Queen's Shadow

March 1, 2019

Gr 6-10-Johnston offers readers a plot-driven science fiction tale chronicling Padmé Amidala Naberrie's transformation from the Queen of Naboo to its representative in the Republic. Set after the events of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace, this title follows Padmé as she takes on her role as Senator while navigating the perilous reality of politics in the glistening cosmopolitan capital of Coruscant. After an attempt is made on her life, she works together with her royal handmaiden, Sabé, to discover the culprit while being thrust into the spotlight during the start of her senatorial duties. Through diplomacy and courage, Padmé forges a new identity as a heroine beyond the queen's shadow. Young adults will find an iconic "Star Wars" novel that follows Padmé's rise within the Galactic Senate. Padmé discovers through wit and cunning that she can grapple with everyday responsibilities while overcoming personal and professional obstacles. Though the ending is a bit too convenient, this volume bridges the characters and elements of the prequels in a well-written adventure that fans of Johnston's previous titles will applaud. VERDICT A fascinating perspective into the backstory of a beloved and well-known character within the "Star Wars" universe, this is a must-have for reluctant readers or for fans of the franchise.-Angelina Bair, Willoughby-Eastlake Public Library, OH

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2019
A former queen plays politics to guide the galaxy's future in this Star Wars novel.After four years as Naboo's Queen Amidala, Padmé Amidala Naberrie retires...to become a senator of the galactic Republic. Accompanied by new handmaidens--bodyguards/body doubles--to Coruscant, she tries to fight slavery (and find young Anakin Skywalker), avoid assassination, restore her public image, and retain her idealism. Tasked with reviving a main character from the often critically and popularly reviled prequels, Johnston (That Inevitable Victorian Thing, 2017, etc.) explores the diverse settings, delights in the alien cultures, and even expands the romantic possibilities to include same-sex relationships. Padmé and her handmaidens are assumed white; other humanoids' races are only noted when not white. The various species of Star Wars appear here but only as background characters. Readers without encyclopedic Star Wars knowledge receive name-dropping and cross-referencing rather than character development, while critics of Episodes I through III may still reject this interlude's earnest explanations for the cinematic sources' flaws, which are reproduced here--too much politicking, not enough passion. Padmé is a potent symbol but remains a flat character, restricted by her political role, her ornate, excessively described costuming, and her circumscribed cinematic fate. Sabé, her former but steadfast handmaid, has more depth but regrettably fewer chapters. Less a bold rebellion, more a boring bureaucracy, albeit with a strong, doomed female protagonist. (Science fiction. 12-18)

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March 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 Four years ago, Queen Padm� Amidala and her fearless handmaidens defeated the invasion of Naboo. Now Naboo has elected a new ruler, and the time has come for the former queen and her loyal friends to fulfill a more personal purpose. Padm� agrees to serve in the Galactic Senate, while Sab�, Padm�'s mirror double and most trusted friend, sets out to free enslaved beings and find Shmi Skywalker. But on the capital world of Coruscant, Padm� is being targeted. Chancellor Palpatine is keeping her at a distance, and Senator Bail Organa isn't fooled by the ruse Padm� and her handmaidens have perfected. Can Padm� adapt to galactic politics and beat her enemies as herself, queen no longer? Set after the events of The Phantom Menace, this Star Wars story assumes familiarity with the films. Savvy Padm� wields wit and loyalty as deftly as a Jedi wielding a lightsaber, and her handmaidens are fiercely skilled in themselves. While the low stakes of the plot disappoint, seeing teenage girls routinely outwit the galaxy's finest is sheer pleasure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)