Lit Christmas SW Book Recommendations for Srs Normal People

Hey all --

I need some advice about books. It's a weird situation. Some co-workers, who are srs ppl, want to buy a Star Wars book for another co-worker (who I do not know but is close friend of theirs) AND a second Star Wars book for his 11 yr old daughter, who is apparently a "fan". They asked me for advice for two age-appropriate books for the both of them. It was done all very srs-like.

I remember back in the day being asked this and recommending stuff like Shadow Hunter, which usually was a crowd-pleaser for SW-lite fans who just want a good story. But now things are all different and we don't live in the age of the prequels, so I need something more contemporary I guess. My first thought as soon as they mentioned it was the Shakespeare SW books, but I think they want something different for the adult and the kid (although those are small -- get the OT batch for the adult and maybe something else for the kid, or vice-versa?)

The 11 yr old, as far as I could tell, does not watch the TV shows. But TV show-related books could be an option if they're good. I haven't read all the new young adult stuff. And honestly 11 yr olds are pretty mature so I imagine she could handle a lot of the "adult" SW books as well.

So what do you guys recommend? My srs coworkers are judging me here, so don't screw this up and get me fired.

 

Vector Prime. Confuse the **** out of them.

 

I think the From a Certain Point of View book could be a good option.

Or either of Claudia Gray’s Leia books, Bloodline or Princess of Alderaan.

 

Eragon

 

I feel like Lost Stars or Leia, Princess of Alderaan would work for the 11-year old. For the adult, Kenobi could work. Or for canon material, Battlefront: Twilight Company, Lords of the Sith or Bloodline.

 

Bloodline is a solid pick for the adult, and Leia Princess of Alderaan or maybe something like Before the Awakening for the 11-year old.

 

If the 11 y.o. is familiar with the films I'd recommend the Leia of Alderaan novel. I'm adult and I thought it was pretty good. It's considered young adult.

 

Lost Stars is great, but let's not forget that it has mild profanity ("ass") and implied sex scenes. I mean, it's pretty tame and odds are the 11 year old has probably seen worse things on daytime TV, but you never know how strict parents are about that sort of thing.

I'd recommend Leia: Princess of Alderaan instead.

 

The Visual Dictionaries are good bets.

 

Ah! Aha! Thank you peeps! You're all awesome, braving the super-lagfest forum to answer something silly like this.

Zorkel567 -- Kenobi is an excellent idea! I wouldn't feel dumb recommending that to someone I don't know.

Before the Awekening actually is a good book for younger kids... I'll definitely suggest that too.

I've been on the line about Bloodline. I really liked it, and so did basically everyone here in Lit IIRC, but it had a lot of politics. I don't know what it would be like to be a normal person* and read it. Still, it's quite a page turner... I'll probably suggest that too. And maybe Lost Stars, although ironically not for the young adult.

BobaMatt -- I was thinking one of the big picture book/source books for the kid maybe. The TPM visual dictionary got me into the EU when I was a kid. If TLJ's is all cute porgs and stuff and not like, Hux and Phasma brutally slaughtering villagers, that might work.

*we all gave away or normal person badges when we signed up to this forum...

 

um

glove of darth vader

 

For your friend : Phasma

For the 11 year old: Ezra's Gamble

 

This one!

 

I think Stover's novelization of Revenge of the Sith is a fantastic choice for the adult. If you do consider them "serious," the psychology embedded in that, particularly from Mace Windu's POV, will really get them thinking.
Any of the junior novelizations for the kid.
Or any of the junior/YA novels from JTTFA (Smugglers Run and the like).

 

I concur with people on Leia Princess of Alderaan for the 11 year old. That or Before the Awakening since it ties into the current films wonderfully and has the three protagonists so if they dislike one they can move onto the others.

For the adult I say Tarkin since it is short, gives background to a known character from the films, and is not super heavy with EU details like Luceno's other work (I mean it is but knowing them is not necessary). The other big one I think is Phasma. It is so focused on one location and easy to follow (arguably to a point of being a bit dry in paces but maybe that's just me).

Also what's so bad about Hux and Phasma killing villagers? You trying to say something Barriss? Oh and some people still had their normal person badges when they joined the forum? Freaking casuals.

 

Wow "super-lagfest forum" was NOT an understatement

 

dp

 

What precisely is "srs"?

 

Shatterpoint has always worked well for me when I've recommended it to friends who like Star Wars movies and sci-fi books but have never read a Star Wars book.

 

Yeah, if the person is adult and familiar with SW then that is a pretty good book. It's probably too mature for teenage/young adult readers though.

 

y so srs

 

honestly I'd be obnoxious and get, like, Heirs to the Force or something similar for the 11 year old. Introduce em to the real Solo kids.

 

I mean, that's what I've been doing. The eBooks aren't that expensive, iirc, they're good books for kids who like star wars, and they're fun to read.

 

For the adult, I would recommend Luke Skywalker and the Shadow of Mindor. It's the type of Star Wars story that really could never be told as a movie.

For a younger gal, I would recommend either the first new Marvel TPB comic, Lost Stars, or any of the old Han Solo/Lando books.

 

I would recommend Leia: Princess of Alderaan for the 11-year old and Bloodline for the adult.

 

Before the Awakening, Tales from a Galaxy Far Far Away Vol. 1: Aliens and Tag and Bink are Dead trade.

Planet of the Hoojibs was a great hook for me as a kid too if you can find it!

 

Lol... right Al, right.

Thanks folks for all your responses! I told them your list of suggestions (not you loonies Al and Hav ) with some annotations, and they seemed psyched. I know they at least got Before the Awakening (the person buying the presents even ended up reading it and liked it! I might take advantage of this and lure them to our dark side of never-ending novels... muhaha). I think they're going to go with a few of them and see what happens.