of ghost stories which gives it a little something… but not enough to really be remember able. The cover is a little old fashioned for 2018. The main character is hiding an older cell phone in her dress on the cover and you might find kids asking what it is. If they get past the cover though and pick it up to read, the characters are likable and the story moves along quickly. It was a fun read and there is a second book (Confederates Don't Wear Couture ) in the series which I am curious to pick up at some point. I think this is one of the author’s first books. I read her other book Prince in Disguise and could really see improvement in her writing.   Pilgrim’s Don’t Wear Pink is not a clean read. There is underage drinking at a big party that younger teens might not be ready for. Other’s who are looking for a cute quick summer read should pick up this book .

P.S.
I met Stephanie Kate Strohm back in October at a YA Conference. She was awesome in person. Check out my YA Conference Posts to see her autograph and learn a bit more about her! 

When You Wish Upon A Star...

It's Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen

by Ashley Eckstein

Hardcover, 208 pages

Published May 8th 2018 by Disney Editions

ISBN13: 9781368021326

Library

About:

Ashley Eckstein grew up inspired by all things Disney. She launched Her Universe, an apparel company catering to fan girls, which has become a preferred partner for Disney and their girl power initiative.

In IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE, Ashley shares her own life lessons, as well as lessons from iconic Disney characters, as a way to inspire girls to create big dreams and work to make them a reality.

Ashley tells her story of being a little girl dreaming of being on a Disney stage, voicing the first female Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, and starting Her Universe, a blockbuster clothing line and community for fangirls.

With space for readers to make journal entries and quotes from iconic Disney characters, Ashley shows how princesses, Jedis, and super heroes were great role models for choosing her own path.(Goodreads)

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

A fun, positive, inspirational Biograpy/Selfhelp Journal. You can tell that Ashley wrote this book from the heart and how much she loves Disney. I had heard of her clothes line (Her Universe) and I knew she was the voice of Ahsoka, but I never knew all the stories behind them. She wrote her book in a way that makes her story interactive. When she hits certain points in her life she has areas for the reader to reflect on their own lives, and hopefully it will help their dreams come true.  There is an abundance of life lessons tied to Ashley’s life and to Disney characters. It’s done in a fun and friendly manner which makes it a perfect read for teens young and old looking for some guidance.  I loved this book so much and would definitely pick up a copy for a teen in my life. It might make a great graduation present for a Disney lover!   

So Good...

Chaotic Good

by Whitney Gardner 

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published March 13th 2018 by Knopf

ISBN13: 9781524720803

Checked Out From Library

About:

Cameron's cosplay--dressing like a fictional character--is finally starting to earn her attention--attention she hopes to use to get into the CalTech costume department for college. But when she wins a major competition, she inadvertently sets off a firestorm of angry comments from male fans.

When Cameron's family moves the summer before her senior year, she hopes to complete her costume portfolio in peace and quiet away from the abuse. Unfortunately, the only comic shop in town--her main destination for character reference--is staffed by a dudebro owner who challenges every woman who comes into the shop. 

At her twin brother's suggestion, Cameron borrows a set of his clothes and uses her costuming expertise to waltz into the shop as Boy Cameron, where she's shocked at how easily she's accepted into the nerd inner sanctum. Soon, Cameron finds herself drafted into a D&D campaign alongside the jerky shop-owner Brody, friendly (almost flirtatiously so) clerk Wyatt, handsome Lincoln, and her bro Cooper, dragged along for good measure. 

But as her "secret identity" gets more and more entrenched, Cameron's portfolio falls by the wayside--and her feelings for Lincoln threaten to make a complicated situation even more precarious. (Goodreads)

Rating: 5 Stars

Review:

I loved this story! I’m sad that I feel like the cover might keep people from picking it up though. This book was so different from the other issue books that I’ve read lately. The concept of being a female and being treated differently for it is something that I’ve dealt with in real life. I’ve had similar experiences in Comic stores that our main character Cameron deals with. The way Cameron deals with that situation by dressing up as a boy was awesome and so interesting. The way the other characters acted with her both as a boy and then when they found out that she was a girl were perfectly executed. The issue with online bullies was something that I’ve seen in other YA reads lately, but with the cosplay twist to it and the trolls going as far as to actually calling her…. wow. Just wow! I feel like this story added more to the dangers of online harassment. I loved how all the issues tied together so well. The online trolling, the comic store, how males treat females, friendships, family, LGBT relationships, and a bit of romance. The book itself is just such cute feminist nerdy fun. I can’t get over how much I loved it and was surprised by it.I really hope that there is a second one. I want to know what happens when the kids all go to High School with each other! This book would be a great read for anyone. Go pick it up. Go on. Go. I dare you. 

Not Everything Is Black And White....

Renegades (Renegades #1)

by Marissa Meyer 

Hardcover, 556 pages

Published November 7th 2017 by Feiwel & Friends

ISBN: 9781250044662

Received in Shelflove Crate (Book Box)

About:

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both. (Goodreads)

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: 

I loved Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series, but I wasn’t sure how this one was going to be. I love super heroes and villains but YA versions that are good are hard to come by. I had semi high hopes for Renegades going in and it didn’t disappoint. Despite it being pretty long (it’s over 550 pages) it was a fast read. It was refreshing getting to see a “villains” backstory and have it resemble something that could be the beginning of a superheroes. Nova has a good reason for hating the “good” guys and in her eyes the “bad” guys did more good than the superheroes. Having the good guys make mistakes and possibly not be as good as they think they are was refreshing too. Throwing in alternate views between Anarchist Nova and Renegade Adrian (a good guy who has a secret mission of his own) created a great balance between “good” and “bad”. It reminded me of the conundrum that is the x-men and how good and bad aren’t black and white, and everyone has their own opinion on the matter. Is Magneto bad for wanting to protect mutants and give them freedom? Are the X-Men good because they have a different vision for the same goal? It’s all your point of view on the matter. Renegade definitely leaves the reader rooting for both Nova and Adrian. I also loved the costumes for all of the characters. It reminded me of old school DC comics. The fact that the Puppet Master had a blimp that is his vehicle of choice was priceless for me as a old Batman movie fan. This book ends with a huge cliff hanger leaving us readers wanting more…. RIGHT NOW! I really don’t want to have to wait! Like the Lunar Chronicles, this book can easily be read and enjoyed by any teen young or old.  It’s going to be one of my book talk books at the Junior Highs for summer reading this year.  

One With The Force

Rebel Rising

by Beth Revis

Hardcover, 410 pages

Published May 2nd 2017 by Disney Lucasfilm Press

ISBN: 9781484780831

Checked Out From Library

About:

When Jyn Erso was five years old, her mother was murdered and her father taken from her to serve the Empire. But despite the loss of her parents she is not completely alone—Saw Gerrera, a man willing to go to any extremes necessary in order to resist Imperial tyranny, takes her in as his own, and gives her not only a home but all the abilities and resources she needs to become a rebel herself.

Jyn dedicates herself to the cause—and the man. But fighting alongside Saw and his people brings with it danger and the question of just how far Jyn is willing to go as one of Saw’s soldiers. When she faces an unthinkable betrayal that shatters her world, Jyn will have to pull the pieces of herself back together and figure out what she truly believes in…and who she can really trust. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

If you’ve looked at past posts of mine you might have seen that I am a big Star Wars fans. Being as such, I know how much likes/dislikes vary among fans. A fan who likes one thing might be yelled at by another fan who disapproves of that. It’s all a matter of opinion in my book though. I have seen all of the movies many times and have read some of the books and graphic novels. I’m no expert but part of my heart belongs to the series and always will. 

That said, I enjoyed this book. By the end of Rouge One I was hoping Jyn would make it somehow. This book at least gave me a little more of her story, even if it was backstory. Even though her story is tragic from start to finish, she is such a strong female character and I respect that. This book was not perfect. It was a tad slow in spots. Starting from when she hides from the Storm Troopers after her mother is killed, we get to see her life growing up to the point when Cassian finds her in prison at the beginning of Rouge One. The characters were pretty spot on, but not exactly like their movie counter parts. It’s a YA novel so that’s to be expected. Throughout the book we learn how Jyn was trained by Saw and what led her to become the person she is in Rouge One. How she kind of loses her humanity, but then finds it again. The fact that Rouge One is a standalone movie (not part of one of the trilogies) and that it introduced us to new characters who haven’t received official backstories yet helped this book. I’m not sure the author could have pulled off a book about the original characters (Luke, Leia, Han, Chewy).  To turn Jyn’s story into a YA novel was easy considering she’s pretty much a clean slate, and Revis does a good job setting her characters up. I think that any Star Wars fan of almost any age will enjoy this read. Like I mentioned before, it’s not perfect, but it is something to fill in the time between movies being released and to get you deeper into the Star Wars Universe. 

Indiana Jones Read Alike?

Unearthed (Unearthed #1)

by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner 

Hardcover, 336 pages

Expected publication: January 9th 2018 by Disney-Hyperion

ISBN 9781484758052

ARC From Publisher

About:

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race… 

(Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

Not what I expected, but in a good way. It was kind of a repetitive Indiana Jones knock off throughout the middle of the book. Don’t get me wrong. I do love me some Indy, but it would have been nice to do something different or make this area of the book shorter. The book switches it up and gets really exciting and fast paced towards the end. Space ships. Uninvited “guests”.  A WTF moment. All this and more helps redeem the slowness in the middle. 

The characters evolved got more and more interesting throughout the book. I usually don’t enjoy shifting view points from chapter to chapter but this book surprisingly got it right. Our two main characters are so different, yet so alike, that getting to see what each one was thinking and why really added to the story. 

The new planet that they’re on and the search for alien technology made this story similar to other sci-fi books out there and yet different at the same time. There was a certain charm that came from the writing that other books don’t have. The “romance” was definitely YA like. “I love you. I hate you.” kind of stuff. But it was still kind of cute and didn’t hurt the story too much. 

That ending though! WOW! I’d really like to know what's going to happen next! It was a pretty “clean” read so teens of any age who enjoy sci-fi and adventure will gobble this one up and be begging you for the next book! 

“To The Rift!!!”

Kat and Meg Conquer the World

by Anna Priemaza

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published November 7th 2017 by Harper Teen

ISBN: 9780062560803

Checked Out From Library

About:

For fans of Nicola Yoon’s Everything, Everything, Emery Lord’s When We Collided, and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, Anna Priemaza’s debut novel is a heartwarming and achingly real story of finding a friend, being a fan, and defining your place in a difficult world.

Kat and Meg couldn’t be more different. Kat’s anxiety makes it hard for her to talk to people. Meg hates being alone, but her ADHD keeps pushing people away. But when the two girls are thrown together for a year-long science project, they discover they do have one thing in common: They’re both obsessed with the same online gaming star and his hilarious videos.

It might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship—if they don’t kill each other first.

“Kat and Meg Conquer the World will hit home for anyone who has ever been waist-deep in fandom, doubt, or new relationships; Kat’s and Meg’s unique voices are outstanding, and their friendship brings this story to vibrant life."—Francesca Zappia, author of Made You Up and Eliza and Her Monsters

(Goodreads)

Rating: 5 Stars

Review: 

Unique Friendships, Family Drama, School Projects, Video Games, Romance, Youtube, Anxiety, ADHD …. All of this is in this amazing book. The author does a wonderful job of creating a world where two friendless girls with two very different disorders become best friends. The girls learn from each other and create bonds that will hopefully last a life time. They learn to deal with their problems and work together. Meg and Kat are very relatable characters. They both have their flaws but they have their talents and amazing personalities too. This book surprisingly moves along very quickly, switching from one girls point of view to the others each chapter. It has so much nerdy goodness and fun references in it! Yes there is a bit of “mature” content in it. One character has sex, but it leads to a lesson learned for the girls. Younger teens may be intimidated or not ready for that. Teens or Adults with ADHD or Anxiety (or who know someone with either) might really enjoy this book. It gave me a bit of insight to some of my coworkers lives.   

Marvel Does It Again!

Runaways: An Original Novel

by Christopher Golden 

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018 by Marvel Press

ISBN: 9781484782019

Received ARC From Publisher

About: 

"The Pride, back in L.A.? Their parents, alive? Karolina had never realized hope and fear could feel so much alike."

Written by New York Times best-selling author Christopher Golden, Runaways: An Original Novel is a fresh take on the Marvel fan favorite. Including the first issue of the revived Runaways comic series written by Rainbow Rowell and with art by Kris Anka, it's easy for fans of the comics, fans of the new Hulu TV show, and first-time readers to all enjoy this new take on an old classic.

Turns out murderous Super Villains don't make for good parents. The Runaways had no choice. They had to kill them. Well, more or less. Now Nico, Karolina, Gert, Chase, and Molly are on the run again, hiding out and trying to regain a sense of normalcy. But kids with super powers don't get to be normal.

The city is overrun with criminals, each faction bent on murdering them for one reason or another. It's only when the Runaways uncover the truth behind their parents' past that they realize the evil isn't just in L.A. (Goodreads)

Rating: 4

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised by this read. After being disappointed by DC's new Batman novel I didn't have high hopes for another superhero book. This one however, was actually pretty good. It stuck close to the graphic novel origins (yes I have read the series). It gave good back story from the comics so those who haven't read the comics will still be able to follow and enjoy.  I do wish there was more character looks descriptions though. Sometimes I had a hard time picturing the main heroes in my head, despite the fact that I’ve seen them countless times in the comics. I feel like the "good guy" characters kept in character from the comics. The bad guys were very "Marvel" bad guy like. All super powered and in costumes for the most part. There were a few “hidden” bad guys that made the end more exciting. There was plenty of action and plot development to keep the story moving and to keep the reader interested. The ending wasn't really a big surprise, but it was still done in a clever way. Due to swearing (mostly done by the youngest Runaway member) and sexual content (Two members end up naked in bed but it doesn't end up going all the way... if you know what I mean) I'm not sure I'd give it to younger teens. Those who are looking for a decent Marvel read or who are getting ready for the Runaways TV show will probably enjoy this read though. 

Batman??? Not So Much...

Batman: Nightwalker (DC Icons #2)

by Marie Lu

Hardcover, 272 pages

Expected publication: January 2nd 2018 by Random House Books for Young Readers

ISBN 0399549781 (ISBN13: 9780399549786)

SeriesDC Icons #2

Received ARC From Publisher

About:

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy.

The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list.

One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals.

Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope.

In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge her secrets, or is he feeding her the information she needs to bring Gotham City to its knees? Bruce will walk the dark line between trust and betrayal as the Nightwalkers circle closer.

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

Fox got it right by calling their young Bruce Wayne/James Gordon show Gotham and not connecting it to Batman. This book got it wrong. So wrong! We have an 18 year old Bruce who doesn't seem to be anywhere near becoming the dark knight yet. Yes he saves the day all while wearing black, but it's not Batman like. It's more of a generic YA drama/adventure/romance book.

If you look at it like just an everyday YA book then it's a decent read. The writing it ok, though it is kind of slow in some parts. If you don't try to picture this as a Batman book the characters and such are ok. If you're like me though and you were hoping for a good Batman novel, you're out of luck. Besides his parents being killed and having a Butler named Alfred this Bruce wasn't what I was looking for. Where's the dark, brooding character , with a tortured soul, kind of looking for revenge and wanting to fix his city? Even TVs Gotham with an even younger Bruce has all that.

Why is Harvey Dent (who is very un Dent like) one of Bruce’s best friends? It seemed like a stunt to throw a well-known character into the mix since our bad guys (who aren't too Batman villain like) are all newbies. And the other couple name drops seemed like a stunt as well. Fox and Gordon weren’t used to the extent that they should have been. Even Alfred had a minimum roll until closer to the end of the book.

Gotham is not how I've ever pictured it either. Wayne's house and property are way to close to other houses. Arkham didn’t seem to scary or troublesome. It seemed like even the worse inmates were tame.  Even the streets they drive through in the city just seem wrong and to nice and light. Gotham should be dark and run down. There should be criminals and gangs, not concerts in the park and joy rides. And don’t get me started on the drones. Are they flying drones like I first pictured because of the word drone? Or are they more robotic humanoids? I really had a hard time figuring that out.

By the end of this I was expecting Bruce to either run off and marry the girl or just become a rich guy who helps people by charity or becomes a cop. Not a guy who runs off and trains to become a vigilante, which there is no hint of.

And my biggest pet peeve... what was with all the bats. Bruce mentions liking watching the bats at home and flying over Gotam. I get he's going to become Batman, but from my memory it wasn't because he enjoyed watching the bats fly every night.

I'm very disappointed in this "Batman" novel. If you're expecting Batman, pick up something else. If you want teen drama then give this one a shot.

A Different Take On An Older Story...

The Mortal Instruments: The Graphic Novel, Vol. 1

by Cassandra Clare (Goodreads Author), Cassandra Jean (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)

Paperback 192 pages

Published November 7th 2017 by Yen Press

Checked Out From Library

About:

Cassandra Clare's bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments, is adapted into a graphic novel series!

(Goodreads)

The first installment of Cassandra Clare's bestselling urban fantasy series, The Mortal Instruments, is adapted into a graphic novel series!

Hanging out with her best friend, Simon, is just about the most exciting thing in Clary's life...that is, until she realizes there are people only she can see. But when her mother disappears and a monster attacks her, Clary has to embrace a world that she never even knew existed--a world full of vampires, werewolves, demons, and those who fight for the humans, Shadowhunters...

(Amazon)

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

Right from the start I’d like to say that I’ve read the first few books in the original series and enjoyed them. I’ve seen the movie, and though it didn’t match the book as well as I hoped it would, I enjoyed it too. I also watch the TV show, which at first I hated because it really doesn’t match the books, but it definitely grew on me and I now consider myself a fan of it. So I am very familiar with the Mortal Instruments series.

That said, concerning this graphic novel adaptation of the Mortal Instruments, I liked that the story followed the book series better than the tv show/movie does, but the art work didn't work for me. It was to manga like. The character sketches in this bugged me more than the actor choices for the movie did. I just couldn’t get into it. I will admit I’m not a huge manga fan, but I do love graphic novels. That might have been what destroyed this book for me. I heard graphic novel and was expecting something different. The art work is consistent throughout the book, which is always a plus for me. The story was easy to follow, another plus. The setting was drawn well, but I just couldn’t get past the drawings of the people. I also feel like the original book is just to long to be nicely translated into a graphic novel. We barely scratched the surface of the story in this volume! That is something that always annoyed me about these sorts of adaptations. Over all, I give this work a reluctant 3. Fans of manga and the series might be able to get more into this book than me. It’s probably ok for any age teen, though there is a Clary in her underwear scene so be warned lol. I'd recommend reading the actual novels and skipping this adaptation.

You Go Glen CoCo!

Mean Girls: A Novel

by Micol Ostow 

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published September 12th 2017 by Scholastic Inc.

ISBN: 9781338087567

Checked Out From The Library

About:

You know the story--or do you?

Cady Heron grew up homeschooled in Africa with scientist parents as her teachers, monkeys as her classmates and the African plains as her playground. But when her family moves to the suburbs of Illinois, she finds herself a stranger in a strange land: high school.

With no prior research to guide her, Cady's forced to figure out North Shore High all on her own. Suddenly she finds herself sucked into Girl World as a new member of the social elite dubbed "The Plastics." Cady discovers that unlike the wild, Girl World doesn't have any rules--especially when you maybe, possibly, okay definitely, have a giant crush on their ruthless leader's ex-boyfriend. Turns out, life in high school might be even more brutal than a showdown on the Savannah.

Based on the screenplay by Tina Fey, this retelling of the cult classic film includes tons of extra, never-before-seen bonus content. 

(Goodreads)

Rating: 4 Stars

Review:

This book is basically the movie in novel form. It’s almost word for word in many parts… or at least it seems that way. I didn’t actually sit down and check. What this book did provide that was different from the movie is we got some alternate points of views. It wasn’t just all Cady. We also got the characters feelings in words instead of just seeing them on screen, which added a bit more meat to the story. I’d say that about 90% of the book is from the movie, with the extra 10% being filler text and explanations. There might be a couple short scenes not in the movie, but blink and you’ll miss them. This book gets 4 stars because despite it basically being the movie… I love the movie! It’s unique and fun. I’d say give the book to older teens, since there is some more mature content…. though most younger teens have probably already seen the movie and have no issues with it, so they might enjoy it too. Overall, it’s a fun reminder of the movie. And if you haven’t seen the movie, read the book first! You’ll enjoy it even more!

Princess Leia Where Are You Tonight...

Leia, Princess of Alderaan (Journey to Star Wars - The Last Jedi)

by Claudia Gray 

Hardcover, First Edition, 409 pages

Published September 1st 2017 by Disney Lucasfilm Press

ISBN: 9781484780787

Checked Out From Library

About:

A young adult novel, written by New York Times Best-selling author Claudia Gray, about sixteen-year-old Princess Leia, set before A New Hope. 

(Goodreads)

The never-before-told story of how young Leia Organa comes to join the rebellion against the evil Empire. 

(Amazon) 

Rating: 3 Stars



Review:

Let’s just make this clear from the start….

I am a huge Star Wars fan! 

Now that that’s out in the open I can explain my rating a bit better….

This book is about Princess Leia before the movie A New Hope. It is her becoming heir to the throne and learning about government and love. And it’s about her discovering that her parents are a part of the rebellion and how she reacts to that. 

Overall, the book has good writing and a decent storyline….. but only if you’re not a huge Star Wars fan. It was an interesting take of Leia’s pre movie life, but it just doesn’t quite fit the character that I’ve come to know and love. It throws George Lucas’s story out the window and seems to try to create it’s own cannon.  If you don’t tear the book apart and think that’s not how she would have acted, or WTF? Han is supposed to be her first love, not this kid, I’m sure it’s not a bad read. I however kept thinking “how many times does Leia need to try to help people, only to make things worse for the rebellion that her parents are trying to keep her out of by not telling her anything, only to make it worse by her not knowing and screwing up their plans?” And why would the Empire give teens jobs like “figure out which planet is the best for this project?” They have more scientists and officials than one can count. Why give an important task like that to kids?  And my biggest pet peeve, why is there a love interest for Leia??? Carrie Fisher even said that Han was her first love and that was how she played the role. Was the love story something brought in by the author? Or was it a Disney influence? Either way, YUCK!  I found the writing to be tedious and just plain wrong for the most part… again that’s my opinion. 

A few things that were good about the book:

I like that Bil and Breha Organa (her adoptive parents) had such a huge influence in her life. I liked how her mom was adventurous just like Leia. I liked the description of Alderran (her home planet). 

In the long run though, it’s like Gray did not do her research before writing this book. I was looking forward to this book since it announced but I was so disappointed. Leia is one of my all time favorite characters and this book just threw decades of lore out the window, all for some cheap easy cliché teen love interest gimmicks! 

If you are not as attached to the Star War characters as I am, and if you enjoy Claudia Gray’s other writings then you might enjoy this book. If you a desperate Star Wars fan looking for a good read I’d recommend picking up one of the other many Star Wars books that are out there, and maybe saving this one for last.  It is a “clean” read so it is an easy recommendation to younger and older teens. My thought though is give them Rebel Rising instead. It’s a prequel to Rouge One and it’s a much better and more cannon related read.