{My thoughts} – Roan is in his second year at the Jedi Academy. He starts out having a great year, but then things start to get a little sticky. He starts to struggle with his friendships and begins making friends with the wrong crowd.

This is something that happens so often with children in school. Sometimes, they make friends with the wrong crowd because the wrong crowd are the only ones that will talk to them and or give them the time and day. This happens often when their actual friends push them away for some reason or another.

I think this book is nicely put together, it shows that even though friends go through rough spots. In the end it is very much possible for it all to work out in the end. This book also helps to show children that grades in school aren’t the most important thing to worry about. That all you have to do is really try and the more you try the more likely you will see that things can and will improve.

I think that any child that loves Star Wars will enjoy reading this book. I love the illustrations within the pages. They give you a lot to look at and explore. I enjoy reading books like this because they are fun reads. I think that any child would be lucky to have this book added to their home or school library. ( )

Of all the journal-y middle grade books I've read lately (and I've read many!), I was surprised that this one feels the most like a real, handwritten, middle-schooler's journal. Brown has managed to squeeze humorous illustrations, a fun plot, wacky teachers, and the Star Wars universe into short novels that don't feel crammed or like they're just riding the coattails of a popular franchise. Return of the Padawan is a well-developed story that can stand all on its own, independent of both the film franchise and the other books in the Star Wars: Jedi Academy series, but those who are familiar with the Star Wars franchise or the other books in Brown's series will, of course, find even more to enjoy.

Be warned, though: Return of the Padawan may inspire some curriculum envy. After all, who wouldn't want to use spaceship flight simulators in school or take classes on using the Force with Yoda himself?

Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley. ( )

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/v-NPtgQ_0w0

Enjoy!

Super fun. Enjoyed this even more than book 1. ( )

More of the same, but it's quick filler when you're on the toilet. Heh. Yep. ( )