Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Jeffrey Brown caught the world’s attention with his first Star
Wars themed book, Darth Vader and Son. Now he introduces us to Roan, a young comic
artist living on Tatooine in the first book of his new series, Jedi Academy. He lives in a galaxy far,
far away, but similar to kids here on Earth, he aspires to be like his big
brother, who is at Pilot Academy School for what feels like eons.
When Roan isn’t accepted it seems like the world is going to
end. An acceptance letter from the Jedi Academy comes, and that’s at least
better than the Tatooine Agricultural Academy where you have to shovel Bantha
fertilizer, so he packs his bags. But Roan isn’t quite sure what a Jedi is, let
alone that he wants to be one. We get a peek into Roans life at Jedi school
through journal entries and comics, and find that the start of school is pretty
rough. From deciphering Yoda’s lessons to the struggles of making friends, Roan
spills it all in an endearing and relatable way.
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This tale is relatable to anyone who has been thrown into a new
situation, and as a new college freshman it tugged at my heartstrings. The
struggles of making new friends, getting used to a new school, and learning to
use the force can cross through galaxies in the strong voice of 11-year-old
Roan. His doodles and cartoons make you feel the stress of the lightsaber craft,
understand the frustration of dealing with ewok bullies, and fall in love with
the friends that help Roan make it through, just as he does.
The book is geared toward younger kids, so you’re not going to
be finding any deep symbolism or intricate dialogue, but that doesn’t keep it
from being a fun read. And don’t be scared away if you’re not a Star Wars
aficionado. There are some other great references fans will geek out over. Jedi Academy is accessible to anyone who
understands the difficulties of fitting in. Once you devour this one, keep your
eye open for the rest of this amazing series by Jeffrey Brown.
By: Lisie Sabbag
