(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Deas. "Yes, a great Jedi Luke Skywalker will become. A Jedi, too, you wish to be? Help you I can." Speaking directly to readers, Jedi master Yoda calmly dispenses tenets of the Jedi code. In the lively illustrations, Luke Skywalker faces his fears, learns to believe in himself, and trains to use the Force (as he does in The Empire Strikes Back). Deas's lithe lines and soft color palette match Chhibber's channeling of Yoda's mediative tone. As legions of fans already know, Yoda's wit and wisdom have relevance beyond the Star Wars universe.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Star Wars series. Set before the film Solo: A Star Wars Story, this novel relates how characters Han and Qi'ra became unlikely friends while trying to survive after a botched mission. Carson develops their distinct personalities via alternating narration, and she brings the planet of Corellia to life through vivid descriptions of the aliens and disreputable places the teenage "scrumrats" encounter throughout their action-packed adventure.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 Star Wars series. Illustrated by Annie Wu. Fourteen-year-old Mattis joins the Resistance to become a hero fighting the First Order. But first he and his troublemaking fellow recruits will have to become a team. This decent if uneventful new series set in the Star Wars universe focuses on establishing characters rather than on actual adventures, though a climactic encounter with monstrous rancors and a cliffhanger ending nicely set up the next installment.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) YA Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Sixteen-year-old Princess Leia is training to pass three rigorous challenges so she can be decreed rightful heir to Alderaan's throne. But she also desires to help her parents as they secretly develop a rebellion against the Empire. Gray compellingly fills in Leia's backstory with friendships and a romantic relationship, and through her protagonist's courageous actions, Gray repeatedly hints at the great leader Leia will eventually become.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Illustrated by J. G. Jones. Deckhands aboard a transport barge hear six short stories about Jedi Luke Skywalker; the framing story helps tie the overall narrative together. Using different perspectives, Liu creatively relates both familiar and new events to further illuminate Luke's character. Preceding each legend are quotes from Star Wars films and Jones's full-color illustrations, which pay homage to Ralph McQuarrie's conceptual illustrations for the original movie trilogy.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Star Wars: The Last Jedi series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Rose Tico and her older sister, Paige, help crew the Resistance bomber Hammer. During a recon spy mission to the Atterra system, local freedom fighters ask for their help, risking war with the powerful First Order. Wein's succinctly written story directly precedes The Last Jedi film and compellingly develops the siblings' bond, enhancing Rose's tragic backstory. Three black-and-white illustration spreads highlighting key moments are included.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) YA Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, uses her Jedi training to rescue her new friends on an Imperial-controlled farming moon. Johnston fills gaps in Ahsoka's story between the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. The story's leisurely pace transitions into an action-filled ending. Fans will be pleased, but readers unfamiliar with the source material aren't given enough background.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Star Wars series. Illustrated by Tyler Scarlet. Droids, bounty hunters, scrap dealers, robberies, theft, and a fable...slices of life in a galaxy far, far away. The six short novellas in this collection build on minor characters and settings from the motion picture Star Wars: The Force Awakens, though the stories can each stand alone. And beware: some of these tales can lean a tad toward the dark side.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 These adaptations--published in advance of the 2015 release of the seventh Star Wars movie--assume readers are familiar with the franchise and the plots of the original trilogy. The authors bring their own unique, fresh takes to elements not explained or mentioned in the movies. The novels include black-and-white halftone illustrations and full-color section-opening paintings by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. Review covers these Star Wars titles: Return of the Jedi, A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 These adaptations--published in advance of the 2015 release of the seventh Star Wars movie--assume readers are familiar with the franchise and the plots of the original trilogy. The authors bring their own unique, fresh takes to elements not explained or mentioned in the movies. The novels include black-and-white halftone illustrations and full-color section-opening paintings by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. Review covers these Star Wars titles: Return of the Jedi, A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 These adaptations--published in advance of the 2015 release of the seventh Star Wars movie--assume readers are familiar with the franchise and the plots of the original trilogy. The authors bring their own unique, fresh takes to elements not explained or mentioned in the movies. The novels include black-and-white halftone illustrations and full-color section-opening paintings by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. Review covers these Star Wars titles: Return of the Jedi, A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) YA Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Thane and Ciena joined the Academy to follow their lifelong dream of flying for the Empire. But Thane becomes disillusioned and joins the Rebellion, forcing Ciena to choose between her loyalty to the Empire and the friend she loves. Setting up events of the franchise's latest film, The Force Awakens, the fast-paced story seamlessly builds onto the Star Wars universe.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens series. Illustrated by Phil Noto. Franchise fans hungry for female heroes will relish Moving Target, in which Leia undertakes a decoy mission after the Rebel Alliance is ousted from Hoth. In Smuggler's Run, an old smuggler relates a story he's heard about Han Solo and Chewbacca (savvy fans will guess the man's identity). Occasional black-and-white, red-accented illustrations accompany the quick-paced tales featuring strongly developed characters. Review covers these Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens titles: Moving Target and Smuggler's Run.

Reviewer: David Elzey