When most people think “Star Wars,” they think of the movies, TV shows and out-of-this-world characters ingrained in popular culture for decades.
But during the month of October, Lucasfilm and libraries across the country invite the public to experience it in a different way — through Star War Reads and all the books and myriad other things written about a galaxy far, far away.
There are books in the Star Wars universe for every taste. From manga and graphic novels to character-driven stories, humor and tragedy, you can find a Star Wars book that fits your every mood.
In “Kindred Spirits,” author Rainbow Rowell tells a charming story about meeting people with common interests in a way that only die-hard fans know: waiting in line for days to buy tickets for the new “Star Wars” film.
This short story conjures visions of cinema lines past while following the main character, Elena, who is waiting to buy tickets for opening day. Elena decides to step out of her comfort zone and take a risk, joining conversations taking place in line. Although Elena’s goal to be one of the first people to see the movie seems simple at the beginning, her struggles along the way highlight how difficult it can be to bring your dreams to life.
In this book, you can relive the humor and horror of waiting in line for something others may ridicule or misunderstand. The main characters and situations are all relatable, from their extensive knowledge of trivia and their refusal to see the prequel movies to the story’s unlikely ending. Whether or not you are a fan of Star Wars, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this short read.
“Ahsoka” by E.K. Johnston reveals an off-screen tale of one of the fan-favorite series characters, Ahsoka Tano, made popular in “Star Wars Clone Wars,” “Star Wars Rebels” and “The Mandalorian.”
Once the padawan apprentice of Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka did not finish her training to become a Jedi before politics changed the landscape and tore her tight-knit group apart. “Ahsoka” brings to light a small part of the life of the titular main character from the time between “Clone Wars” and “Rebels.”
In this novel, we see what life was like on farm planets while Ahsoka goes undercover trying to figure out whether she wants to remain a part of the rebellion. Seeing the insight of a “hero” character in hiding sets up the story for a battle against the Empire, which should not disappoint any Star Wars fans. Animated series fans may want to check out the audiobook edition read by voice actor Ashley Eckstein, who voiced Ahsoka in “Clone Wars” and “Rebels.”
Younger readers interested in the life of Ahsoka may enjoy the book “I Am Padawan” by Eckstein. This Little Golden Book is a short story about what it means to be an apprentice to a Jedi. Eckstein brings the excitement of learning the magical history of the Jedi order to life through brief text and colorful illustrations.
In the children’s section, you’ll find a number of titles illustrated by convention favorite, Katie Cook, who is well known for her “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic,” “Gronk” and “Nothing Special” comics and graphic novels.
“Search Your Feelings: Galactic Basic Edition,” written by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy and illustrated by Cook, talks to young readers about feelings and features some of our favorite moments from Star Wars characters.
The same trio have created several other Star Wars-themed books that we highly recommend, including “Star Wars Creatures Big & Small,” which features many animals and creatures from the Star Wars saga; “Star Wars ABC-3PO,” which teaches the alphabet with help from Star Wars droids, characters and creatures; and “Obi-123,” a counting book that goes up to 20.
Do you ever wonder if wampas are cuddly? Or if there are a lot of bugs on Tatooine? You may enjoy the illustrated book “The Star Wars Book of Monsters, Ooze, and Slime,” also written and illustrated by Cook, which answers some of the strangest trivia questions about the planets, insects and oozes in the Star Wars universe.
This October, we invite you to dive into the world of Star Wars with Naperville Public Library. Check out our full list of virtual events at www.naperville-lib.org/star-wars.
Danielle Oakes is a technology instructor at Naperville Public Library.
