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Star Wars Junior Novelizations #9
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker - A Junior Novel
Something has awakened.
Every generation has a legend.
Nobody's ever really gone.
The conclusion of the Skywalker Saga is finally here. This junior novel retelling of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, contains deleted and extended scenes, including exclusive scenes you won't find anywhere else! This book also includes an 8-page full-color insert.
Every generation has a legend.
Nobody's ever really gone.
The conclusion of the Skywalker Saga is finally here. This junior novel retelling of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, contains deleted and extended scenes, including exclusive scenes you won't find anywhere else! This book also includes an 8-page full-color insert.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2020
34 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kogge
61 books45 followersMichael Kogge is an American screenwriter and author who has written for several Star Wars projects, including the Star Wars Adventure Journal, Star Wars Gamer magazine, Hyperspace, Star Wars Insider magazine, and the Star Wars: Edge of the Empire roleplaying game. He has also authored a series of Star Wars Rebels chapter books, adapting episodes from the show's first season.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 26, 2020
I hadn't originally planned on reviewing this since I'm aware this novel is for kids, and as an adult this is not my demographic. But there are huge, horrific problems with this novel and this book really isn't for kids.
I'm in shock at how bad this book is. First off, the least of the problems, is that for the most part the novel is line for line dialogue from the movies with nothing extra added, to the point where it feels as if the author put very little effort into writing it. But this is actually preferable because the problems arise in the instances where the author does add in thoughts or actions. The characterizations of these characters are so far off, particularly for Ben. He is turned into a one dimensional villain, acting in ways that never happened in TROS or even the prior two movies and books. I don't recognize this character at all. Because of this, and descriptions added for characters like the Knights of Ren, this book for kids is not only inaccurate, but actually much darker than the movie or adult version. Events in the book also contradict canon over and over again. It contradicts the movies, the adult novelization, and even things we've learned from comics. I can almost accept this author not understanding the characters or what's already been established in canon, but how this was ever approved by Lucasfilm is beyond me. They are actively releasing material that contradicts each other at this point.
The major problem arises by the time you reach the end of this book. (Spoilers) Several times throughout the book Ben thinks about wanting to die, and then his death scene is written in a positive light as him "coming home". The message being delivered here is so frightening and harmful. Ben is a character that many kids (and adults) who have suffered through depression or suicidal thoughts relate to. And this book for children then makes this character both want to die and for it to be depicted as something positive. I can only assume that the author wanted to sugar coat the death in this book "for kids" but in the end has created a message so potentially harmful it's disturbing.
If your child or you want to read The Rise of Skywalker I would highly suggest the expanded novelization by Rae Carson, which is quite good, in character, follows canon, and doesn't contain these disturbing messages.
I'm in shock at how bad this book is. First off, the least of the problems, is that for the most part the novel is line for line dialogue from the movies with nothing extra added, to the point where it feels as if the author put very little effort into writing it. But this is actually preferable because the problems arise in the instances where the author does add in thoughts or actions. The characterizations of these characters are so far off, particularly for Ben. He is turned into a one dimensional villain, acting in ways that never happened in TROS or even the prior two movies and books. I don't recognize this character at all. Because of this, and descriptions added for characters like the Knights of Ren, this book for kids is not only inaccurate, but actually much darker than the movie or adult version. Events in the book also contradict canon over and over again. It contradicts the movies, the adult novelization, and even things we've learned from comics. I can almost accept this author not understanding the characters or what's already been established in canon, but how this was ever approved by Lucasfilm is beyond me. They are actively releasing material that contradicts each other at this point.
The major problem arises by the time you reach the end of this book. (Spoilers) Several times throughout the book Ben thinks about wanting to die, and then his death scene is written in a positive light as him "coming home". The message being delivered here is so frightening and harmful. Ben is a character that many kids (and adults) who have suffered through depression or suicidal thoughts relate to. And this book for children then makes this character both want to die and for it to be depicted as something positive. I can only assume that the author wanted to sugar coat the death in this book "for kids" but in the end has created a message so potentially harmful it's disturbing.
If your child or you want to read The Rise of Skywalker I would highly suggest the expanded novelization by Rae Carson, which is quite good, in character, follows canon, and doesn't contain these disturbing messages.
Want to read
December 26, 2019This junior novel RETELLING of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, contains deleted and extended scenes, including exclusive scenes you won't find anywhere else!
I'm cackling over this w o w
I'm cackling over this w o w
April 25, 2020
I wasn't a fan of TROS personally, but I was a fan of this novel. It was infinitely better than the adult novel and I found the characterization to be more on point to TFA and how these characters are advertised. Michael Kogge made me enjoy TLJ through his junior novel and he did it again here.
April 25, 2020
To begin this review: fans, please remember this book has a target audience of readers 8-12. Younger readers have different tastes than adults, obviously.
I never saw The Rise of Skywalker. After The Last Jedi, I lost my taste for Star Wars films again. However, most of my friends saw the film and though they didn't like it either, it was hard to keep up with Star Wars conversations.
A friend of mine recommended Kogge's novelization and since he did a good job with the other junior novels, I decided this would be the best approach for me to fill in the blanks in my knowledge.
The book falls flat the same way the film does: the plot is incoherent at times and is not particularly good. This isn't Kogge's fault. Where he does shine is when he focuses on the characters. Finn, specifically, comes to mind. He was my favorite character in The Force Awakens, and I was not pleased with how TLJ treated him. Getting into Finn's head, particularly around his relationship with Rey and her actions in the film, made the novel particularly enjoyable to read.
It was a nice way to pass a slow day when working from home wasn't proving to be particularly fruitful and now I feel like the gaps in my SW knowledge has been filled.
I never saw The Rise of Skywalker. After The Last Jedi, I lost my taste for Star Wars films again. However, most of my friends saw the film and though they didn't like it either, it was hard to keep up with Star Wars conversations.
A friend of mine recommended Kogge's novelization and since he did a good job with the other junior novels, I decided this would be the best approach for me to fill in the blanks in my knowledge.
The book falls flat the same way the film does: the plot is incoherent at times and is not particularly good. This isn't Kogge's fault. Where he does shine is when he focuses on the characters. Finn, specifically, comes to mind. He was my favorite character in The Force Awakens, and I was not pleased with how TLJ treated him. Getting into Finn's head, particularly around his relationship with Rey and her actions in the film, made the novel particularly enjoyable to read.
It was a nice way to pass a slow day when working from home wasn't proving to be particularly fruitful and now I feel like the gaps in my SW knowledge has been filled.
August 27, 2020
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Loved this. This was close to the movie and was written fantastically.
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Loved this. This was close to the movie and was written fantastically.
April 28, 2020
3.75 Not as close of a retelling of the movie as the other adaptation. Some thoughtfulness in prologue and with Leia. Left out a couple scenes, I assume for page length.
September 16, 2022
4-4.5 stars
A great conclusion to the junior novelizations of the sequel trilogy. I liked how it used different characters’ perspectives at different points, and I felt like it explained a few things better than the movie did. The part when Leia died was particularly poignant, as was the epilogue.
And I know this is a “junior” novel, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a little kid book. The vocabulary plus the darkness in the story probably make it more like junior high age. It was a good read even as an adult, though not quite the same as the adult novelization by Rae Carson.
A great conclusion to the junior novelizations of the sequel trilogy. I liked how it used different characters’ perspectives at different points, and I felt like it explained a few things better than the movie did. The part when Leia died was particularly poignant, as was the epilogue.
And I know this is a “junior” novel, but I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a little kid book. The vocabulary plus the darkness in the story probably make it more like junior high age. It was a good read even as an adult, though not quite the same as the adult novelization by Rae Carson.
September 5, 2020
1) a junior novel that doesn’t patronize. Great for advanced young readers. If I ever become a teacher, I’ll absolutely recommend this to my more advanced/nerdy students.
2) lovely sentences and quotes! The first sentence hooked me. Well done, good sir. Well done.
3) imagery!!!! Man this guy can write imagery. It’s EVERYWHERE and it’s WONDERFUL.
4) reads like script actions (appropriate). I can’t pinpoint what it is about this that makes it read like script action more than other books. Maybe it’s the third person/detachment of it all? Maybe the emphasis on action over dialogue and describing every action and its *meaning* thoroughly? In any case, it made my producer brain happy.
5) I’m blissfully unbiased because I have yet to see the film. To the people hating on this because of inconsistencies between the movie and the novelization: can’t relate.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
1) certain characters will always bug me (COUGH KYLO COUGH COUGH). Can’t belieVe the twin archetype is being used for Kylo and Rey. That’s an insult. A slap in the face. Ugh. I’m trying to be open minded about it but CMON ITS KYLO HOW CAN I BE???
2) It kinda inspired me to watch the movie but kinda didn’t. I liked the book but it wasn’t wow enough to make me drop everything to watch TROS. I was hoping it would be so stellar that I could hop back into the fandom with two feet.
May 6, 2020
I listened to this book via Audible.
It's hard to find much to say about the junior novelization of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. It's an adaptation of the film, and while it does add some things that were not present on the screen, in general it's a beat-for-beat translation.
Author Michael Kogge does a great job in bringing all of the action, adventure, and character interplay from the movie to the book. You feel all of the emotions and sense most of the suspense, although having seen the movie several times before reading this, most of that surprises were long since gone for me.
If you enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker and want to experience it in prose format, without the added content of the 'adult' novelization, this will do that for you. I don't think it will change your mind about the story if you weren't a fan, but it's a good sendoff to the Skywalker Saga in its own way.
It's hard to find much to say about the junior novelization of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. It's an adaptation of the film, and while it does add some things that were not present on the screen, in general it's a beat-for-beat translation.
Author Michael Kogge does a great job in bringing all of the action, adventure, and character interplay from the movie to the book. You feel all of the emotions and sense most of the suspense, although having seen the movie several times before reading this, most of that surprises were long since gone for me.
If you enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker and want to experience it in prose format, without the added content of the 'adult' novelization, this will do that for you. I don't think it will change your mind about the story if you weren't a fan, but it's a good sendoff to the Skywalker Saga in its own way.
May 10, 2020
Even if you’re not a young adult, it’s worth considering this breezy junior novel instead of The Rise of Skywalker — or in addition to it, if you really need every available drop of wisdom on the Knights of Ren and the Jedi texts. Kogge keeps a tighter emotional focus on the generational relationships, and the scene he writes for Leia is positively lyrical. Audiobook narrator Jessica Almasy has a pleasantly spunky mien, and deep-dive fans will appreciate references to the Rise of Skywalker run-up Spark of the Resistance.
January 5, 2024
The Rise of Skywalker junior novelization is a solid adaptation
I’m not going to sit here and act like The Rise of Skywalker is my favorite Star Wars film. I went to see it three times in theaters, and I have not watched it at home once over four years later. So, yeah. But, I recently read the junior novelization of the film by Michael Kogge, and it’s pretty good!
I’m obviously not the target audience of a junior novelization, but I thought it was well done. Kogge did a good job bringing the story to life, and he gave me a new appreciation for the film. It makes me honestly want to watch it again.
Look, I still have all of my problems with the film that I had when I first saw it. This book isn’t going to make the things I dislike better, but it really helped enhance the things that I do like.
Since the movie came out in theaters, the publishing world has enhanced the story through various books and comics. The two biggest being the Darth Vader comic from Marvel featuring Ochi of Bestoon and Adam Christopher’s Shadows of Sith novel. If you’re looking to increase your appreciation of the rise of Skywalker, I would start with either of those. Ochi in the Vader comic is outstanding. Whoever decided that would be his characterization deserves around the applause.
Overall, it’s a very solid adaptation, and if you really like the film, this is for you. If you aren’t a big fan of the movie, you probably don’t want to waste your time.
I’m not going to sit here and act like The Rise of Skywalker is my favorite Star Wars film. I went to see it three times in theaters, and I have not watched it at home once over four years later. So, yeah. But, I recently read the junior novelization of the film by Michael Kogge, and it’s pretty good!
I’m obviously not the target audience of a junior novelization, but I thought it was well done. Kogge did a good job bringing the story to life, and he gave me a new appreciation for the film. It makes me honestly want to watch it again.
Look, I still have all of my problems with the film that I had when I first saw it. This book isn’t going to make the things I dislike better, but it really helped enhance the things that I do like.
Since the movie came out in theaters, the publishing world has enhanced the story through various books and comics. The two biggest being the Darth Vader comic from Marvel featuring Ochi of Bestoon and Adam Christopher’s Shadows of Sith novel. If you’re looking to increase your appreciation of the rise of Skywalker, I would start with either of those. Ochi in the Vader comic is outstanding. Whoever decided that would be his characterization deserves around the applause.
Overall, it’s a very solid adaptation, and if you really like the film, this is for you. If you aren’t a big fan of the movie, you probably don’t want to waste your time.
February 20, 2023
This book exceeded expectations. It was as good as the non-Junior edition. In fact, had I not know that this was the Junior addition, I would not have guessed. It was well paced, insightful, and had multiple character's perspectives. Kogge did a really good job with this novelization. My favorite part was the end with the ewok and wokling (what an adorable term) as they watch the ships crash from the sky and how it must have been a gift from the Golden One - that had me smiling - it was a great call back.
As always, I love the sound effects they add to these audiobooks. The reader was great and did good voices.
As always, I love the sound effects they add to these audiobooks. The reader was great and did good voices.
May 15, 2022
This book answered so many questions...
A very well written insightful book. Many situations made clearer, many scenes not in the movie covered. Very well written, Rey and Kylo/Ben's relationship especially. Great book for those of us still searching for clearer answers about this story.
A very well written insightful book. Many situations made clearer, many scenes not in the movie covered. Very well written, Rey and Kylo/Ben's relationship especially. Great book for those of us still searching for clearer answers about this story.
May 21, 2020
Aunque sea juvenil la novela, añade datos y escenas interesantes que complementa aún más a la película y a la novela extendida. Fácil de leer. Ligera. El epílogo es una chulada. Hubiese estado genial verlo en la película. Como con su versión extendida le doy 5/5 estrellas o un 9.8/10 .
June 14, 2020
Ben wants to die all throughout the novel and then he kills himself and it’s painted as a beautiful, coming home moment. This is the junior novelization, mind you. The one that children read. Other than that, it has many of the same characterization problems that Kogge’s TLJ novelization has.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2020
It's another great adaption of the movie, like the regular novelization, but if you want a slightly shorter version since this one is 6+ hours via the audiobook, and the regular is 9+ hours, then go with this one. Love this narrator too! :D
July 31, 2020
Has the same story problems as the movie - including a script that seems to exist in order to set up “moments”, but the ability to explore a bit more backstory and lore does make the whole thing a bit easier to swallow
November 6, 2020
Crap as every single junior novelization by this author. A completely different story and characters here comparing to the movie. Of course episode IX of SW sequel trilogy was terrible, but sometimes the books might make up for it. Not this time, unfortunately.
February 29, 2024
Another decent junior novelization that is by no means awful, but also not a game changer when it comes to improving the story of the movie. This one does have some fun extra scenes and tidbits, especially regarding Exegol, that I found interesting.
April 25, 2020
A pleasure as usual to sink into a Star Wars movie from another perspective.
April 30, 2020
It is what it is (an almost identical retelling of the movie), but I did find the emotional journey unexpectedly sweet, especially Finn’s thoughts about friendship and Poe’s hope for the Resistance.
May 6, 2020
3 1/2
January 3, 2021
It's Star Wars, what else can I say? Haha ;-)
Read
June 26, 2021Got it on accident, not as good as RC's.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews