Jedi Academy (novel)

Star Wars: Jedi Academy is a non-canon novel for kids by Jeffrey Brown. It was released on August 27, 2013.

Summary
A young boy named Roan Novachez living on Tatooine is disapointed when he learns that he has been rejected by Pilot Academy, but is soon invited to attend Jedi academy at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. There, he learns that he possesses an innate talent for the use of the Force and that he will learn to harness it under some of the Jedi's greatest masters, including the wise and powerful Yoda and the talented lightsaber expert Mr. Garfield. Roan settles into the life of a typical schoolboy, from struggling through homework, learning to make new friends in an unfamiliar situation, and catching up with a class that has been studying for years things which are entirely new to him. Along the way, he finds friends including Pasha and Gaiana, but must deal with bullies such as Cyrus and Cronah. A diligent student, he earns good grades in many of his classes, but begins to worry that he will never be able to tap into his talent to use the Force.

Publisher's summary
 New York Times bestselling author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown takes readers to a middle school in a galaxy far, far away...

''This incredible, original story captures all of the humor, awkwardness, fun, and frustrations of middle school--all told through one boy's comics, journal entries, letters, doodles, and newspaper clippings. The setting? A galaxy far, far away...''

''Roan's one dream is to leave home and attend Pilot Academy like his older brother, father, and grandfather. But just as Roan is mysteriously denied entrance to Pilot School, he is invited to attend Jedi Academy--a school that he didn't apply to and only recruits children when they are just a few years old. That is, until now...''

''This inventive novel follows Roan's first year at Jedi Academy where, under the tutelage of Master Yoda, he learns that he possesses more strength and potential than he could have ever dreamed. Oh, and he learns other important things too--like how to make a baking soda volcano, fence with a lightsaber, slow dance with a girl, and lift boulders with the Force.''

Development
The idea of a heavily illustrated Star Wars title in a middle school setting was first conceived by Scholastic, who approached Lucasfilm Ltd. regarding the idea. J.W. Rinzler suggested Brown as an author for the series and Brown, after a brief initial skepticism, came up with his conception of the series.