Shadows of the Empire (junior novelization)

The junior novelization of Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire was written by Christopher Golden and published by Bantam Doubleday Dell in October 1996. It is based on the story and novel by Steve Perry. The target audience of the junior novelization is kids 8-12.

Back cover summary
A Star Wars Novelization by Christopher Golden

A Disturbance in the Force...

His name is Xizor. He's the evil underlord of a criminal ordanization called Black Sun, and he's out to destroy Darth Vader. The target of the two battling supervillains in Luke Skywalker. Vader wants Luke captured alive so that he can turn him to the dark side. But Xizor in already plotting Luke's death.

Now Luke's like, and his mission to rescue Han Solo, are in jepardy. He and his friends must run for their lives from the galaxy's darkest forces.

Both new and old Star Wars fans will be eager to read this brand-new, never-before-told adventure, set between the Star Wars trilogy films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.