Hero for Hire

Star Wars: Journals

by Donna Tauscher

The personal side of Han Solo is revealed as he, in his own words, describes his star-crossing journey, from his imprisonment by Jabba the Hut to his feelings for Princess Leia.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Media Tie In, Childrens

104 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

Reviews

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had quite an interesting frame narrative. After reading Captive to Evil I had wondered how they were going to justify Han having a journal. Unlike Leia, keeping a journal for posterity or to keep track of rebel plans just doesn't fly. So using a situation where Han was stuck and unable to do anything (in a prison cell in Jabba's palace after being woken from the carbonite) provides a situation where Han might talk about himself and his past because the carbonation sickness means he can't stage an escape or attempt to rescue Leia. The B'omarr monks' presence in the palace provides a justification for having someone want to hear Han's story.

The carbonation sickness and Han's worry about Leia also makes the narrative decidedly nonlinear which makes for an interesting look at how Han thinks and what his priorities are. But the fact that he's narrating this to someone else rather than just for himself also means there's a lot of self conscious posturing.

All in all, there are enough new insights into Han to make this retelling of A New Hope worth reading.

[Jeneé · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wrote a book report on this book in 4th grade. Always loved Han Solo. Good book.

[Hazel · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Interestingly constructed story. Throughout the book Han Solo is being interviewed by a monk, while he is imprisoned in Jabba's Palace. So the story takes place during return of the Jedi, but the story Han tells is a recap of A New Hope.

I think the book does a decent job of getting Han's voice, and does okay suspending your disbelief that Han would be talking to this guy, especially for so long.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting much out of this but it is actually a really fun, touching look at Han's experiences in A New Hope and why he made the choices he did. I also enjoyed his looking back at why he reacted to Ben's mumbo jumbo the way he did, and how he slowly came around.

[Jeremiah Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My third grader and I read this together. She gives it five stars and has no suggestions for improvement.

I noticed the book drops some spoilers on the Han Solo trilogy by AC Crispin.

[Gary Varga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some strange versions of the truth expressed at times.⁸ Worst though, Han Solo sometimes sound like, to me at least, some clichéd redneck.

[Erika Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

D'aww. Just like I remember. <3

[Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's okay, but it's really just a recap of a new hope.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most creative entry in the journal series and easily the best of the ones based on A New Hope. Han Solo is not a record-keeping kind of guy. Tauscher got around this by opting for an interview style and it really paid off. She also masterfully wove in details about Bria Tharen, connecting that part of Han's Legends history to his reluctance to join the Rebel cause.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've now read all the Star Wars Journals and I can say this: if Jude Watson didn't write it, don't bother. The three that he wrote were great. The three that other people wrote are awful. Amidala, Leia, and of course, the amazing Darth Maul, all of those journals were fantastic. Luke, Akakin, and Han? Ugh! I love all three of these characters but I could barely stomach their journals.

At fist glance, this looked like a great book. I mean, it's from Han's POV, so it must be good, right? It starts out right after he gets out of the carbonite in episode VI and a monk in Jabba's caves convinces him to tell his story of episode IV. It's good at first... for 20 pages. After that it's just redundant. ("You're gonna give my message to Leia, right?" "I said I would." "The kid surprised me." "Leia was really hot.") It doesn't add much to the story except things that are already implied, like when Han was away in the Millennium Falcon after leaving the gang in A New Hope. The writing is sloppy, bland, and generally uninteresting. I suggest that Jude Watson give all the junior Star Wars novel writers a pep talk before they even begin to start writing.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this tale, Han wakes up after being unfrozen from the carbonite and imprisoned in Jabba’s palace.One of the palaces B’omarr monks comes in and interviews Han about his experiences. Han reluctantly tells his tale from just before the events of A New Hope all the way through to the end (curiously, Han has nothing to say about Episode V). Han describes his time in the Imperial army and his rescue of Chewbacca. Han tells all of this in his trademark sarcasm and dry humor, and adds all sorts of things such as his reluctance to participate in the Rebellion’s award ceremony and his evolving feelings toward Luke and Leia.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at the events from ANH from the perspective of Han Solo. He recounts his life leading up to ANH and then through to the carbonite while he sits in Jabba's dungeon. Great book for kids.

[Steven Hummer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this for Christmas when I was a kid the reason for the low rating is that Han isn't my favorite Star Wars character I like Luke Skywalker best.
Still a good one for little kids.