Leia, Princess of Alderaan

Leia, Princess of Alderaan is a young-adult novel written by Claudia Gray and published by Disney–Lucasfilm Press. It was released on September 1, 2017, as part of Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Publisher's summary
''It is Leia Organa's sixteenth birthday and she participates in the traditional ceremony where she declares her intention to one day take the throne of Alderaan. But she's much more concerned about the way her parents are acting lately: lots of meetings and late dinners and not talking to her as much as they used to. Eventually she discovers the reason for their secrecy: their involvement in the increasingly organized rebellion. When Leia decides to become involved herself in the fight against the Empire, whether her parents approve or not, she will have to prove to them that she is a valuable asset who must be allowed to take a stand, regardless of the risk to herself. Her stand will also put her at odds with a pacifist young Alderaanian man who gives Leia her first kiss…and her first real loss.''

The Day of Demand
Princess Leia Organa is preparing for her Day of Demand, with the help of her attendant droid WA-2V. She's nervous, and has to hurry to the throne room once she's finally ready. In the antechamber, she readies herself, and takes the Rhindon Sword down from the wall, surprised by its weight. The curtain is pulled back, and all two hundred guests turn to look at Leia, who marches forward, sword held high. She approaches the dais where her parents, Queen Breha and Viceroy Bail sit. As Leia reaches the dais, Breha calls out the opening line of the ceremony, and Leia announces herself, with the variant line for when the heir is adopted. The ceremony continues, with Leia naming the challenges of the body, mind and heart she will complete in order to prove herself worthy to inherit: climbing Appenza Peak, representing Alderaan in the Apprentice Legislature and undertaking charity missions to needy planets. Breha asks the audience to bear witness, and the guests cheer. Leia is dejected when her parents turn away to greet guests instead of congratulating her, although Lord Mellowyn of Birren tells her she was "wonderful". For the past six months, Leia's parents have been ebbing away, paying her far less attention than they used to: Bail is constantly busy with private meetings with senators from faraway worlds, and Breha has suddenly turned into a society hostess, constantly throwing extravagant banquets that last nearly until dawn. That night, watching a storm from her bedroom window, Leia vows to do something too great for her parents to ignore.

A mercy mission
The next day, Leia heads to the Aldera spaceport to set out on her first relief mission. 2V reminds the princess to show respect to the Imperial officials she deals with. Leia is privately thrilled that she can now request the use of the Tantive IV, and is met outside the ship by Captain Raymus Antilles. She thanks him for readying the ship so quickly, and after he tells her they can be underway within the hour, Leia is struck by the realization that he doesn't yet see her as a leader. The trip to Wobani is swift and uneventful, and Leia spends it checking the corvette's cargo. The planet's economy has completely collapsed as a result of the Commodities Enhancement Program, and Leia is angry that none of the senators, including her father, have spoken out about the suffering of its people. So she hasn't told her parents where she's going. When the Tantive IV lands, Leia is shocked when she sees the extent of what has happened to Wobani and its people. She is met by an Imperial officer who, once informed that Leia is ready to get started, calls off the stormtroopers guarding the landing pad, and the starving residents of the camp flood towards the ship. Leia, enraged when she sees the officer smirking at the Alderaanians' difficulties in setting up amid the crowd, grabs a loudhailer and yells for everyone to stop, giving orders so the distribution of aid can begin in an orderly fashion. Once the aid is being distributed, Antilles remarks that the deprivation of the Wobani reminds him of how fortunate they are on Alderaan. Leia, wondering how she is supposed to turn away, decides she's going to evacuate as many refugees from the planet as can fit on her ship.

Captain Antilles is dubious about the idea, as Leia explains that she's going to talk to the official in charge, believing that he'll agree because she's helping to solve his problems. Antilles doubts it, as Imperial officers aren't known for flexibility, and orders Lieutenant Ress Batten to accompany Leia to the Imperial headquarters. On the way there, Batten notes the refugees' lack of vehicles, speculating that they weren't allowed to bring them, and disapprovingly notes the Emperor's tendency to cause more suffering if a plan of his unintentionally creates suffering. The head Imperial, Major Tedam, refuses to budge at Leia's request, stating he lacks the authority to renegotiate the terms of their landing permit and that her ship can only depart with crew onboard. Upon returning to the Tantive IV, Leia, refusing to give up on her plan, is inspired by the sight of an old woman sewing to "hire" some refugees as crew for the ship in order to get people offworld. Since the corvette only has room for 100 more people, Leia goes looking for that number of the neediest refugees, including the old woman and her husband. After the Tantive IV departs, Tedam angrily attempts to call the Alderaanians out for violating the terms of their landing permit, and Leia calmly states that they have done no such thing. Antilles informs the princess that she will have to tell the queen about this. Due to Imperial travel restrictions, the Tantive IV must pass through Calderos Station, a deep-space waypoint, on its way back to Alderaan. Upon arriving, the crew is shocked to see that the station has been attacked. They are approached by a patrol of TIE fighters who demand they identify themselves, and once the corvette's identity is verified, they are ordered to leave immediately. Leia notes that the damage to the station makes it easier for people to travel through the region clandestinely, and realizes that people aren't just complaining about the Empire anymore – they're fighting back.

Upon their return to Alderaan, Lieutenant Batten tells Leia that she informed Central they were coming, and Captain Antilles, seeming oddly distracted, says he should contact the viceroy. Leia wonders why, as the viceroy only handles off-planet affairs, the actual governing of the planet being done by the queen. Just then, a droid announces Queen Breha's arrival, as she enters with a large entourage. Breha addresses the refugees, welcoming them to Alderaan and promising them all a stipend so they can start their new lives. The refugees cheer, and Breha walks over to Leia and gives her a hug. Then, displeased, she orders Leia to the palace immediately. In the palace library, Breha scolds Leia for going on a mission to a planet in a dangerous situation without informing her parents, as they have important business. Leia angrily asks if the "important business" is planning another dinner party, and Breha raises her voice, a rare occurrence. Leia explains that she went to Wobani because there were people in need, and Breha says she knows how desperate they are, but that the planet is one of many loose threads that could become a fuse. Leia wonders what she means. Breha calls Leia out on her lie of omission about her mission, and after Leia nods, the queen explains that she's spent several hours dealing with angry Imperial officials who don't like the idea of being tricked by a young girl. She stresses that Alderaan cannot afford to be associated with any "dissident action", and Leia asks if they shouldn't want to do something about the Empire, as she thought she would help someplace that really needed it. Breha tells Leia that her father and his allies in the Senate have been conducting secret negotiations for resettlement of the people of Wobani for months. Leia is horrified when Breha explains that her actions have destroyed all of Bail's hard work, stating that she's trusting her daughter with this because she's nearly an adult. Breha says that in a few months, Bail might be able to restart negotiations, and tells Leia to choose her missions more carefully from now on. Leia responds that she does have a reason why she didn't talk to her parents: because they didn't have time. Breha apologizes, and heads off to her books. Leia, walking through the palace, passes her father's office and sees him talking to Captain Antilles, and is hurt by the fact that the captain had a chance to report to Bail before she had a chance to talk to him.

Pathfinding
The next day, Leia, clad in all-weather gear, takes a suborbital jumper with a few members of the royal guard, who are swearing less than usual due to their royal passenger. She sees Appenza Peak through the windows, musing that the climb up the mountain is considered relatively easy, which is not the same as easy. Leia checks that she has her backpack of equipment. The jumper lands at the designated coordinates only long enough to drop Leia off, and she waves as it flies away before turning to join the other pathfinding students gathered in the clearing next to a chalet serving as the day's headquarters. A slim, dark-haired boy asks Leia if she's the princess, wondering how she wound up arriving on an "old barge". Leia simply answers that they were headed this way, and confirms her identity. The boy introduces himself as Chassellon Stevis of Coruscant, explaining that his mother heads their diplomatic legation, so both of them are following their parents into the family business. Leia muses that the pathfinding class was arranged by Queen Breha so that Leia could get to know other members of the Apprentice Legislature outside of the Coruscant social scene, but she suspects that her mother was trying to find her some friends so Breha doesn't have to feel guilty about ignoring her.

Leia tells Chassellon that she's looking forward to it, and turns to a dark-haired girl to introduce herself. She goes from student to student, memorizing their names and faces: Harp Allor of Chandrila, friendly and overprepared; Sssamm Ashsssen of Fillithar, an unusual student in a sport normally practiced by bipeds; an Ithorian whose name she didn't catch; and several more. Leia then comes to someone that stops her cold, a tall human girl with acid green hair and a jumpsuit in a rainbow of painfully clashing bright colors, wearing a pair of antique pink-lensed goggles. She notices Leia, but just stands there, so Leia introduces herself. The girl finally introduces herself as Amilyn Holdo of Gatalenta, and asks Leia to thank her mom for inviting her to the class. Leia asks Amilyn if she's looking forward to trying pathfinding, and Amilyn's loopy grin widens as she cheerfully declares that she hopes it's dangerous, as she wants to get more comfortable with the nearness and inevitability of death. Leia, unnerved, locks a smile on her face while thinking that there's no way Amilyn is handling her climbing ropes. The final six students, having flown in with the instructor, arrive from the nearby landing pad. Leia recognizes a few of them from the Apprentice Legislature directory, and one boy dressed in what looks like military cast-offs stands out. Leia approaches him and holds out her hand, asking if he's Kier Domadi. Kier answers in the affirmative, and Leia tells him she's glad they'll be serving in the Apprentice Legislature together, smiling. Kier responds that he looks forward to it, and Leia states that luckily it looks like they'll get along, while silently wondering if she's flirting and if diplomats are supposed to flirt. Kier responds that luck had nothing to do with either of them being here, which Leia finds insulting, thinking that he assumes she got the position solely based on her family connections, not her skills. Noticing her expression, Kier apologize, and Leia says that she's fine.

At this point the instructor, Chief Pangie of the Chandrilan Pathfinding Corps, tells the students to gather around, as she introduces herself. She tells the students that they will address her as "Chief" if they want to stay alive, and Leia observes the worried glances of some students wondering if she's joking. Pangie states that Queen Breha was the one who arranged the class, so their first session is on Alderaan. She explains that over the next few months, the class will visit different climates on different worlds, and that the goal is for all of the students to know how to handle themselves anywhere, with nothing but their hands and basic equipment. Addressing Sssamm, Pangie states that if they don't have hands, they'll learn to use their coils, and that students with prehensile tails are in luck because that's as good as an extra rope. Chassellon mutters that he knew he should have bioengineered a tail, which Leia has heard are currently in vogue on Coruscant. Pangie tells the class that they must notice every detail of their surroundings, or they're as good as dead, and Amilyn smiles. Leia wonders if it's possible for an heir to change their Challenge of the Body. Pangie states that the goal of today's class is to see which of the students has it in them to go the distance, and which of them will note the landmarks. She asks them all to show their field generators, and only after seeing all of them does she nod and signal for the class to get going.

Five hours later, Leia is exhausted, feeling as if she's already climbed eight thousand mountains. Chief Pangie wouldn't let them stop for rest on their way up, even making them eat lunch on their feet. The slope they ascended isn't that steep, and the terrain isn't particularly difficult, and for the first couple hours it was a pleasant walk. As the class enters a small clearing, Leia can't help noting that it would be an excellent place to take a short break. Chief Pangie stops and grins, drawing the class' attention to a hoversled sitting at the edge of the clearing, waiting for its owner. Leia wonders if taking the hoversled would count as stealing if she replaced it. As Pangie goes to inspect the sled, Chassellon leans against a tree and the Ithorian sits on a rock. Leia is tempted to put her bag down, but knows that putting it back on afterward will feel worse. She's satisfied to see Kier putting his hand on a tree trunk, because now he knows that Leia isn't weaker than him. The only students not showing any signs of weariness are Sssamm and Amilyn, whose smile remains as glazed as ever.

Pangie notes that the hoversled is beautiful, a gorgeous piece of machinery, and Chassellon sniffs that he has a nicer one on Coruscant. Pangie gives him a look and points out that his fancy hoversled is in a different star system, where it won't do him any good, while hers is right here where she needs it. She hops on the sled and punches the ignition, and the students stare as realization sets in. Chassellon indignantly sputters that she can't be leaving them out here. Pangie states that he's right, and reminds the students that she told them she wanted to see who paid attention to the landmarks on the way up, and that they're about to find out who can follow basic instructions. Harp sputters that Pangie told them there would be special techniques for them to learn, and Pangie promises that they will learn, but none of the techniques will do them any good if they can't bother to notice where they're going. Chassellon asks if this is dangerous, and Pangie cheerfully states that if they're not careful, yes. Amilyn throws her hands to the sky and mouths "Yes", as Pangie states that they're all tagged with trackers, so they'll be back up to collect anyone who doesn't make it to the chalet by nightfall. As the students feel relief, Pangie adds that anyone who doesn't get back to the chalet by nightfall will be kicked out of the course, and wishes the students good luck before speeding off.

Leia assumes that Pangie stranded them to engineer a bonding experience, as working together to overcome odds is supposed to create carmaderie, and if so it's failing miserably. Harp asks if the other students could at least try to move faster than a glacier, because they have a lot of ground to clear before sunset. The Ithorian student points at his snowshoes, and Sssamm hisses at her to remember that not everyone has hindquarters and to not be biped-centric. Amilyn, meanwhile, peeks into the borehole of a nearby tree and notes that there are no snow owls there either. Kier asks Amilyn why she's looking for snow owls, and Amilyn remarks, why wouldn't she? Kier can't think of a good answer to that, and eventually nods. Chassellon reties his expensive scarf so it looks better on him, as Leia wonders why he's even bothering about appearances, especially as they're all overheated. He then states that Chief Pangie clearly resents her students and thinks she's too good for them, and wonders what kind of trouble she'll be in when someone reports this to Queen Breha. Leia asks if they can't all try to focus, and points out a lightning-killed tree. Kier remembers it as well, noting that they need to turn west there.

Harp hurries ahead, and Kier calls after her just before she suddenly jerks and falls into a snowdrift, remembering some tricky ice there. Leia runs to Harp and asks her if she's all right, and Harp responds that she thinks she twisted her ankle. Chassellon asks if she can't just walk it off, and Leia and Kier try to help Harp to her feet. Before Harp can put weight on her foot, Leia notes the odd twist of her boot and realizes that Harp's ankle is broken. Kier points out that there is no way Harp can get down the mountain without help, as Leia sarcastically thanks Kier in her head for pointing out the obvious. Harp tearfully declares she screwed things up for everybody, and as Leia assures her she didn't, Chassellon snorts. When Leia angrily asks him what that was supposed to mean, Chassellon states that he agrees with Leia that Harp didn't screw things up for everybody, just herself, announcing that he intends to return to the chalet by sunset with or without her, but more likely without. Leia angrily asks him if he'd just leave Harp here on her own, and Chassellon, shrugging, states that apparently Chief Pangie thinks this stretch of wilderness is safe from everything except clumsiness, so Harp should be fine until they send a jumper to pick her up. Kier states that that is unacceptable, and Amilyn remarks that Harp might be lonely. Chassellon, unmoved, retorts that they could act like "rational" sentients and start moving. Harp tells them to go on ahead, as she'll be fine, but Leia insists that they're not leaving her. Marching over to Chassellon, Leia asks him to think about it, pointing out that if they all stay behind with Harp, Chief Pangie will have to keep them in the class since she can't expel everybody. He retorts that Leia might escape, but that the rest of them have to look out for themselves, and that he has no intention of giving the chief ammunition to make things worse. Placing his hand on her shoulder, Chassellon quietly tells Leia that he realizes she has to stay because "word can't get around that the princess of Alderaan abandoned someone on the slopes to save her own skin", since appearances matter. This enrages Leia, but Chassellon takes no notice as he asks everyone who wants to return to the chalet to follow him. To Leia's dismay, half the class leaves with him, with only the Ithorian even pausing. Leia finds that the rest of the students, including Kier, Sssamm and Amilyn, apparently expect her to be their leader, so she takes a deep breath and states that they were turning west.

Amilyn tells Harp she's sorry that the Chandrilan girl is hurting, while taking her turn pulling the makeshift travois Kier made. However, Amilyn also sees a bright side, as she never thought they'd encounter mortal peril this soon. Harp hopes that it isn't mortal peril, and Amilyn cheerfully responds that it will be if they stumble into a crevasse, causing Harp to look around nervously. Leia isn't scared any longer, as among the five of them they remember enough of the way to reach the chalet, although she's not certain if they'll make it before nightfall. Besides, ensuring Harp remains alive and well is more important. Leia muses that if she knows her mother, she hired the toughest pathfinding instructor in the galaxy, and worries about what might happen if she fails her Challenge of the Body. Harp apologizes yet again, stating that she's always tried to be at the top of her class, and she's not used to failing. Kier tells her that this is the best class she's ever had, since nobody learns anything new without failing the first few times. Leia processes Kier's words, realizing that her life has been like Harp's, constantly striving without admitting that failure was even a possibility or that it could be good.

Kier falls in beside Leia, and tells her that the others probably aren't that far ahead, so they might make it by sunset. Leia doubts it, but thanks Kier for working on the travois. Kier shrugs, and explains that his historical anthropology teacher always insisted on making him and his fellow students try their hand at primitive skills so they'd learn just how much intelligence they really took. Leia still appreciates it, and tells Kier that he didn't have to stay and help. He tells Leia that she did, and remembering what Chassellon said, retorts that appearances had nothing to do with it. Kier apologizes, explaining that that's not what he meant and that he's bad at saying what he really means, and Leia realizes that he's shy. Leia tells him to try again, and Kier explains that he meant that her royal role means she has to stay. Leia wonders if he means that princesses are held to higher standards, and Kier replies that Leia holds herself to a higher standard. He hears a lot about how the House of Organa dedicates itself to the good of the people, and Leia responds that they do. Kier agrees, noting that it's not just propaganda, the way it could be on other planets, and that Leia doesn't really have a choice to stay or go, or whether or not to be in the Apprentice Legislature. Leia asks if he thinks she got stuck with the Legislature, stating that she can't wait to get back to the Senate. Kier asks her if that's really the case, or if she just thinks she should. Leia states that she understands her own motivations perfectly well, but thinks that she never considered choosing her own future instead of inheriting the throne.

At this point, Amilyn calls for everyone to look at where they've arrived: a snowy, treeless slope, too steep to easily walk down, especially with the travois. Leia points that they can see the way they came up, and Sssamm hisses that he can just make out Chassellon's group farther down the path. Amilyn mentions that when she was a girl, she used to love tobogganing. Leia manages not to snap, and responds that that's nice, but that once they get back to the path, it'll be too uneven to use the travois. She asks Kier if he thinks he can carry Harp, and he nods, looking uncertain. Amilyn mentions that her favourite thing about tobogganing was the speed, and starts digging in her pack. Sssamm hisses that he thinks he might be able to balance Harp in one of his coils, and Leia is about to object because of the danger when she realizes what Amilyn was trying to say, just as the Gatalentan pulls out an emergency tent. Amilyn begins to flatten out the tent, explaining, and Leia realizes that it can form a toboggan big enough to hold all of them. Leia asks Amilyn why she didn't just say so from the start, and Amilyn frowns that she did. Kier thinks it's too dangerous, as they would pick up too much speed. Sssamm slithers onto the tent, expands his coils to hold out the edges, and sticks his tail into the final unfastened flap, lifting it to form a sail. Kier smiles, and Amilyn claps. Harp, looking hopeful, asks if they can try it. Leia laughs, and says, "Let's do this." As the makeshift toboggan hurtles down the slope, with frequent course-corrections from Sssamm, Leia realizes that she hasn't had this much fun in a long time, or ever with people her own age.

At sunset, Chassellon and his group trudge up to the chalet, exhausted and miserable. In Leia's mind, this makes it even more satisfying to see them come into the great room and find the princess and her group lounging by the hearth with large mugs of mocoa. Harp, wearing a bacta bag on her foot, asks them where they've been, since they've been waiting for them. Chassellon sputters in shock, and Pangie informs him that they arrived first by showing ingenuity, as well as compassion, something that Chassellon's group could use a little more of. He snaps that they're all having a good laugh, and, pulling himself up in an attempt to look impressive, states that they'll see who's laughing when Queen Breha hears about this. Leia shrugs and informs Chassellon that the chief told her that this part of the challenge was her mother's idea in the first place. When Chassellon sputters, Leia tells him he's obviously never met her mother, and he deflates. Pangie informs the second group that since they failed to show any teamwork out there, she's assigning them extra duty for the next time, specifically carrying the others' packs for them. Leia finds Chassellon's facial expression at this amusing for the rest of the evening, and the trip back to Aldera. Upon returning to the palace, she's greeted by the guard outside Bail's stateroom, and she asks him if she can see her parents. The guard apologizes, and explains that her parents are in conference about their next banquet, with instructions not to be disturbed by anyone. Leia's good mood is deflated, and the guard tells her he's sure the queen and viceroy will be happy to see her when they're finished. Leia can't even hate the guard for feeling sad for her.

Reception
"I've learned that one 3-word phrase in LPOA was something used in Third Reich propaganda. Obviously, I'm horrified. I never would have included it, had I been aware of the historical use of this phrase. My error was one of ignorance, and I'm incredibly sorry."

- Claudia Gray

The book contained the words "Strength through joy," with Leia Organa atributing them to an Alderaanian philosopher. The words were also coincidentally used as a slogan by Nazi Germany. This generated much controversy on social media platforms, such as Twitter, which led to a response by a Disney–Lucasfilm Press PR representative with a quote by the author of the novel, Claudia Gray, claiming she did not know the real-life history of the phrase when she wrote the book and apologised for its used in such context. The phrase was changed to "Joy drives out fear" in later editions of the novel.

Editions

 * ISBN 9781484780787; September 1, 2017; Disney–Lucasfilm Press; US hardcover
 * ISBN 9781405288903; October 5, 2017; Egmont UK Ltd; UK paperback