Podcast review: https://whattheforce.ca/intro-to-the-high-republic-with-interview-of-charles-soule/

This add to the SW universe was amazing. I am looking forward to more from Justina in the High Republic,

I quickly loved the new characters in A Test of Courage. Their plights, fears, and interests are diverse and fit in the storyline. I had already read "Into the Dark," which was helpful but not necessary to understand some of the details in "A Test of Chourage."

I found it fast paced and a good length for this age group. The ending did feel a bit rushed, however. I would have liked to read a bit more.

I hope we get to see more of these characters!

3.5 stars

A Test of Courage, by Justina Ireland is the first book set in the High Republic era that I have read, and I sure did love it. This Junior Novel was a fine addition to the era, being that it brought forth some amazing characters, an amazing plot, and some great teases as to what is to come in the future.
The main characters include Vernestra Rwoh, the youngest Jedi Knight in history, Avon Starros, a young inventor who is the daughter of a diplomat, Padawan Imri, and Honesty, the son of a Dalnan ambassador. Each of these characters bring along a certain depth to story as their reaction to the situation is intriguing based on their youth. I believe that Vernestra brought a new fan favorite character of mine as her insight on the Jedi and her wisdom at such a young age, brings something that is not seen too much in Star Wars. As the children are often shown in the learning role.
Another aspect of the novel that I absolutely loved is the representation of grief and sorrow found within the children as they learn that they must continue to survive. Even though the novel is targeted to a Junior audience, it often feels more so like a Young Adult novel. The plot does not waste its time babying the reader into the story, but instead provides an enriched and solid story set within the High Republic era.
Overall, I absolutely adored this book, as I thought Justina Ireland provided a well-rounded story set within the High Republic. It is most definitely worth a read for younger reader or even adults. While it’s a rather straightforward tale, it’s a great way to become more involved in this brand-new era.

Arriving alongside the adult novel Light of the Jedi, Justina Ireland’s middle-grade novel A Test of Courage helps kick off and expand the nascent The High Republic era! Following one of the youngest Jedi Knights, Vernestra Rwoh, on what starts as a routine babysitting mission of a Senator’s tinkering daughter, Avon Starros, that quickly turns into a tricky survivalist story, A Test of Courage is an excellent read, as it makes the new era accessible to more readers, and despite a smaller focus, offers important details to help build out the larger picture.

I know a lot of people, including me before, look past a book if it has the moniker of middle-grade attached to it, but from the numerous ones I’ve read now, including two of Justina Ireland’s (Spark of the Resistance and this one), they often surprise with the depth of their content, feeling more like all-ages reader material since even as an adult it’s thoroughly engaging and complex, which is even better for the younger readers as it will challenge them and keep them engaged as well. A Test of Courage is one part of the much larger The High Republic initiative, a series of novels and comics charting a story set 200 years before the prequel films (The Phantom Menance), and despite its smaller focus, it still manages to capture the era and what’s all happening in the rest of the galaxy, meaning one wouldn’t be lost checking out other material if they hadn’t read Light of the Jedi as well. The aforementioned adult book does get a little grisly at parts, so a middle-age reader might not be suitable for it, but they won’t be left in the dark if they only read AToC; they do have the option of a young reader’s retelling of LotJ from Cavan Scott called The Great Jedi Rescue (out January 5), while the all-ages on-going series The High Republic Adventures from IDW (beginning February 21), will be a great place to let middle-age readers continue enjoying the era until the next middle grade novel comes out.

Now let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of what makes AToC such a great book! It all starts with the main pair of the book, Vernestra “Vern” Rwoh and Avon Starros, as while the remaining cast are great in their own ways too, these two form the core of novel and offer great interactions and unique viewpoints to the situation unfolding around them. For Vern, she’s the youngest Jedi to be Knighted in quite some time, so when she’s given the babysitting job over Avon on their trip to Starlight Beacon’s (a Republic and Jedi station built in the Outer Rim to bring the rest of the galaxy into the Republic’s fold) commencement ceremony, she’s obviously disappointed it’s her first assignment, but she’s not too prideful as to know it’s just as important as any job they could assign her. As things quickly fall apart, with their ship attacked (unbeknownst to them at first) by the Nihil, a group of marauders who instill fear across the Outer Rim as they please, disappearing and appearing seemingly at will, Vern steps up to the challenges ahead of them, doing her best to get their surviving group to work together to survive a hostile planet. She has her faults, but she’s willing to admit she needs to learn more, though having the Master Jedi who was along with them perish certainly causes her to put all her training, and recent Knighting, to the ultimate test. What I enjoyed most about her was seeing a very young Jedi Knight, on their own, dealing with their own deficiencies and giving it their best shot, especially with the trouble not being a big war or battle, but rather stuff like survival and keeping a Jedi Padawan from slipping into their anger over their Master’s death. It’s refreshing to have a younger, teenage character in a prominent role, as Vern still has much to learn, but how much she does know and can do on her own shows how the Jedi of The High Republic era differ from those in the prequel era, as they actually have the time to learn tons of skills, instead of being shipped off into a war, and are often in the field helping any and all types of problems, not just those of galactic importance. She’s calm, capable, and willing to learn still and how she stills with a problem child like Avon and later Imri shows how mature she is for her age, which makes the ending for her all the more interesting and important for her development.

Then there’s tinkerer extraordinaire Avon Starros, my favorite of the novel and maybe of the initiative so far (which is only two books at this point, but still!). I initially was excited for her character due to her being a distant relative of Sana Starros, the grudge-holding, no-nonsense bounty hunting ex of Doctor Chelli Aphra, and while the potential connections and story about how they go from a clan of Senators to bounty hunters has its first strokes painted here, Avon is memorable regardless of a familiar name. She’s a snarky, often getting into trouble as she attempts to solve her latest technological ideas, and angry at her mother for banishing her to the middle of nowhere, though how and why she’s stuck out in Port Haileap is an important character reveal of its own. One of the biggest reasons Avon stuck out so much was Ireland’s writing of her point-of-view, as it feels like the mind of an inventor, a scientific mind, as she always considers things as a problem that needs a solution, and no matter the problem, she’s always eager to understand how to deal with it; it's an excellent way to differentiate the POVs and is easily the strongest, most unique one in the book. Her antics are intriguing throughout, like how she’s adjusted J-6’s programming, her bodyguard nanny droid, which leads to tons of humor, while her obsession with something that she finally gets her hands on by the end has a very big potential connection to the stories we already know; in fact, both of these above tinkerings could be fodder for bigger stories/connections later in the initiative and will likely tie into what happens to the larger Starros clan (check out the spoiler section below where I dive a lot more into those implications!). In the end, Ireland infuses Avon with tons of infectious humor throughout, especially with her matter-of-fact thinking and talking, even when dealing with the feelings of others, and she should be a favorite for many, I imagine.

Joining Vern and Avon on their adventure to a dangerous moon, after surviving the destruction of their ship headed to Starlight Beacon, are Jedi Padawan Imri Cantaros and the Dalnan Ambassador’s son, Honesty Weft. Both lose their parental figures in the ship’s destruction, Imri his Jedi Master Douglas and Honesty his father, the Dalnan Ambassador, a planet considering whether or not to join the Republic. Ireland handles their emotional responses to the losses rather well, giving their teenage reactions more depth than one would expect beyond simple words and feelings, and how they feed into each other's reactions leads to some surprising and compelling moments in the story. This is the Jedi Order at its height and it seems not many or any have fallen to the dark side in some time, so Imri's slowly building rage and anger, and if Vern can stop it before it gets to far, is a nice change of pace for brushes with the dark side, as it's not an intended consequence someone set in motion, but just a young Jedi's struggle and Vern's willingness to listen and help.

Due to the smaller focus, we only meet 3 or so operatives of the Nihil, the marauders caught up in the Republic’s expansion into the Outer Rim and the Jedi/Republic response to the Legacy Run disaster. Even when we do have time with the two Nihil involved, Klinith and Gwishi, with the destruction of the ship Vern and Co. are on, it’s a little too short to get the depth of their plans or ideas, though when our heroes find them trapped on the same moon with them, the conversation they overhear between the two Nihil helps flesh out the villains of the era a bit for younger readers who won’t be reading LotJ. It’s a good amount, but it felt like we could’ve had more, though the conflicts that arise for our main crew were ultimately more important so I understand the focus being there. The burden to explore the Nihil in totality isn’t on AToC, though the epilogue handily establishes their larger threat, so in the end we get enough to give any age reader a better understanding of their capabilities and the hardships ahead for the galaxy. As I mentioned in my Light of the Jedi review, there has been concern regarding the Nihil’s seemingly non-human only membership and the implications of having the “other” of the galaxy being the only face of the enemy, but both LotJ and AToC include human members, with one featured in AToC’s Nihil presence. The galaxy doesn’t seem to be concerned about the make-up of the group, rather its actions, but having so few humans at this point means this development will be one to watch, though how the authors present the Nihil so far, including humans within their numbers, has helped alleviate some of those concerns.

A really neat addition to AToC are the illustrations by Petur Antonsson, who also provides the book's cover. The drawings are simple in what they depict, but the clean, comic style are a delight to the eyes. My favorite one is the final one, which I can't get into due to spoilers, while I also really liked Antonsson's take on Vern's lightwhip.* I really hope he returns in the following middle-grade novels, but if you plan on checking out young reader's The Great Jedi Rescue, you'll get more of his work!

The High Republic – A Test of Courage, written by Justina Ireland, is another fantastic option for readers to explore the new era, as it both stands alone from Light of the Jedi and covers enough of the larger story for readers to grasp what’s going on in the era, while its quick but exciting adventure, excellent new characters in the likes of Avon Starros and Vernestra Rwoh, and character explorations make for an excellent read for fans of all ages.

A great introduction to the Star Wars Universe for those new, and a welcome home for those who are longtime fans of the series. The four main characters are engaging and respond to their circumstances in their own unique ways. This being set long before the Skywalker Saga, I was able to pinpoint some hints at what comes later on, and there were plenty of easter eggs to locate.

The Star Wars universe has always been my comfort place. On sick days I love to put on any one of the movies no matter how many times I’ve seen it. Naturally then, my comfort reads tend to also be from Star Wars titles because nothing can help you forget about the craziness of real life faster than a trip to a galaxy far, far away.


2021 is bringing a new aspect of that galaxy to life, taking us even further back than ‘a long time ago.’ Geared towards a variety of age groups and type of reader, the books and comics of Star Wars The High Republic will take readers back in time 200 years before the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace when the Republic is at its height and the Jedi truly are defenders of peace and justice in the galaxy.


One of the first books to be released (on the same day as Charles Soule’s Light of the Jedi) is Justina Ireland’s middle grades novel, Star Wars the High Republic: A Test of Courage. I was lucky enough to read a galley-proof of the book, which I can FINALLY share a review of. A Test of Courage introduces us to Vernestra Rwoh, the Jedi order’s youngest knight, who has been assigned to keep an eye on the precocious daughter of a Republic senator, Avon Starros. The name might ring bells for readers of the 2015 Star Wars comics, which introduced the character Sanna Starros, who first introduces herself as Han Solo’s wife (it’s a long story).


Vernestra and Avon, along with her nanny droid, J-6, and members of a foreign delegation depart on what can only be described as a luxury space cruise ship, the Steady Wing, to attend the dedication of Starlight Beacon – a waystation at the outer edges of Republic space, meant to help expand their reach into the frontier with a goal of a more united galaxy. Catastrophe strikes the Steady Wing soon after departure, but not before we are introduced to a young Padawan named Imri and a member of a noble family, a boy named Honesty. In the aftermath of the disaster, Vernestra, Avon, Imri, Honesty, and J-6 must make their way back to civilization, if they can survive long enough.
The story is a little bit on the predictable side, but nonetheless enjoyable. It introduces some new technology in the Star Wars universe and is anchored by relatable characters. The dynamic and relationships between each of the kids are well-written, and Ireland did a great job writing dialogue between them that captures the seriousness of the situation while still making it engaging and fun for young readers.
I enjoyed the young Jedi introduced in this book and would love to see more of Avon in the future, but J-6 was a surprising favorite of mine. I don’t tend to gravitate towards protocol droids, but let’s just say that Avon has been doing some tampering with her personality matrix that I very much approve of. It seems like every time a new

Star Wars story comes out, I say that I have a new favorite droid, but J-6 takes some of the best aspects of our recent favorites and puts them together into a sassy baby-sitting machine.


Prior to the release of The Rise of Skywalker, I read another of the author’s entries into the canon universe, Spark of Resistance. While these may be “kid’s books,” I enjoyed the writing and characterizations, so of course upon hearing of her involvement in The High Republic, I was excited to see what Justina Ireland would do with a new time period and characters within the universe and I was not at all disappointed by the result. I look forward to seeing more from Ireland and her characters after finishing this book and can’t wait to share it with my own Younglings.

Publisher : Disney Lucasfilm Press (January 5, 2021)
Language: : English
Hardcover : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1368057306
ISBN-13 : 978-1368057301
Reading age : 8 – 12 years
Grade level : 3 – 7

Disclaimer: This review was written based on an uncorrected proof provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The High Republic continues with an all-new adventure, A Test of Courage—set during the events of Light of the Jedi. The second book of the new era of Star Wars storytelling introduces the readers to an unexpected ensemble of new characters who face the ultimate test of courage as they must work together to survive the dangers of a jungle moon.

Author Justina Ireland delivers one of the most compelling stories of the new era, and even though A Test of Courage is on a much smaller scale compared to the wide and epic one of Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule, the survival adventure feels more personal. For younger readers, this book will especially give the opportunity to identify themselves with each character—from the freshly-knighted Jedi Vernestra Rwoh to the young Padawan Imri, from the tech-savvy kid Avon Starros to the son of a Dalnan ambassador Honesty. And obviously, to accompany them on their journey is J-6, a protocol droid, or to be precise a modified version of one to serve Avon as a nanny and warden.

Although this book is targeted for kids of ages 8 through 12, A Test of Courage is a fun adventure for everyone. However, the tale is not a lighthearted one, but more of a series of emotional and physical challenges full of hidden life lessons—from dealing with loss, fear, and anger to conquering self-doubt and most importantly opening up to diversity. Ireland does an amazing job at character development, giving each one not just a solid background but also memorable personalities.

The dangers of the jungle moon are many, but how A Test of Courage earns its title is the final challenge the team must face—the Nihil. Once again, this book features the new villains of The High Republic. Their presence is not as heavy as it is in Light of the Jedi, but their actions unlock a chain reaction that will put some of the adventurer’s beliefs to the test and lure them into the shadows of the dark side.

A Test of Courage is yet another amazing story set in the new era of Star Wars, and although Light of the Jedi is a recommended prerequisite, Ireland’s novel can be read as a standalone adventure. Are you ready to get stranded on a treacherous jungle moon and survive its many dangers? Then make sure to get your own copy of The High Republic: A Test of Courage today and let us know your thoughts about this daring adventure.

We are all the Republic.

Wonderful worldbuilding of a new era in Star Wars, with high stakes and surprising emotion. Recommended for young Star Wars fans who can't get enough of the Jedi.

Vernestra Rwoh is a 16 year-old Jedi Knight, one of the youngest to ever pass the trials. Avon Starros is a few years younger than Venestra, the daughter of Senator Ghirra Starros, and an avid scientist and inventor. J-6 is a protocol droid assigned to Avon; her roles also include warrior and nanny; Avon has modified her programming somewhat, and the changes are ongoing. Honesty Weft is a 12 year-old boy, son of the Dalnan ambassador, and unhappy about the interruption of the expected sequence of events this trip is having on his life. Imri Cantaros is a 14 year-old Padawan learner, accompanying his Master, Douglas, on a diplomatic journey. All of them are traveling to Starlight Beacon, to see if the Dalnans choose to join the Republic on the interstellar luxury ship Steady Wing. They all meet aboard the ship, at a diplomatic meal intended to welcome the Dalnan delegation - until disaster strikes. The ship begins to explode, the result - unknown to any of the passengers or crew - due to sabotage by a group calling itself the Nihil. In the course of the ship's breakup, the teens, along with the droid J-9, are separated from the adults while trying to teach escape pods, and in desperation, board a maintenance shuttle. The novel then follows events as they try to find a safe haven on which to land, and from which to return to Port Haileap, or, really, anywhere safe.

This novel deals with many themes that impact teens - family, loss, grief, coming of age, doubt, emotional control, and learning one's strengths, weaknesses, and limitations - as they deal with the situation into which they are thrust. Join them as they help one another through their experiences.

A galaxy at peace… starts the opening crawl of the second novel in Lucasfilm Publishing’s newest multi-media initiative The High Republic. 

A Test of Courage is written by New York Times best-selling author Justina Ireland and is aimed towards young readers between the ages of 8 and 12. While the book may be aimed towards a younger demographic, it’s a perfect book for all readers. 

In a lot of ways, the story reminded me of “The Gathering,” an episode from the fifth season of The Clone Wars. Through external and internal exploration, young characters learn important lessons and grow under duress. But A Test of Courage is set 200 years before the events of The Clone Wars and Ireland brings to life a new cast of endearing characters. 

Sixteen-year-old Vernestra Rwoh, a Mirialan Jedi Knight, unexpectedly becomes the guardian of a ragtag bunch of children after a disastrous calamity. Those children include; Avon Starros, the eleven-year-old daughter of a senator and her snarky J-6 protocol droid; Honesty Weft, the eleven-year-old son of a Dalnan ambassador; and Imri, a fourteen-year-old Jedi Padawan. 

The book opens with a Nihil-centered prologue as Klinith Da and Gwishi sabotage the High Republic luxury liner, Steady Wing in an attempt to prevent an alliance between the Republic and the Dalnan ambassador. Following the events of Light of the Jedi, it is quite clear that the Nihil are determined to sabotage the Republic’s attempts at spreading into the Outer Rim. While the Nihil may be marauding pirates, I can’t help but sympathize with their distaste for the High Republic assuming they can come into the sector and start patrolling it. Maybe their motives aren’t pure, but two books into The High Republic and I’m really liking the Nihil. 

Ireland is truly talented at bringing the characters to life and taking them through a full emotional journey over the course of the book. Oftentimes books geared towards young readers will brush over tragedy, but not A Test of Courage. Imri and Honesty both suffer crushing losses and they’re allowed to cry, emote, and express that grief through anger and frustration. Each child is so drastically different, it was extremely satisfying to see how they came together and for each other as they dealt with situations so much bigger than themselves. 

I think that is why A Test of Courage reminded me of The Clone Wars. The novel is filled with poignant, thought-provoking lessons that are perfect for not just young readers, but all readers that turn to Star Wars for important life lessons. Through the experiences of the children, we learn more about the Jedi, the origin of the Sith and the dark side, and gain further understanding of the world at large in the Star Wars universe. 

If you have read any of my previous reviews, you will know that I am a huge fan of worldbuilding when it comes to Star Wars, which is why A Test of Courage ticks all of the boxes for me. 

I was particularly fond of three lines in the book that tie The High Republic to more recent Star Wars content. Pasaana, which was first introduced in The Rise of Skywalker, is referenced in connection to the apparent sand ghosts residing on the planet; Batuu, which is connected to not only the Sequel Trilogy but the Disney Theme Parks is briefly mentioned in relation to Batuu knots; and there was a brilliant inclusion of joppa stew, a delicacy (as long as you’re not Avon) from Mon Cala. 

The only downside to A Test of Courage was that the book was not nearly long enough. I wanted to stay with these characters longer. I’m looking forward to seeing these characters return as the stories are drawn together. Justina Ireland has crafted a book that is perfectly suited in the hands of a youngling or a sage Jedi Master. It’s a satisfying tale brimming with heart, friendship, and masterfully dealt world-building and Star Wars mythology. 

Get your copy of A Test of Courage ahead of the January 5th unveiling of Star Wars: The High Republic.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve been reading Star Wars books over two decades at this point-beginning with an Amidala book from episode one in middle school. I enjoyed this book set hundreds of years before any of the characters I am familiar with. It’s middle grade, so nothing too dire, but people do die and get force choked.

Justina Ireland's latest Star Wars book is filled with a fun adventure centered on a group of young travelers stranded on an unfamiliar world. Each of them is challenged in ways befitting the age range targeted for this book. While some heavier themes are explored, A Test of Courage is a good look at how events outside their control can shape young people struggling to find their place in a larger society. Ms. Ireland wonderfully captures the differences of each of our heroes as they face this daunting challenge, but still manages to balance the weightier issues with levity and some fun , but albeit, quick action scenes. A Test of Courage fits in well with the larger High Republic initiative while equally standing well as its own separate story. Younger readers will enjoy the familiarity of the young protagonists and fans of the Star Wars galaxy will have no problem getting lost in this book as I have. Recommended.

I think this novel will land extremely powerfully and compellingly with the young reading audience at whom it's targeted. I read it in part to see if it's appropriate for the 10 year old Star Wars fan in the house, and I gladly report that we'll be passing it her way. I read it in part to see what it might offer the adult fan in the house--after all, sometimes the young reader novels in the franchise contain lots of moments that connect with adult readers. The ethical qualms and emotional challenges that drive this narrative felt much more geared to tween and teen readers, distinct from the new Claudia Gray High Republic book that should ping a wide band of readers.

I was really impressed with this young reader adventure in the new realm of Star Wars:The High Republic! Ireland explores coming of age in a galaxy far, far away while introducing the reader to a crew of new characters they are bound to love. Highly recommended.

Great book for young readers to tie into the High Republic storyline. It mentions things going on in the wider event, so it feels connected, but does you won't be lost if you haven't read the other two launch titles for High Republic.

A Test of Courage is Justina Ireland's junior-grade entry into the High Republic, following Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh and others as they find themselves stranded on a dangerous jungle moon. Spending time on the moon together tests the tenacity of Vernestra and the other members of their diverse group, as they attempt to survive and find a way off the moon.

While being promoted as a novel aimed for younger viewers, I found the themes and main story to be surprisingly heavy. Grief is a strong theme that carries throughout the book, and was by far the most interesting aspect to read about. How are Jedi supposed to react when hit with a large amount of emotions? Should Jedi openly express grief, even if it is against the Jedi code? What happens when you try and bury your emotions as a Jedi? These questions are explored in depth within the novel, which I found fascinating.

The story is fairly self-contained, but for good reason. With Into the Dark, the setting drives what the characters experience and where they go. In contrast, the story in A Test of Courage focuses largely on how characters feel and the interactions between each other.

A Test of Courage lives up to its name in many ways. In a difficult situation, the Jedi are pushed to the brink while also dealing with their own fears and internal conflicts. There's not much more to say; with Into the Dark and this novel being self-contained, I'm hoping that Light of the Jedi is the sweeping epic that brings all the stories together.

A test of courage is a Jr novel that centers around a padawan, 2 non force sensitive humans, a fresh Jedi Knight, and a modified nanny/body guard droid. When disaster strikes, this crew is stranded on an unfamiliar planet but soon realize that being stranded is the least of their worries. This book goes over what it truly means to be a Jedi, how to handle emotions like grief and fear. Most importantly, it reminds us that mistakes happen, but it's what we do after that matters the most.

A Test of Courage is the perfect introduction to the High Republic for younger audiences, displaying its ability to stand alone, while also providing an enhanced introduction to the era for older audiences who’ve read Light of the Jedi. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I love the characters introduced! There’s a good amount of foreshadowing to potential future obstacles for the Jedi in this era as well as nods to things that come to fruition in the future; this could be a cool introduction to the rise of certain technologies becoming exploited in the eras of Star Wars we’re familiar with if the opportunity is taken. To me, I felt like this story slightly tapped into more of the spiritual side of the Force and the Jedi’s relationship with it, and this is the kind of stuff I love and have wanted to see more of. As much as it’s a good read for any younglings in your life, it’s a fun read for all ages and I can’t sing enough praise for this book.

A much longer time ago than Star Wars fans may be used to but still in a galaxy far far away, Star Wars: The High Republic: A Test of Courage is one of the first publications in phase one of The High Republic multimedia production. Published by Disney Lucasfilm Press, A Test of Courage is written by New York Times best-selling author Justina Ireland with illustrations by Petur Antonsson. Ireland, who is no stranger to the world of Star Wars novelizations with her work on Lando’s Luck and Spark of the Resistance, brings fans a story marketed toward a middle-school-aged audience. Despite the younger audience focus, A Test of Courage is suitable for fans of all ages as the story follows a young Jedi Knight and a ragtag bunch of children following a great tragedy.

Set 200 years before the events of The Skywalker Saga, A Test of Courage opens with a prologue featuring two Nihil pirates plotting to destory the Steady Wing, a High Republic luxury liner. The Nihil are been the main villain for the High Republic and Jedi during this time period. Ireland wastes no time in letting readers know that these are not moral people. Klinith Da, a human woman, and Gwishi, a male Aqualish, disguise themselves to board the High Republic vessel bound for the dedication of the Starlight Beacon, a station designed to bring security to Outer Rim. Given the marauding nature of the Nihil, it is clear that the group does not want any more systems joining the Republic. The Nihil aim to spread fear throughout the region by planting explosives on a starship filled with high profile individuals.

Following the prologue, readers are introduced to one of those individuals, Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh. Vernestra passed her trials at only fifteen years old, which is very young even for Jedi in The Skywalker Saga era. The sixteen-year-old Mirialan first charge as a Jedi Knight is to supervise eleven-year-old Avon Starros. Daughter of a High Republic senator, Avon springs into the story as a rambunctious inventor who is clearly fond of getting into trouble with her tinkering and love of science. Avon is also accompanied by J-6, a repurposed bodyguard droid that serves as Avon’s nanny. Through some tinkering on the part of Avon, J-6 has some slight self-actualization, making her the perfect snarky protocol droid for someone as mischievous as Avon. Other main characters are introduced as the chapters progress that round out the ragtag bunch of characters on who A Test of Courage will focus.

Then there is Honesty Weft, a son of a Dalnan ambassador who is not happy to be on the trip to the dedication of the Starlight Beacon. The eleven-year-old would much rather be completing trials of his own as he hopes to pursue a career in the military. The people of Dalna rarely leave their homeworld and with the recent tragedies with ships exploding in hyperspace, Honesty is not eager to go on this adventure with his ambassador father. All of the characters in A Test of Courage are unique. What starts off as troupey characterizations—the straight and narrow one, the unruly one, the shy one, and the uncertain one—quickly gives way to interesting character dynamics later in the novel.

A Test of Courage truly begins as the Wefts, Vernestra, Avon, J-6, and other ambassadors that may possibly join the Republic are joined by Jedi Master Douglas and his padawan Imri for dinner on the Steady Wing. Imri, only a couple of years younger than Vernestra, does not have the talent of the young Mirialan Jedi Knight. But, he has Force abilities that become integral to the story. Even as a padawan, Imri seems to have an uncanny sense of perception that extends past just sensing general emotions. While we have seen different uses of the Force in other media like The Mandalorian and The Sequel Trilogy, it’s much different to read what the Jedi are experiencing during their Force usage. It adds an extra level of mystique while still explaining what it truly means to reach out with the Force.

Given the demographic of A Test of Courage, there is not a whole lot of exposition on the state of the galaxy at this time. However, it’s clear that the Nihil is a force to be reckoned with. Even with the younger audience as its demographic, author Ireland does not shy away from the kind of ruthlessness the Nihil are capable of. The marauders certainly stay true to their nature from the get-go with no real care for innocent lives. There are hints of a hierarchy that makes the Nihil we meet in A Test of Courage look like mere pawns in a much larger scheme despite the duo’s ability to destroy a High Republic spacecraft. I immediately want to know more about the threat they pose to the Jedi and the galaxy at large.

The Nihil plot appears to be successful. Vernestra, Avon, J-6, Honesty, and Imri are able to limp away in a maintenance shuttle right before from the Steady Fast explodes. Honesty’s father, Master Douglas, the other ambassadors, and all the of the crew are gone. This is where A Test of Courage begins to shine.

At only sixteen, Vernestra is the oldest of the children and must assume the role of the leader in a dire situation after the destruction of the Steady Wing. The shuttle the group escaped in is damaged. With no way to communicate, no usable hyperdrive, limited supplies, and no life signs anywhere in the area, the children are stranded and alone. Yet, despite their age, the group is far from helpless. Avon is very smart and approaches all situations with a problem-solving mentality. Imri, despite losing his master, is still a capable wielder of the Force. Honesty, despite losing his father, is trained in types of survival that not even the two Jedi can boast. And of course, they are rounded out with J-6 who doesn’t provide much comfort given her personality but is still a wealth of knowledge in her databanks. Together, the group must find their way to safety.

The rest of A Test of Courage follows the group’s attempts to be rescued and uncover the plot behind the destruction of the Steady Wing. Each chapter follows the perspective of each one main character, given the reader a deeper insight into how they are handling the situation set before them. I can certainly see many young readers seeing themselves in the characters in A Test of Courage. Further, I was surprised how deeply Ireland covered the emotions the children are feeling given the demographic of the novel. Avon dealing with being sent away from her family. Honesty losing his father and the regret that comes with his interactions before his father died. And there is Imri losing his master as a young padawan and the feelings of loss, which Star Wars fans know is never a good sign. To get through this ordeal, the children have to come together despite their differing personalities and approaches to life.

Even though the novel is aimed at a much younger audience than I am apart of, A Test of Courage is deep. Through much of A Test of Courage, each one of the main characters reflects back on the teachings of their elders and the ones they have lost. The children use these teachings to reconcile with their situation and move forward. I even highlighted in my book many of the sayings that Ireland provides because they are thought-provoking and useful. A Test of Courage quickly turns from just a Star Wars novel into one that teaches valuable lessons. This novel would be a great way for younger readers to learn lessons, from dealing with grief to problem-solving in difficult situations, to working with others who are different than you.

For older fans, there is plenty to get out of A Test of Courage. There is insight to be gained for how different the galaxy is 200 years before fans see it in The Phantom Menance. The Outer Rim is more unruly than ever. The understanding of the Force and its uses are detailed nicely. The weapons that the Jedi use in the novel are not what we are used to. Hyperspace travel is not as easy and we see why. We see how ruthless the Nihil can be even in a children’s novel. There were many times where my eyes widened at the nuggets that are dropped throughout. I am more excited than ever for The High Republic and it only took a novel written for middle schoolers to get me there.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book!

It was...fine. It's about a group of kids, including a Jedi Knight, a padawan, and two other kids who escape from their exploding ship and land on a nearby moon. They figure out who blew up their ship (not a spoiler since the prologue sets up who blows up the ship explicitly) and it all ties up well. Most of the book is spent talking about the various characters' feelings about what happened to them and about their relationships with people who were aboard the exploded ship. In other words, nothing much happens in the book, and the characters aren't interesting enough for me to care particularly about all of their angst.

This is yet another very mediocre Disney Star Wars book. With each new series, I keep thinking that something mindblowing is going to happen, and it never does. The High Republic doesn't excite me in the way that the non-Disney canon Old Republic did, and I feel like Disney just can't manage to make a Star Wars book with new characters that I really care about. The writing style in this book was good, since Justina Ireland is a good writer, but good writing is not enough to make a book interesting. Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me.