Ahsoka

happypug12 - The Ahsoka in this book is not the same Ashoka as the one in the Clone Wars that we all know and love. But surviving a war, leaving the only family you know, and then hearing they've all been brutally slaughtered can change a person. As we begin this action-filled story, we find former Jedi padawan Ashoka Tano carving out a miserable existence on the remote planet Thabeska, posing as Ashla, a mechanic who works hard and doesn't ask questions. But when the empire reaches its hand to the remote Thabeska, Ahsoka fearfully runs. She finds an almost-home on Radaa, a non-exciting farming moon that seems obscure enough. Until the Imperials decide to land on the planet and take over, taking Ashoka by surprise. She is torn between revealing herself and pretending to be Ashla. She and her new family must decide whether to rebel or to watch as everything and everyone they love is destroyed. After reading this book, I don't feel like it can stand on its own. I would love to see it become a series, like some of the other Star Wars series I've read. Star Wars: Ashoka didn't lack any of the grit and harsh reality of how cruel the empire truly is, and I liked it for that. This book was a really interesting read that I recommend to all Star Wars fans!

Ahsoka Tano is a Jedi on the run. She is a Togruta who managed to survive the aftermath of Order 66, the Empire's plan to eradicate all the Jedi. Ahsoka is forced to hide on planets in the Outer Rim, so as to not attract attention while she tries to reconcile her new fate without the guidance of her former master, Anakin Skywalker. As a Padawan left without counsel, Ahsoka must rely on her Jedi training to keep her true identity a secret. Taking on a new name, Ashla, she finds refuge and work as a mechanic on the farming moon of Raada. After the Empire makes a surprise visit in an attempt to occupy the moon, a failed resistance plan by farmers incites an Imperial attack on Ahsoka's new friends, and she is forced to openly use her Jedi powers to temporarily save them. Now that the Empire is aware that there is indeed a Jedi still alive in the galaxy, they spare no expense to find her. Johnston offers up an emotional and exciting chapter in the Star Wars saga, filling fans in on what exactly happened to at least one Jedi that survived Order 66. The best revelations come when familiar faces treasured by fans appear from the shadows as Ahsoka's allies, as the fight between Light and Dark continues. A great treat for young--and not-so-young--Star Wars fans that provides a thrilling back story for a compelling character. (Science fiction. 12 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Ahsoka Tano holds a special place in the hearts of many "Star Wars" aficionados. The breakout character of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV show finally gets her story told, and fans will not be disappointed. After leaving the order of the Jedis and her teacher Padawan Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka embarks on a journey to discover who she is and how she can move on after leaving the group that has defined her for so long. She ends up on Raada, a small, out-of-the-way moon base, and begins a new life. When the evil Imperial forces rear their heads, Ahsoka's newly idyllic life starts to sour, and she can't help but heed the familiar call of the Rebel Alliance. Teens will be able to relate to Ahsoka's emotional journey of attempting to find her place in the world. The plot moves at a slow pace in the first half as Ahsoka tries to deal with her emotions and figure things out. Those who have little to no knowledge of The Clone Wars and Rebels TV shows will be lost, as Johnston gives almost no background on the title character's previous adventures. VERDICT "Star Wars" devotees will rejoice in reading this long-awaited chapter in the life of a fan favorite; others may want to skip this one.-Christopher Lassen, BookOps: The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2016
Grades 8-12 Ahsoka Tano, former Padawan to Anakin Skywalker, is no more. Now she's only Ashla, an itinerant tinker living on the farming moon Raada. But when Imperial Forces arrive on Raada, Ashla must make a choice: continue to run or return to her roots and fight for the people she has begun to consider friends. A popular character from the TV shows The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka is here given depth and a backstory for what happened to her between the two series. Unfortunately, this means that some parts might be confusing for readers who have only watched the Star Wars movies. But despite that, Johnston pens an engaging story with plenty of action, strong female characters, and even a bit of light romance. In Johnston's competent hands, the expansive Star Wars universe narrows down to a few simple planets and a group of people that may be small, but whose worth is seen clearly by the burgeoning Rebel Alliance. Teens enchanted by the franchise's return to the big screen will be eager for this, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)