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Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Rey's Survival Guide
Complete with stories, secrets, and insights, this guide will immerse readers in the world of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Discover what you need to survive the hostile planet, Jakku. What secrets lurk in the ship graveyard? What do you want to salvage? What should you avoid to stay alive? Includes gatefolds with exclusive artifacts including starship schematics and more!
96 pages, Hardcover
First published December 18, 2015
13 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Jason Fry
122 books296 followersI am the author of The Jupiter Pirates series published by HarperCollins -- visit the official site at http://jupiterpirates.com.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
April 19, 2018
Although this book is middle-grade level a read, it's full of text and suitable for anyone older too. A quick read, this is a story in form of a notebook Rey wrote as a guide for anyone trying the scavenger life on Jakku, with some drawings and pages folding open.
Themes of the guide are: locations, what Rey's home and speeder look like, life forms on Jakku, on the graveyard of ships (with a guide to each ship type and what each can offer), a detailed survival tips guide - including on dangers, what the valuable trades are, what's in Rey's tools satchel - and finally on what's (and who are) at the Niima outpost.
Included also are some 'attached' stuff like details of Rey's AT-AT, "Travel Advisory on Jakku", (Empire) food ration user guide, Happabore medicine guide (one of the working animals there), a look on crashed Imperial Super Star Destroyer, and details map on salvageable on a X-Wing.
You get a sense of Rey's great wisdom on how to survive, and the skills that she'll find useful from TFA on... and a sense of her loneliness while holding stubbornly on to hope that she will be picked out of this life again.
The book ends with the first few scenes of The Force Awakens, so that might be spoilery for some who haven't seen it yet, but it ties into the guide-story nicely. It was written as a way to pass the time, and to cope with the harsh life on Jakku, yet it is very entertaining to read, and not heavy.
Themes of the guide are: locations, what Rey's home and speeder look like, life forms on Jakku, on the graveyard of ships (with a guide to each ship type and what each can offer), a detailed survival tips guide - including on dangers, what the valuable trades are, what's in Rey's tools satchel - and finally on what's (and who are) at the Niima outpost.
Included also are some 'attached' stuff like details of Rey's AT-AT, "Travel Advisory on Jakku", (Empire) food ration user guide, Happabore medicine guide (one of the working animals there), a look on crashed Imperial Super Star Destroyer, and details map on salvageable on a X-Wing.
You get a sense of Rey's great wisdom on how to survive, and the skills that she'll find useful from TFA on... and a sense of her loneliness while holding stubbornly on to hope that she will be picked out of this life again.
The book ends with the first few scenes of The Force Awakens, so that might be spoilery for some who haven't seen it yet, but it ties into the guide-story nicely. It was written as a way to pass the time, and to cope with the harsh life on Jakku, yet it is very entertaining to read, and not heavy.
January 24, 2016
Rey is even cuter than I thought possible, oh my gosh
March 27, 2020
I love Rey even more after reading this.
This is a guide written from the POV of Rey, describing life on Jakku and how to be a scavenger. In this little book we learn more about the overall LORE of Star Wars, but we also learn a great deal about Rey. You get on-page details like how Rey learned to pilot (she owns a flight simulator), her nature (steadfast belief she's here by mistake), and other little character details (Rey has a doll she's made up an entire little story and world for...my heart). But there are also some more subtler details in the text as well - for example, you can clearly see Rey's interests and expertise in how she's little time she spends describing the creatures of Jakku but then spends page after page describing each specific part of different types of ships and how you would take it apart, etc. There are other similar details that really paint a fuller picture of Rey.
This is definitely worth reading if you want to learn more about the setting of Jakku, and this is an absolute must if Rey is a favorite character.
This is a guide written from the POV of Rey, describing life on Jakku and how to be a scavenger. In this little book we learn more about the overall LORE of Star Wars, but we also learn a great deal about Rey. You get on-page details like how Rey learned to pilot (she owns a flight simulator), her nature (steadfast belief she's here by mistake), and other little character details (Rey has a doll she's made up an entire little story and world for...my heart). But there are also some more subtler details in the text as well - for example, you can clearly see Rey's interests and expertise in how she's little time she spends describing the creatures of Jakku but then spends page after page describing each specific part of different types of ships and how you would take it apart, etc. There are other similar details that really paint a fuller picture of Rey.
This is definitely worth reading if you want to learn more about the setting of Jakku, and this is an absolute must if Rey is a favorite character.
September 11, 2016
This book has bunches of nice world-building touches -- Rey's astute observations and cool little sketches about wildlife, ships, and various passing inhabitants of Jakku -- as well as reinforcing her sheer tenacity, intelligence, courage, and warmth. Really nicely done.
(Spoiler: the speculative stuff about what the Empire might have been doing on Jakku in days of yore? Very cool, and if somehow one of those theories was true and it lead/leads the First Order to the planet... I for one look forward to Finn's inevitable reaction if it ever turns out he has to go back there with the Resistance. *g*)
(Spoiler: the speculative stuff about what the Empire might have been doing on Jakku in days of yore? Very cool, and if somehow one of those theories was true and it lead/leads the First Order to the planet... I for one look forward to Finn's inevitable reaction if it ever turns out he has to go back there with the Resistance. *g*)
January 29, 2018
This is a delight
June 7, 2018
Me encantan todos los detalles que LucasFilm le pone a estos libros/guías 👌
June 15, 2016
The Force Awakens may or may not have rekindled my deep and abiding love for Star Wars, and by "may or may not have" I mean "totally did," and by "deep and abiding love for Star Wars," among other things, I mean "desire to read every Star Wars tie-in novel I can get my hot little hands on." This was another in the parade of them.
Rey's Survival Guide is exactly what it sounds like, a little piece of worldbuilding in the form of a children's book. It chronicles Rey's life on Jakku through little bits and pieces of advice she has for other scavengers trying to make it. There's cute little sketches, tiny mentions of her life (she has a doll based off of the name inside her helmet!), ship schematics, discussions of what's best to salvage. It's thoroughly charming and sweet, and gives us a close look at Rey, her inner thoughts, her local friends and foes, and the hard grinding work of her life, while still remaining both easy for a child to read and interesting/light enough not to frighten them. I really enjoyed it.
Rey's Survival Guide is exactly what it sounds like, a little piece of worldbuilding in the form of a children's book. It chronicles Rey's life on Jakku through little bits and pieces of advice she has for other scavengers trying to make it. There's cute little sketches, tiny mentions of her life (she has a doll based off of the name inside her helmet!), ship schematics, discussions of what's best to salvage. It's thoroughly charming and sweet, and gives us a close look at Rey, her inner thoughts, her local friends and foes, and the hard grinding work of her life, while still remaining both easy for a child to read and interesting/light enough not to frighten them. I really enjoyed it.
January 31, 2016
A nice little mini book to read. Rey's one of my favourite characters so finding out more about her time on Jakku and how she survived makes me love her even more!
It also alludes to a few scenes that weren't in the Force Awakens film so it gives a bit of an insight on deleted scenes too.
It also alludes to a few scenes that weren't in the Force Awakens film so it gives a bit of an insight on deleted scenes too.
April 5, 2021
Book: Star Wars: Rey’s Survival Guide
Author: Jason Fry
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Maybe I am not really a Star Wars fan….I don’t know, but I do personally enjoy Rey and Kylo Ren’s story a little bit more than the original movies. I don’t know what it is about these two that has made me so hooked on them. When I saw this on sale, I knew I was going to have to pick it.
Rey’s voice really comes through in this book. We see her offering survival tips for Jakku. As you are reading this, it is going to seem like Rey is there walking you through everything and attempting to keep you alive on an otherwise unforgiving and rather hostile planet. The fact that the entire book is written in Rey’s handwriting just really adds a whole new level to it.
We also have picture so it makes it seem even more like Rey is trying to help you. We see the breakdown of certain ships and other things throughout Rey’s past. The pictures really make it seem like this is a guide that you could use if you were to go to this planet. Plus, some of them you have to fold out to really see what they are and I really enjoyed that. I love little interactive elements in books.
There are also little things about Rey weaved into the story. They aren’t full on in your face either. If you are reading this book rather quickly, you may miss them. We find out that Rey had a doll and she tells us how she made it. We learn how she became a pilot and other things like that. Throughout the whole book, there is also these sense that Rey believes she isn’t supposed to be on Jakku. She believes that she is supposed to somewhere else. This belief is woven throughout the whole book and you get a sense that she fully believes that things are going to happen. Seeing this drive and desire to get out falls right into her character from the movies. Even in this short book, we see her want to have a sense of belonging. I thought this was a great touch.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this short, little book. I don’t know if there is something out there for Kylo Ren, which I think would really go so well with this one.
Author: Jason Fry
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
Maybe I am not really a Star Wars fan….I don’t know, but I do personally enjoy Rey and Kylo Ren’s story a little bit more than the original movies. I don’t know what it is about these two that has made me so hooked on them. When I saw this on sale, I knew I was going to have to pick it.
Rey’s voice really comes through in this book. We see her offering survival tips for Jakku. As you are reading this, it is going to seem like Rey is there walking you through everything and attempting to keep you alive on an otherwise unforgiving and rather hostile planet. The fact that the entire book is written in Rey’s handwriting just really adds a whole new level to it.
We also have picture so it makes it seem even more like Rey is trying to help you. We see the breakdown of certain ships and other things throughout Rey’s past. The pictures really make it seem like this is a guide that you could use if you were to go to this planet. Plus, some of them you have to fold out to really see what they are and I really enjoyed that. I love little interactive elements in books.
There are also little things about Rey weaved into the story. They aren’t full on in your face either. If you are reading this book rather quickly, you may miss them. We find out that Rey had a doll and she tells us how she made it. We learn how she became a pilot and other things like that. Throughout the whole book, there is also these sense that Rey believes she isn’t supposed to be on Jakku. She believes that she is supposed to somewhere else. This belief is woven throughout the whole book and you get a sense that she fully believes that things are going to happen. Seeing this drive and desire to get out falls right into her character from the movies. Even in this short book, we see her want to have a sense of belonging. I thought this was a great touch.
Anyway, I really enjoyed this short, little book. I don’t know if there is something out there for Kylo Ren, which I think would really go so well with this one.
April 25, 2018
This was super cute, and chock-full of great information for folks who are hungry for more Star Wars information. Rey's characterization was also very adorable, and really rich here. It raises a lot of questions, but obviously it's not super intended that way because of the audience it's aimed at? I'm curious as to the appeal for kids (the actual audience)--the fold-out parts are really nice, obviously, but there's like a lot of text surrounding them, and details that detail-oriented baby fans might like, but I was never one of those kids/don't consume fandom in that way, so it's more difficult to imagine what, say, a younger version of myself would get out of this book. But I would still say it's definitely an accessible read for young people, and a good, engaging read overall!
May 31, 2017
It was so cool to read about Jakku and how Rey lived there before we see her appear in The Force Awakens. I think kids will especially love the detailed pictures of the ships and equipment she uses. The font is a bit hard to read because they used a handwriting like style to give it the journal feel. It was kinda hard to make out the writing against the backgrounds on a lot of the sketches in the journal, but that aside, it was awesome to read!
A must read for any Star Wars fan! You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this. :)
A must read for any Star Wars fan! You don't have to be a kid to enjoy this. :)
February 14, 2016
This was a neat look into Rey's life on Jakku. Some interesting stuff here.
February 21, 2016
An enjoyable in universe book. Now they need to write a book that covers the battle of Jakku. This book also mentions some events in other force awakens books. If you like Rey this is a must read
January 3, 2017
This is a kids' book, but it has a lot of interesting background info about the planet Jakku from The Force Awakens. It's a worthy companion piece to the film.
April 17, 2021
A must read for any Rey fan.
This is a much quieter journal than the Sabine and Ezra ones, and a younger kid might be bored by it, but I love it.
This is a much quieter journal than the Sabine and Ezra ones, and a younger kid might be bored by it, but I love it.
December 9, 2021
Rey's Survival Guide, which released the same day as The Force Awakens, is a great introduction to the planet of Jakku, Unfortunately, it's a much less interesting introduction to Rey.
The survival guide is mostly structured as an in-universe guidebook written by Rey about how to survive on Jakku. It talks about different parts of the planet, who lives there, and alludes to all sorts of strange and compelling side-stories that capture the imagination with even a line or two. While most of these threads haven't been picked up anywhere, author Jason Fry instantly made Jakku a fascinating place.
It's unfortunate, however, that Rey herself is not nearly so interesting. It may just be a function of when the guide was released -- that we were supposed to go into the movie with very little background on her -- or even that the people behind the movies hadn't decided much about her yet. Whatever the reason though, Rey barely says or does anything interesting and has no individual thoughts worth recalling in this book.
Like the two previous canon journals before it, Rey's Survival Guide can be read through in one reasonably enjoyable sitting. Fittingly, it's written at a slightly higher level than Ezra's Journal or Sabine's Sketchbook with more sophisticated sentences, and fewer childish drawings and exclamations. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about Jakku, although if you're looking for any insight into Rey you might be disappointed.
The survival guide is mostly structured as an in-universe guidebook written by Rey about how to survive on Jakku. It talks about different parts of the planet, who lives there, and alludes to all sorts of strange and compelling side-stories that capture the imagination with even a line or two. While most of these threads haven't been picked up anywhere, author Jason Fry instantly made Jakku a fascinating place.
It's unfortunate, however, that Rey herself is not nearly so interesting. It may just be a function of when the guide was released -- that we were supposed to go into the movie with very little background on her -- or even that the people behind the movies hadn't decided much about her yet. Whatever the reason though, Rey barely says or does anything interesting and has no individual thoughts worth recalling in this book.
Like the two previous canon journals before it, Rey's Survival Guide can be read through in one reasonably enjoyable sitting. Fittingly, it's written at a slightly higher level than Ezra's Journal or Sabine's Sketchbook with more sophisticated sentences, and fewer childish drawings and exclamations. I'd recommend it for anyone interested in learning more about Jakku, although if you're looking for any insight into Rey you might be disappointed.
March 10, 2018
I should get double bonus points for having ground through this little journal/encyclopedia of life on Jakku. My son is passionate about Star Wars anything and I thought this would help me visit with him more knowledgeably.
Sort of.
I actually marked a passage in here because it was so earnest and awful, so I'll share it with you:
"With a Nebulon-B frigate, the dorsal shield generator is a big array of linked generators, with power cells that are reasonably well protected. And check the chief engineer's quarters (helpfully sketched out on the opposite page) (at least I think that's what's sketched on the opposite page) - when I was a kid I found schematics for four different models of the New Republic starfighter in a datapad."
This is some heavily technical stuff that causes my eyes to glaze over and my hand to shakily reach for a glass of pinot gris just to get through the first half...
But I READ IT!
Sort of.
I actually marked a passage in here because it was so earnest and awful, so I'll share it with you:
"With a Nebulon-B frigate, the dorsal shield generator is a big array of linked generators, with power cells that are reasonably well protected. And check the chief engineer's quarters (helpfully sketched out on the opposite page) (at least I think that's what's sketched on the opposite page) - when I was a kid I found schematics for four different models of the New Republic starfighter in a datapad."
This is some heavily technical stuff that causes my eyes to glaze over and my hand to shakily reach for a glass of pinot gris just to get through the first half...
But I READ IT!
March 24, 2025
As a survival guide book, I think it was organized well and the words are easily to consume despite Star Wars jargons. I have expanded my knowledge as an amateur Star Wars fan, and I also learned additional stuff in this book that are applicable to me in my everyday life (especially as a student):
1. Learn the purpose of each "ship" to UNDERSTAND what could be valuable.
2. Learn by pulling out the parts to IDENTIFY what's valuable.
3. Listen to stories and advices to survive.
4. Have a mentor. Do your best to bring something back to them so they may give you benefits because of they have taken liking to you.
5. As a summary to the first two points, "Know your schematics."
Good book. I also like end portion of this book which brings everything written together. What a fun little book.
1. Learn the purpose of each "ship" to UNDERSTAND what could be valuable.
2. Learn by pulling out the parts to IDENTIFY what's valuable.
3. Listen to stories and advices to survive.
4. Have a mentor. Do your best to bring something back to them so they may give you benefits because of they have taken liking to you.
5. As a summary to the first two points, "Know your schematics."
Good book. I also like end portion of this book which brings everything written together. What a fun little book.
February 7, 2021
A fun, informative read for Star Wars fans of all ages. I definitely loved the ships schematics included in this book, as well as all sorts of illustrations Rey made herself! Who knew she was such an artist (not me, I've been away from this fandom for so long)!
Anyway, if you ever get unfortunate enough to get stuck on Jakku, worry not! Rey's Survival Guide shall help you fit right in (coz apparently it's quite unlikely that you'll ever leave the sandy Hellhole) with tips and tricks from Jakkus's best scavenger herself!
In spite of not being in the fandom for a long time, I definitely enjoyed reading this book. It gives one a nice picture of Rey's not-so-nice life in a hostile planet, said planet's inhabitants, and how you could lead your life in Jakku.
Anyway, if you ever get unfortunate enough to get stuck on Jakku, worry not! Rey's Survival Guide shall help you fit right in (coz apparently it's quite unlikely that you'll ever leave the sandy Hellhole) with tips and tricks from Jakkus's best scavenger herself!
In spite of not being in the fandom for a long time, I definitely enjoyed reading this book. It gives one a nice picture of Rey's not-so-nice life in a hostile planet, said planet's inhabitants, and how you could lead your life in Jakku.
February 5, 2018
Rey of Jakku is the loneliest person in the galaxy (next to Kylo Ren). I loved this. In-character diaries like this can sometimes be dry or out of character but Jason Fry did a great job of keeping this in Rey's voice. Rey goes on tangents and reveals much about herself with her personal experiences as she describes the world around her.
I'm very much looking forward to Jason Fry's TLJ novelization now after having read this. It's short and sweet. Definitely more a YA audience but I'm a grown ass woman who liked so.
I'm very much looking forward to Jason Fry's TLJ novelization now after having read this. It's short and sweet. Definitely more a YA audience but I'm a grown ass woman who liked so.
July 30, 2019
This my first book I read in realm of Star Wars and it's all about direct prequel to The Force Awakens movie. I got it descriptive about survival of Rey's character in Jakku before the event of the "last trilogy".
Even it was for middle grade readers but eventually it suitable for any reader to know Rey better by "her own words".
I really liked how this book uniquely presented and worth to be collected.
Even it was for middle grade readers but eventually it suitable for any reader to know Rey better by "her own words".
I really liked how this book uniquely presented and worth to be collected.
January 18, 2020
This is one of those money grab Star Wars books. I didn't exactly have high expectations, but was wanting to know more about Rey and one of the other Force Awakens books, Before the Awakening had a really good story about Rey. This one is more of a journal with a few random stories and a couple interesting bits (the story behind her helmet and rebel pilot doll—but don't get excited, it's like a two-sentence story). I'm sure the kids like it (the intended audience), but it's not exactly for me.
July 19, 2022
Written from the in-universe perspective of Rey, this nifty little book is complete with diagrams and readouts of locales, creatures, and inhabitants of Jakku. The fold-out "hand drawn" pictures of crash sites and locations by Rey herself are particularly fun to look at. This easy to consume book is certainly a fun treat for not only the little ones but even older readers who may be interested.
January 25, 2018
Short and of limited appeal unless you have a particular interest in Jakku and what Rey’s life was like there prior to the events of The Force Awakens. Fortunately, I do and I found this to be an absorbing and fascinating treasure trove of Star Wars trivia. The sketches were a delight!
February 1, 2021
This isn't a story or novel, but it fleshs out Rey's story and character a bit, although the book is aimed at younger readers. I used it as background research for writing fan fic. There are a good amount of drawings and technical info on ships half buried in the Graveyard of Ships on Jakku.
June 25, 2017
Nice little book that answered some questions I had about Rey and her knowledge
July 3, 2017
Rey's pragmatic, downtrodden-yet-hopeful personality shines through, as does the bleakness of life on Jakku. Several nifty tidbits that flesh out the movie. Nicely done.
January 3, 2018
I think this book is great because it has hooks, and when I see the hooks it makes me want to read more of it.
March 25, 2018
The book gave a lot of insite into Rey's life on Jukoo. reading it helped me understand more of the movie and how Rey became so knowledgeable. It's a quick and great read for Star Wars fans.
April 5, 2018
A good and informative little book about life on Jakku .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews