Published: April 21st, 2020
Author: Michael Kogge
Publisher: Disney-Lucasfilm Press (US), Egmont (UK)
Formats: Paperback (228 pages), Audiobook (366 minutes)
Timeline: 35 ABY
The synopsis;
Under Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, the First Order have only grown in power…but there are rumours of an even darker power brewing in the outer reaches of the galaxy, led by a spectre of evil thought to have perished long ago. The rumours have even reached the Resistance, which has been slowly rebuilding since its defeat at the Battle of Crait. Determined to prevent the First Order from joining forces with this mysterious new enemy, Rey sets out with her friends Finn, Poe, BB-8 and Chewbacca to find answers. But the journey puts Rey on a collision course with Kylo Ren, leading to a final showdown that will decide the fate of the galaxy.
Relive all the action and excitement of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in this thrilling retelling by Michael Kogge, and enjoy exclusive extended and deleted scenes from the blockbuster film!
The review;
Firstly, a massive congratulations needs to be extended to Michael Kogge for completing his literary Kessel run, and penning the fantastic junior novelisations for all three Star Wars films of the Sequel Trilogy. He’s the first Star Wars author to have done so and will probably hold this title for quite a while with no new Star Wars trilogies on the cinema horizon anytime soon.
Taking such a dark and emotional story as The Rise of Skywalker and turning it into a children’s novel was never going to be an easy task, yet Kogge has created a book that remains very true to the film, although with some excellent added scenes. However, the entire story is taken down just a few notches in pace along with tone, to make it more easily accessible and enjoyable for a younger audience. This does not negatively affect the book in any way, and older fans who read the novel need to remember that it’s intended for kids.
Just like its cousin, The Rise of Skywalker Novelisation by Rae Carson, there are added or expanded scenes throughout Kogge’s story (there was at least one minor plot discrepancy when compared with Carson’s version). Several are about Kylo Ren, either on Mustafar or leading his Knights of Ren, which add to the details of the Sith Wayfinder or the mysterious warriors who accompany the new Supreme Leader. Another brilliant part of this junior novelisation is that there are extracts from the sacred Jedi texts, so fans can learn a bit more about what Rey was reading. These are just a few examples from Kogge’s novel, and there are even more to find.
Not only are there added scenes, The Rise of Skywalker Junior Novelisation also links in to other areas of the Star Wars universe. Rey’s adventures on Minfar are mentioned on a few occasions, which is the plot of Justina Ireland’s Spark of the Resistance. Those creepy Sith statues on Exegol are also named and one, Sadow, must be Nasa Sadow from the legends Tales of the Jedi comic series by Tom Veitch and Kevin J. Anderson. An extremely subtle connection is Leia’s farewell hug to Rey on Ajan Kloss – she uses the exact same line she said to Han in Alan Dean Foster’s adult novelisation for The Force Awakens. Whether this was deliberate or pure coincidence, fans can only speculate!
One part of this novelisation that varies a bit is the characterisation. Fans will be very pleased with the fact that Rose Tico is far more prominent in the story, even brandishing her trusty electro-shock prod from The Last Jedi. Jannah’s past as a stormtrooper is very interesting to learn about, and Poe’s doubts about his suitability for leadership make perfect sense. However, Rey and Kylo Ren seem a little too black-and-white, good versus evil, lacking the grey inner turmoil seen on-screen. Now, as a children’s novel it is understandable to a certain degree that both characters wouldn’t be as complex, but it is slightly disappointing because their transformation in this plot seems a bit too sudden compared to the the slow character progression seen in The Rise of Skywalker.
Even though this story is intended for a younger audience, fans of all ages should read the prologue and epilogue of Kogge’s novelisation, even if they read none of the other chapters. Both are real tear-jerkers, no matter the age of the reader, and the way he writes about how characters are Skywalker’s by blood, or by name, or by choice, is just absolutely beautiful.
To give credit where it’s due, Kogge’s use of English is to a very high standard throughout this novel, so Padawans may need some of the more complex words explained by a handy Jedi Librarian or dictionary. This shouldn’t put younger readers off though – as Star Wars is all about learning – and The Rise of Skywalker Junior Novelisation is a brilliant adaptation, filled with all of the action-adventure from the cinema screen, that young Padawans are bound to enjoy reading.
Availability;
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Junior Novelisation by Michael Kogge was published on April 21, 2020 by Disney-Lucasfilm Press in the US and Egmont in the UK. It is available in paperback and audiobook formats from Amazon US and UK and from all good bookstores and online retailers.
