SciFi Book Review: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Moving Target

Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Moving Target by Cecil Castellucci and Jason Fry

Synopsis:
Princess Leia returns for an all-new adventure in this thrilling upper middle grade novel. Set between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi, the story follows the warrior princess as she leads a ragtag group of rebels on a dangerous mission against the evil Galactic Empire. Hidden in the story are also hints and clues about the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, making this a must-read for fans old and new!

Review:
Months ago, when I saw that Disney Hyperion was coming out with middle grade novels set in the Star Wars universe and starring the main characters, I knew I had to read them. In this story, Leia and C3-PO join a crew on a subversive mission to thwart the Empire. Preteens to adults will enjoy this novel, as it’s not really a children’s story. Though, I loved the fantastic illustrations. It’s a morally ambiguous mission that leads to some soul-searching from Leia. It’s a bit dark, with plenty of suspense and fun characters.

The “hints and clues about the upcoming” Force Awakens probably stem from the interludes that are set years in the future, when Leia is being interviewed about her past. Even if there aren’t actual clues, these are entertaining enough standalone stories on their own.