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Star Wars Disney Canon Junior Novel
Escape from Vodran
Mattis, Lorica, AG-90, and Jo have been captured by the First Order! And things only go from bad to worse when Jo turns traitor on them as soon as they're in custody, and AG is taken away to be reprogrammed as a villainous First Order droid! Can the squabbling Mattis and Lorica work together to figure out a way to escape before they are interrogated?or worse? Meanwhile, Dec and Sari seek out the help of the intimidating gangster Harra the Hutt to save their friends, but bargaining with a Hutt brings its own set of problems. The members of J Squadron will need quick planning and even quicker moves if any of them are going to survive!
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 3, 2017
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292 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 29, 2021
This is the second book of a series and is a direct continuation of the first book. At the end of the first book our gang was captured by the First Order. This book tells about their time in imprisonment and how they plan to escape.
Two stars might be a little generous but it didn't deserve one star like the first book. This one at least had a cohesive story unlike the first offering. This series is meant for young children. I believe one's enjoyment depends how you view these novels. Children will probably really like them as there are different characters that everyone could identify with. Adults will have a tougher time as there are problems within the book. One of these issues was a complete scene based on fart humor. Is this what this universe has fallen to? Once again it depends what eyes you are reading with. Children probably will like the fart humor. As an adult it is a hard pass. As I said this had a cohesive story. That was my biggest complaint from the first book. This had a beginning, middle and finale. Actually the finale was really good and did invoke the Star Wars feeling. It was easily the highlight of the book.
This series isn't for me. That being said I have read other series in this universe that are meant for young children and did not have a problem with them. This series reads like the author is new to the trade and have to resort to fart humor for chuckles. Children will most likely enjoy this series. I will read the next one because I have seen improvement between books. Maybe the author is honing his writing and I am curious about the cliffhanger in this book.
Two stars might be a little generous but it didn't deserve one star like the first book. This one at least had a cohesive story unlike the first offering. This series is meant for young children. I believe one's enjoyment depends how you view these novels. Children will probably really like them as there are different characters that everyone could identify with. Adults will have a tougher time as there are problems within the book. One of these issues was a complete scene based on fart humor. Is this what this universe has fallen to? Once again it depends what eyes you are reading with. Children probably will like the fart humor. As an adult it is a hard pass. As I said this had a cohesive story. That was my biggest complaint from the first book. This had a beginning, middle and finale. Actually the finale was really good and did invoke the Star Wars feeling. It was easily the highlight of the book.
This series isn't for me. That being said I have read other series in this universe that are meant for young children and did not have a problem with them. This series reads like the author is new to the trade and have to resort to fart humor for chuckles. Children will most likely enjoy this series. I will read the next one because I have seen improvement between books. Maybe the author is honing his writing and I am curious about the cliffhanger in this book.
August 19, 2022
The first book wasn’t my cup of tea, but I could see how middle grade kids would find it exciting. This one, however, had absolute chaos for a plot. The kids are stuck in a First Order prison (some of them, anyways, and the rest have a weird encounter with a Hutt that provides the deus ex machina for the end of the story). There was pretend double- and triple-crossing going on everywhere, people thinking others were dead or traitors when they really weren’t, but on so many levels with so many characters that it was just downright confusing.
Also, the part with the Hutt was almost laughably bad. And the book had so little humor it had to resort to fart jokes.
Also, the part with the Hutt was almost laughably bad. And the book had so little humor it had to resort to fart jokes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2019
Way too long. Repetitive plot. But worst of all: a super-long expositional passage about how these characters were supposedly present for an event in the Poe Dameron comic series, effectively ruined it in the most ridiculous way ever, and ALSO, a character was supposedly present who had already died by the time said event took place. No. Just no.
January 23, 2018
3.5 stars rounded to 4 because it was an unexpectedly good surprise, this is a significant improvement from the previous installment of Join the Resistance.
I feel happy imagining that the Acker/Blacker team read the reviews and critics for that first book and decided to take them into account when writing its continuation. Whether that was the case or not, the final outcome was a really enjoyable work.
Both books are classified for young readers. The difference is that the first book was seemingly written by impulsive and inexperienced children for impulsive and inexperienced teenagers, but this one feels created by professional writers for young readers and beyond. While the first one was full of capricious clichés, inmature one-liners, and childish decisions, this one delves deeply into the minds of normal teenagers striving to understand their own selves, their confused feelings and their uncertain futures. And for grown-up readers, it makes them reflect on their past decisions and how it affected their lives therein.
The characters were more fully developed this time, so even though I didn't like some of them, isn't that what happens in real life?
It took me months to make up my mind to get this book and start to read it, since I disliked Part One and thought this would only be more of the same. But once I began and then got to the end, it turns out I was eager for more. I actually had no idea there would be more books in this series, but the ending makes clear there will be at least a Part Three someday.
Of course there are some points off, like the clichéd appearance of a lightsaber (you don't really need to have Jedi and lightsabers to make a Star Wars novel) and the constant mention of creatures, species and artifacts which non-geeks will have a hard time understanding without continually consulting Wookiepedia.
And finally, as I have been saying in other reviews, since this book is only incidentally related to the sequel trilogy its story is well crafted and without obvious plotholes.
I feel happy imagining that the Acker/Blacker team read the reviews and critics for that first book and decided to take them into account when writing its continuation. Whether that was the case or not, the final outcome was a really enjoyable work.
Both books are classified for young readers. The difference is that the first book was seemingly written by impulsive and inexperienced children for impulsive and inexperienced teenagers, but this one feels created by professional writers for young readers and beyond. While the first one was full of capricious clichés, inmature one-liners, and childish decisions, this one delves deeply into the minds of normal teenagers striving to understand their own selves, their confused feelings and their uncertain futures. And for grown-up readers, it makes them reflect on their past decisions and how it affected their lives therein.
The characters were more fully developed this time, so even though I didn't like some of them, isn't that what happens in real life?
It took me months to make up my mind to get this book and start to read it, since I disliked Part One and thought this would only be more of the same. But once I began and then got to the end, it turns out I was eager for more. I actually had no idea there would be more books in this series, but the ending makes clear there will be at least a Part Three someday.
Of course there are some points off, like the clichéd appearance of a lightsaber (you don't really need to have Jedi and lightsabers to make a Star Wars novel) and the constant mention of creatures, species and artifacts which non-geeks will have a hard time understanding without continually consulting Wookiepedia.
And finally, as I have been saying in other reviews, since this book is only incidentally related to the sequel trilogy its story is well crafted and without obvious plotholes.
May 18, 2018
Blacker, Ben Escape From Vodran (Star Wars: Join The Resistance), 327 pages. Disney, 2017. $13. Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G. Violence: PG.
It begins with some of the main characters, Mattis, Lorica, Joe, and AG-90 on the planet Vodran, getting captured by stormtroopers, and being put in a prison camp on Vodran. Joe immediately turns on the main characters, and AG-90 gets reprogrammed. Mattis and Lorica are in a cell with another character, Cost, who is crazy, and the three of them then meet Ymoss, a huge Gigorian, that does NOT like Mattis. Everyone is being forced to work, while above Vodran, some of the main character's friends try a rescue but fail, and come across a "ghost moon" filled with droids serving a new character, Harra the Hutt, whose palace was turned into the prison camp on Vodran. Harra decides to try to take back her palace. While on Vodran, Mattis, Lorica, and Cost try several different escape attempts, all of which fail. Eventually, everyone comes together for one final, desperate, escape plan that the First Order believe will fail, but everyone might just prove them wrong.
I like the vast array of characters. However, at first, they didn't seem interesting, possibly because I believe this book is in a series of books. Fortunately, the book got really good really quick. All in all, a good book, but not great.
MS - ADVISABLE 7th grade student reviewer JA
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
It begins with some of the main characters, Mattis, Lorica, Joe, and AG-90 on the planet Vodran, getting captured by stormtroopers, and being put in a prison camp on Vodran. Joe immediately turns on the main characters, and AG-90 gets reprogrammed. Mattis and Lorica are in a cell with another character, Cost, who is crazy, and the three of them then meet Ymoss, a huge Gigorian, that does NOT like Mattis. Everyone is being forced to work, while above Vodran, some of the main character's friends try a rescue but fail, and come across a "ghost moon" filled with droids serving a new character, Harra the Hutt, whose palace was turned into the prison camp on Vodran. Harra decides to try to take back her palace. While on Vodran, Mattis, Lorica, and Cost try several different escape attempts, all of which fail. Eventually, everyone comes together for one final, desperate, escape plan that the First Order believe will fail, but everyone might just prove them wrong.
I like the vast array of characters. However, at first, they didn't seem interesting, possibly because I believe this book is in a series of books. Fortunately, the book got really good really quick. All in all, a good book, but not great.
MS - ADVISABLE 7th grade student reviewer JA
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
October 17, 2017
Book 1 of Join the Resistance was amazing. Book 2 seems to be mostly filler, setting up a third book in the series. It feels like the whole thing could have been done in the first 50-75 pages of a second book rather than drawing it out like was done here.
It did introduce a couple new characters that seem to be moving forward into the third book, but they were not very well developed.
I still give this book 3 stars because of how strong the first book in the series was, and the possibilities that the third book could be.
It did introduce a couple new characters that seem to be moving forward into the third book, but they were not very well developed.
I still give this book 3 stars because of how strong the first book in the series was, and the possibilities that the third book could be.
April 5, 2022
From the get-go, I knew I would be drawn into reading this novel due to the cliffhanger of Join the Resistance. There was a lot to love about this book; it was fast-paced, we got to know the characters, and there were bold choices in the writing a junior novel. It was a far darker, more gritty book than the last.
I still have so many questions, and I’m excited for the next book in the series.
I still have so many questions, and I’m excited for the next book in the series.
March 6, 2024
Once again I am baffled by the hate this series gets. This is an incredibly fun, well-written kid's story. Does it have huge implications in the greater Star Wars story? Probably not, but characters are put into tricky situations, and they make good decisions to get out of them. As a second installment in the trilogy, this one lived up to the SW legacy and it was pretty dark in places (still totally fine for young readers).
My rating: 3.7 Stars
My rating: 3.7 Stars
October 25, 2017
I should just copy/paste my review from book one here. It is about the same level, maybe slightly better.
Oddly, though, the story seems quite stretched out for what little actually happens.
And I do wish we could have seen more of that Hutt...
Oddly, though, the story seems quite stretched out for what little actually happens.
And I do wish we could have seen more of that Hutt...
May 6, 2018
Fun
For the intended age group, I'm sure this novel is a lot of fun. I also enjoyed it; however, the main character Mattis is not enjoyable at to me in the least bit. I would much prefer in the next book of Lorica became the main character.
For the intended age group, I'm sure this novel is a lot of fun. I also enjoyed it; however, the main character Mattis is not enjoyable at to me in the least bit. I would much prefer in the next book of Lorica became the main character.
September 13, 2021
I know that these books are meant for a younger demographic, but this book is by far the most childish and uninteresting out of the three. "Oh wow Lorica just happened to find a lightsaber" and I really couldn't care less for the Jerjerrod sub-plot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2022
It took me some time to add it to my list. It is better than the first but not so much. There is a attempt for plot. Lore consistency is non existent, time line is joke, dead characters suddenly pops here and there.
February 1, 2024
A decent continuation of the junior novel series. I do like the tension in Jerjerrod's character, being the son of two high-ranking former imperials. I also like Mattin's insistence that he is force sensitive despite no evidence.
August 15, 2025
Drags a lot for what I thought was supposed to be a book catering to a younger audience. How gullible everyone is throughout the story is crazy, but it was a decently fun story with likable characters. I just don’t understand how the Resistance never sent in a search and rescue team at any point.
October 30, 2017
Need the next book in the series NOW!!!
February 7, 2018
its over 300 pgs.
March 9, 2018
Had to return to library. Jacob was over half way through it but the book was not keeping his attention like other books so he may or may not re-check it out again in the future..krb 3/9/18
March 14, 2018
This book was better than the first one but it still felt a bit dull. It felt like this series should have been 1 book instead of multiple. It was a fun read but nothing more.
October 28, 2019
These junior books are fun as quick reads. This one answers the gakaxy spanning question, do our characters fart?
November 15, 2019
2 1/2, but more interesting, but still bored and confused who is who at times.
March 8, 2020
Wow - this gets better and better. Love it.
August 5, 2024
Bluggg. Did not enjoy one bit. A meandering unfocused children’s book. Only read it cause I have OCD about Star Wars
January 27, 2019
I'm never a big fan of going crazy parts of stories but dearlord these characters are so cute, I love all of them and the book kept up a good pace even though they were locked up most the book.
May 24, 2018
A fun follow-up, with clearly more to come
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews