Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
(Libby/OverDrive eBook, Kindle)

Tying up the loose ends of the original Star Wars trilogy was a big job for the filmmakers. So it is, too, for Angleberger, whose approach is like a dog's to a lake: dive in belly first and go nuts. An author's note warns readers of his enthusiasm ("I wanted to give you a story overflowing with crazy details"), and indeed the book weighs significantly more than the other volumes. As promised, Angleberger follows the movie's every beat, including plenty of word-for-word dialogue. But a dry novelization this is not. Angleberger comes off like a breathless eight-year-old recounting the film to a younger sibling, bubbling with playground-friendly descriptions (Jabba is a "giant evil space slug"), swooping aside for motormouthed tangents (often delivered in footnote form), and never missing a chance to Use! Tons! Of! Exclamation! Points! Besides a few pages beefing up characters who were sketchy in the film, like the Emperor or Mon Mothma, this isn't deep stuff. But, whoa, is it broad: from Salacious Crumb to Moff Jerjerrod to Chief Chirpa, the gang's all here. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.

Gr 4–8—Middle grade "Star Wars" fanatics as well as those new to the franchise will find plenty to enjoy in Angleberger's take on Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. As in the film, readers are quickly brought up to speed with three brief paragraphs of exposition. Angleberger sticks closely to the source material, moving through the film scene by scene and including much of the original dialogue. At the same time, he adds plenty of background, drawing on his familiarity with the canon to incorporate character thoughts and motivations, insight into the intergalactic politics at play, and the essentials of the various planets and moons that serve as setting. Occasional footnotes provide quick, often humorous asides on a wide range of trivia and facts, from the importance of the Death Star's elevators to the difference between bowcasters and blaster rifles. Angleberger's enthusiasm for and deep knowledge of the "Star Wars" universe is evident, but he exercises restraint, balancing obscure details that will only interest hard-core fans with more general context needed by those new to the story. Spot illustrations and cinematic descriptions make it easy for readers to visualize the action. VERDICT Those familiar with the classic movie will find this to be a faithful adaptation with the bonus of Angleberger's distinctive and amusing narrative voice. New fans will be inspired to seek out the original, and won't be spoiled by having enjoyed this version.—Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN