For this week’s Family Comic Friday, I’m digging into my to-read pile to bring you the latest adventures of the younglings from the Jedi Academy. This time, the focus is on Christina Starspeeder as she begins her apprenticeship on the planet Jedha! Be sure to strap in for some all-ages Star Wars fun!
Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis
Written by Amy Ignatow
Art and story by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Published by Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 176
Retail: $12.99
The seventh book in the Jedi Academy series is the best as Christina Starspeeder, older sister of Victor, heads to Jedha to start her Jedi apprenticeship. Christina has been paired with legendary master Skia Ro. But things could not get any worse for the Padawan who tries too hard to impress her master.
Nearly causing a war between Wookiee tribes, instigating a music revolt among the Bith and almost becoming a meal to a band of hungry Wampa, Christina is just about to give up on being a Jedi when she uncovers a disturbing trend. Everywhere Starspeeder and her master travel to smooth down an uprising also seems to be the newest locale selected by the Hutts for a new casino and pod-racing track.
Is there a connection to these seemingly peaceful races suddenly becoming violent and the Hutts? Or is it Christina Starspeeder’s doing? If you ask Skia Ro’s droid, it’s because Christina’s a jinx. Nah- it can’t be that…
I wasn’t lying when I said that Revenge of the Sis was the best volume in the entire Jedi Academy series. I really loved the Roan Novachez trilogy by Jeffery Brown. They were extremely clever books. When the story shifted to Victor Starspeeder, I was a little disappointed. Victor didn’t seem as strong of a character and he was a little bit whiny. But like Luke Skywalker, the Padawan matured. However, making Victor’s older sister the star of this volume was a brilliant move.
Christina is more what I expect out of a Jedi apprentice. She’s got the chops. But she still has a long way to go towards becoming a master. But what I really enjoyed about this book was the change of scenery!
The academy on Coruscant is great and all that but after 6 volumes, it’s gotten to be a predictable setting. Having Jedha as the setting adds to the wonder of the Star Wars universe. We got a small but not really significant glimpse of the planet in Rogue One. But thanks to this volume, I was really able to make a connection to that ancient planet’s history and lore.
The addition of Amy Ignatow (The Popularity Papers) to the mix brought a new dynamic to this series. The Jedi Academy series mostly examines a few well-known settings and characters. I.E. Tatooine, Coruscant, Yoda. But this book, with the articles on the many species that make up the Star Wars universe, really added a depth to the plot and ultimately the fun.
Jarrett J. Krosoczka continues his run on this series. Krosoczka created the Starspeeder family and his creative touch with the artwork and the Star Wars version of social media were perfect for this next chapter in older sister Christina’s path to becoming a Jedi. His cartoony versions of the Gammoreans and Bith were really fluid and full of energy. However, there’s this one Padowan with milky white eyes. What race is he from? Can anybody tell me, cause I really would like to know!
Like with almost all of the reviews I write that involve works that I really love, I always find myself wishing for more. Well, I’m in luck! Christina’s story will continue in the pages of Jedi Academy Book #8, ‘Attack of the Furball’ this September.
Revenge of the Sis was a fun all-ages journey to that Star Wars universe of far, far away. This was a book that unique and new but still maintained enough of the Star Wars canon that readers new and old to the franchise could enjoy without being repetitive or too confusing. If the young reader in your life likes the Jedi Academy series, they are going to love this entry!
Star Wars: Jedi Academy: Revenge of the Sis debuted in print and digital formats on March 26, 2019.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9.5 out of 10 stars.
This review was concurrently published on Outrightgeekery.com.
First of all, thanks to all for being patient with me this past week. I've been swamped with grading papers and work. So, last week I took a much needed day off from Family Comic Friday. It actually worked out pretty good the timing and all based on what day it is...
Today is Force Friday II. It's a new annual shopping holiday devoted to revealing new Star Wars merchandise that the general public wants but can't afford. It also just so happens to be the Friday I complete the last book in the Jedi Academy series: the Force Oversleeps.
Victor Starspeeder and his friends have returned for their second year at the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. Victor believes that he's gonna really shine this year as he will finally get to fly in a starspeeder simulator. But things aren't quite going his way as usual. For some reason Victor keeps oversleeping for his first class of the morning. Then there's the new kid who everyone likes and seems to do things better than Victor. Plus, there's rumors going around that his sister Christina could be turning to the Dark Side by becoming a Sith!
This is book five of the Jedi Academy series and I have rather enjoyed each of them. But the first half of this book was really starting to get old to me. The pattern is always this: a young Padawan builds it up in his head that he's going become the Chosen One at the Academy. Then things don't go his way and his love for a fellow classmate is complicated by jealousy or miscommunication. He struggles in class and might actually get expelled for poor grades. Plus, there's always a bully or disapproving teacher. But then something happens in the second half of this book that really won things back over for me.
When Victor starts to suspect that his sister is the galaxy's newest Sith Lord, he starts to reflect on his family life which is of a blended family. Some of Victor's pals reflect on similar circumstances. One of the things I love about Star Wars is that hard hitting issues aren't really what the movie series is trying to tackle. Unlike Star Trek that has a moral edge, Star Wars is more about fun and adventure. Yet I was actually okay with this book tackling a serious issue for once. They didn't make it preachy and it was very welcoming on how they approached the subject in making it gel with the overall theme of the Star Wars series: family!
There's one more book due in this series as it's needed to complete the Victor Starspeeder trilogy. But after book #6, I think I'd be fine if they don't do a third trilogy. UNLESS- maybe that new trilogy could have Roan from the first trilogy and Victor come back as instructor's at the Academy training the next generation of padawans. I would love that idea.
The Force Oversleeps was a book that started off as something that I seriously felt like I had read before- and I had! But it really matures like the padawans do at the turn of the second act. A great read for Star Wars fans of all ages.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.
Victor Starspeeder is a Padawan with tremendous potential. He's got the makings of such a powerful Jedi that the teachers at the Jedi Academy on Obroa-Skai cannot properly train him. So Victor is transferred to the Academy on Coruscant where Master Yoda sees get potential for the young lad.
New to the Jedi Academy, Victor will struggle to fit in. His older sister, a star student in her own right, is mortified to have her baby brother at her school. His roommate Artemis wheezes and wears dark robes. Is he a Sith? Then there's the older Padawan whose taken Victor under his wing. He seems nice, yet also seems to get the new student into lots of trouble with the instructors. What's his deal?
A New Class is just that: new students, new instructors, even a new author/ illustrator. After 3 Jedi Academy Books, Jeffrey Brown stepped down for other projects I guess. His successor Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Lunch Lady) did a very good job. His entry in the Jedi Academy series was similar but different. But that wasn't a bad thing.
I really enjoyed this read but I have my questions. For one, does this volume take place before or after the events of the Jeffrey Brown Trilogy? Just because this is volume 4, that doesn't mean that this isn't a prequel. With only Master Yoda and the Wookiee P.E. teacher Kitmum as the only characters that return in this book, am I to believe that a bunch of teachers up and quit all of a sudden?
My other issue is one that I had with the Jeffrey Brown books: romance. All through the Star Wars prequels, Jedi not getting into romantic entanglements and marriage is a big deal and a major plot point. Yet, Victor's father is a Jedi and married (with children!) and the Padawans in these books always seem to date each other without objection from Yoda. So what's up with that?
Yes, a lot of great characters from the first three books are gone. But I really liked some of these new ones, especially Artemis. But the annoying Gungan guidance counselor, meesa could do without.
A fun read that will appeal to young Star Wars fans. Not too silly and not too predictable. Being half comic book/ half easy reader, this book should be a favorite of both kids and parents/ guardians!
Worth Consuming
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
