Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown

Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Buy Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown at Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com
Category: Confident Readers
Reviewer: Louise Jones
Summary: Diary of a Wimpy Kid meets the Star Wars Universe in this hillarious parody following young Roan as he starts Middle School
Buy? Yes	Borrow? Yes
Pages: 160	Date: September 2013
Publisher: Scholastic
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 9781407138701
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Roan has dreamed of going to pilot school his whole life, so it comes as a bit of a shock when he doesn’t quite make the grade. The next best alternative, unfortunately, is Tatooine Agriculture Academy, and a life as a farmer on his dusty, desert homeworld. Luckily, fate steps in and Roan receives a letter from Master Yoda, inviting him to train at the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. It may not be pilot school, but Roan realises that it may be his ticket to a better life. He just needs to get to grips with the Force, lightsabers and of course...girls...

Star Wars Jedi Academy is the third in a series of books by Brown, author of the bestselling Darth Vader and Son and Vader’s Little Princess. The story is mainly written in journal format, but also contains lots of asides in the form of school reports, homework, newspaper clippings and comic-style cartoons. The result is an accessible and readable little hardback, which may particularly appeal to children who don’t like traditional fiction books.

Roan is a typical pre-teen and is a very likeable lead character. He is very nervous about going to Jedi Academy and has a habit of sweating profusely when nervous. The teaching staff are all aliens from the Star Wars Universe. I loved Mr Garfield, a Darth Maul lookalike, who teaches lightsabers and Home Economics and Kitmum, a headband-wearing, whistle-toting Wookiee who teaches Physical Education, even though the class can’t understand a word she says.

As the story is set in middle school, we can expect plenty of tween angst. Roan still has to face the school bullies, who lurk in the shadows wearing cowls. He has to get to grips with homework and exams and also has a huge crush on a girl in his class. The constant Star Wars references add to the humour and had me laughing out loud. Imagine Diary of a Wimpy Kid set in the Star Wars universe and you get the idea.

I loved this book and will definitely be looking out for more by the same author. The idea is fresh and original and the potential for further stories in the series is unlimited. I’m very excited to see what comes next.

Young Star Wars Fans may enjoy Darth Paper Strikes Back: An Origami Yoda Book by Tom Angleberger

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You can read more book reviews or buy Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.

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