Race to Crashpoint Tower is a fantastic addition to the Star Wars: The High Republic world! I loved this fun adventure, and I can't wait for more!

Jedi Ram Jomaram discovers a secret plot in the lead up to the illustrious and galaxy-spanning Republic Fair! As he races to solve the latest problem, other Jedi discover an even deeper threat. Read Chris's review of Race to Crashpoint Tower!

If you're anything like me, you might not know what exactly to expect from this book. From the sample chapter, and from my desire to not read excerpts out of context, I only expected this book to follow the adventures of young Jedi Ram Jomaram, a mechanic on Valo. Well, Ram and his alien sidekicks and his droid, at least. Turns out, the book has a lot more going for it than that, including a starring role for some other fun Jedi!

In terms of Ram alone, I found him to be a lot of fun. He's a unique type of Jedi - one that we're seeing more of in the era - in that his focus as a Jedi is not on adventures or on fighting. Instead, Ram is a mechanic who would prefer to spend most of his time in his garage, fixing things instead of taking things apart. He also carries the moral lesson of the book when duty calls and he's forced into the field to stop the Nihil's machinations in a different part of the Republic Fair.

He's joined by a side cast that really makes this type of book a young readers book with V-18 and the Bonbraks. V-18 is an obstinate droid, somewhere in the middle of C-3PO's worst tendencies toward protocol and HK's lip. The Bonbraks are a fun little species of sentient mechanics who also join in the fun, their humor a bit more slapstick than the rest of the book. Thankfully, Older knows when to put some characters in the lead and move some to the side when the tone calls for it. This is one of my biggest concern with the books for a younger audience, where comic relief characters serve as distractions from the growing action and sometimes throw off the tone. (Trust me - the tone of the climax is extraordinarily dark, and even in a younger readers' book, Older respects this.)

But maybe more excitingly, sorry Ram, is the second group of characters that join him, as revealed by the excerpts: Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala from The High Republic: Adventures with Vernestra Rwoh from the first wave! These characters do, as you might imagine, completely steal the show. It might be that Older is the author of the IDW series, so we see the continuity for the characters from the comic series carry into this book, coupled with the fact that they get some of the more interesting stories in the book. For example, a conversation between Lula and Vern at about the half-way point will probably be one of the highlights of this wave, if not of the entire series. I think Older knows that these are the characters we already know, rightfully spending more time developing them than Ram. (Though I can't wait to see Ram again!)

The characters make this book worthwhile as is. This is good, because I had a bit of a hard time connecting with the story. The biggest reason? We start right at the beginning of Ram's story, so all that we know of him is learned "on the field", so to speak. It's also clearly heavily dependent on The Rising Storm, to an extent that I'd say the novel is required reading before this book. Lula and Zeen's story follows up on the comic series, but that story is dropped when the events at Valo start to explode. Literally. This, in my mind, makes the book a perfect companion book to The Rising Storm, but hard to sell as a standalone novel.

One minor thing, in a way, that I want to highlight with this novel is how great it is to have illustrations. A purely non-film/TV driven series is in need of visual depictions, and I was happy to see illustrations of the Jedi, Veen, and some of the wild animals that we meet in the story. (As a friend showed me the illustration of the [hydra elephant], which I so wish I had before reading the books! It is a spoiler, though, so don't open right to it!)

All in all, as a companion to The Rising Storm, Race to Crashpoint Tower is a fun side adventure, one that comes strongly recommended. If anything else, you get to spend some time with wonderful characters like Ram, Lula, Zeen, and Vernestra.

(Review will be posted at mynockmanor.com, and linked on both chriswerms.wordpress.com and emailed from my newsletter at chriswerms.substack.com, on 6/29)

Welcome back to a Galaxy Far, Far Away. The Star Wars universe has been teeming with new tales as the High Republic era finds its footing across a vast collection of storytelling mediums. The High Republic, set about 200 years before the Skywalker Saga, is a generally peaceful moment in time. The Galaxy we’re familiar with later in the Star Wars timeline is less settled at this point, but the Republic & the Jedi are committed to peace; even in the unchecked Outer Rim.

Race to Crashpoint Tower is a Junior novel whose events proceed plot points established in the previously published adult novel, Light of the Jedi, and includes characters and plot from The High Republic Adventures comics. This is starting to sound a little complicated, however, the masterminds behind the High Republic era are generous with exposition. While much needed to be explained in Race to Crashpoint Tower to make sure the reader had the most up-to-date information, it never felt too heavy-handed or redundant.

This fast-paced, character-driven adventure opens on the planet Valo, where a giant festival is set to begin. We meet Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram in his favorite place; the garage. There’s nothing Ram loves more than using The Force to take something apart and put it back together again. He’s elbow deep in ripping apart a speeder when droid V-18 interrupts him. The security alarm on Crashpoint Peak has been tripped, and V-18 can’t find anyone else to help investigate. Ram’s not sure if the security breach is an error, or the work of the Nihil, the resident baddies of the High Republic era. This investigation gets the story moving, and Ram, V-18, and a few friends from past High Republic works, have to band together to not only protect the peace of the festival, but the whole planet of Valo.

While I am not the intended age demographic for Race to Crashpoint Tower, I found the characters and story to be interesting and engaging regardless. Any Star Wars fan and High Republic reader will find something to enjoy in this compact (compared to the adult novels) adventure. Race to Crashpoint Tower is set for release on June 29th, 2021, the same day as the second adult novel, The Rising Storm debuts. Both books will feature events that overlap in The High Republic timeline. Don’t worry, GateCrashers has you covered; you can read our spoiler-free review of The Rising Storm here. And with that, my fellow Star Wars-lover, remember to board your nearest Jedi Vector ship on June 29th and make the jump to your local bookstore to purchase both of these new High Republic novels.

The second wave of The High Republic books continues with Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel José Older—an amazing adventure featuring Padawan Ram Jomaram on a race to restore Valo’s communications tower during a frightening attack by the Nihil during the Republic Fair. Along this challenging journey, Ram is joined by his trusty droid V-18, a pair of adorable Bonbraks, and the two protagonists from The High Republic Adventures comic series: Lula Talisola and Zeen Mrala.

Author Daniel José Older truly knows how to write fun Star Wars stories—especially when targeted for kids. Each character in Race to Crashpoint Tower is beautifully portrayed in all their youthness—from the need to achieve self confidence to the worries of attachment that is frowned upon among the Jedi. Ram Jomaram is not the typical Padawan; his connection to the Force is with machines more so than organics. That is why he would rather spend time in a dingy garage filled with mechanical parts and tools than out there socializing with the galaxy. It is an interesting take on a Jedi character, which is very reminiscent of young Anakin Skywalker during his childhood as a slave on Tatooine. But just like any classic adventure, Ram takes on a journey a-la Bilbo Baggins to Crashpoint Tower—stepping outside his comfort zone and soon realizing that he has more skills than he realizes besides his connection to mechanical things. On the other side of the story, Race to Crashpoint Tower provides a nice link to The High Republic Adventures (also written by Older), continuing Lula Talisola’s character development and her constant desire to becoming the best Jedi ever—often comparing herself with newly knighted Vernestra Rwoh, who in the book joins forces with the Padawan.

Race to Crashpoint Tower takes place during the events of The Rising Storm, almost perfectly overlapping with the novel by Cavan Scott during the first two parts. However, the final act is where the book really shines, representing the actual race to the tower—leading to jaw dropping and unexpected turn of events, with an unconventional alliance that will blow the readers minds.

Just like A Test of Courage, Race to Crashpoint Tower features art by Petur Antonsson—from the exciting cover featuring Ram Jomaram and Lula Talisola riding V-18 to three art pieces inside, depicting some of the crucial action scenes within the story. The artwork truly helps bring the story to life, stimulating the readers’ imagination—which is especially important since this all-new era of Star Wars does not have as big a visual presence as the movies and TV shows (yet).

Race to Crashpoint Tower is an exciting and fun new adventure within The High Republic era of Star Wars. If you have read The Rising Storm, then this book will be a nice transition into a much more lighthearted tale (keep an eye for those hilarious Jedi mind trick moments), and while the adult novel is a recommended prerequisite (if the reader is old enough), Older’s kids book is perfectly enjoyable on its own. Grab a copy today and let us know your thoughts about the book on our social media outlets!

At the heart of every Star Wars story is a child.

Perhaps not literally, in terms of a character's age. But Star Wars, from its earliest beginnings, was always meant to appeal to younger audiences. Of COURSE those of us all-too-quickly approaching their 30s (hehh) can enjoy them. Just because they were created with the younger in mind doesn't mean they can't appeal to the masses.

What I found most intriguing about Daniel José Older's RACE TO CRASHPOINT TOWER was its focus on children. The main characters, the target audience, yes. But it's not often in the grand scheme of canon titles that we get to see war through a child's eyes. (There are exceptions, but we're talking major titles here.)

As with A TEST OF COURAGE, the middle-grade High Republic novel released with the first wave of stories, RACE TO CRASHPOINT TOWER, is quick, fast-paced, and fairly simple in structure. That doesn't take away from its brilliantly crafted characters and absolutely delightful dialogue ("well-informed meats" is my go-to out-of-context quote for this one).

Older has proved his expertise in Star Wars storytelling mostly through comics up to this point, but judging by this book ... we're going to need more prose from the mastermind behind Buckets of Blood.

While aimed at slightly younger audiences, it's worth a quick Saturday afternoon read if you want an entertaining companion to THE RISING STORM.

This book was a lot of fun and will be a great fit for the YA genre for Star Wars lovers. The storyline was simple, yet had many of the new characters from the new focus. Definitely recommend.

This was a quick, easy, and generally entertaining book. As a standalone book, it was fairly good; as a book in written the Star Wars universe it was somewhat lacking, in terms of connecting to the details of the genre. One of the Jedi masters has more than one Padawan and is also training a Force practitioner who was too old at the discovery of her ability to be officially trained; these are things that just don't happen in the Star Wars canon, and are therefore somewhat disconcerting to those looking for books that fit the existing parameters. These issues aside, if you are not a stickler for details of the genre, this is a nice read. As with several other books published recently, this book is part of The High Republic subset, dealing with the attempts by the NIhil to overthrow the Republic by destroying hyperspace; as with all of the novels in this collection that I have read, this one has major characters who are all Padawan learners or very recently promoted Jedi Knights, which makes the stories more accessible and interesting to younger readers. Recommended for younger readers and those who don't mind canon inconsistencies.

Set roughly a year after the Hetzal Prime disaster, as seen in Light of the Jedi, the galaxy is still reeling from the aftermath of those tragic events. In the spirit of unity and with a show of strength a Republic Fair is hosted on the unassuming and picturesque world of Valo. Elsewhere on the planet the grease stained and sheltered mechanic Padawan Ram Jomaram investigates reports a faulty comm tower. What he finds there will change his world, and the galaxy at large, forever.

DJO has created his own little series within the High Republic and while admirable, I feel is a detriment to this story. It's reliant on you having read both DJO's High Republic Adventures comic series and the upcoming (and incredible) The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott to really follow and fully enjoy the story being told here. if you aren't familiar with the characters of Lula and Zeen then you may find their story a little perplexing and struggle to become invested in what happens to them, especially Zeen who only really shows up for the endgame, seemingly out of nowhere, having earned none of the spotlight given.

The coordination between this and The Rising Storm is ambitious and really adds another level to the enjoyment and immersion. The Republic Fair is a breathtaking and dynamic setting that I could happily continue reading multiple overlapping POV's of. Seeing familiar events from Rams endearing perspective was a joy. I only wish they'd kept the focus more on him as he's a great character. Lula gets some great ass kicking moments but ultimately feels more at home in her comic series.

"Race to..." Is ultimately an enjoyable little adventure that sometimes feels like supplementary material to other, superior stories. I would happily read more stories set during the Republic Fair as imo its the most captivating event in Star Wars since the Battle of Endor.

Star Wars: Race to Crashpoint Tower was written by New York Times Bestselling Author, Daniel Jose Older. Older is also writing the Star Wars Adventures High Republic series.

Summary: The Republic is getting ready to celebrate its accomplishments on the planet Valo, at the Republic Fair. Chancellor Soh will be present, along with many Jedi, to celebrate the unity and power of the Republic.

A security alert reaches a young Padawan, Ram, there seems to be an issue at Crashpoint Tower (a communications tower). Ram takes it upon himself to go check out the tower. It’s the Nihil! Ram does his best to fight them off, to see what it was they were doing to the tower.

When Ram attempts to reach his master or any other Jedi to inform them of what he'd witnessed but he has no luck! Somehow, Ram must reach out to Starlight Beacon, to inform them that the Nihil have been spotted on Valo, and have tampered with the communications tower.

Disaster strikes at the Republic Fair!

Characters:
Ram Jomaram is a Padawan in Lonisa City on the planet Valo. He loves tinkering with machinery, breaking them down, understanding how they work, and putting them back together. His love and understanding of machines, such as droids, speeders, etc. really helps him attune to the force. He’s a peaceful young man with hopes of remaining on the quiet and peaceful Valo. He's slightly fearful and a intimidated by the thought of battle. However, he knows fear is all in the mind, he just needs to learn to control himself.

Lula Talisola, from the High Republic Adventures comic series plays a large roll in this book! She knows that her attachment to things and people are a great weakness. Not only is her attachment a weakness, but she fears it could bring her down, into darker places of the force. Lula wants to break away from her attachments, it's the only way she could possibly achieve her life long goal of becoming one of the greatest Jedi Masters. Vernestra Rowh becomes somewhat of a mentor to Lula, helping her through this emotional set back.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Race to Crashpoint Tower was pretty good! I wasn't a big fan of Older's previous Star Wars book, Last Shot. But my dislike for that story, will stay with that book, not the author. I open each book with an open mind, ready for adventure. I'm pleased to say I enjoyed this story.

The event that takes place in this book is one that, once again, knocks the galaxy off its feet. The execution of this event was a little muddled down, but after I let it marinate in my brain for a bit, it's better off that way. After all, this is a kids book and shouldn't be graphic, besides, the event on Valo is the primary focus of the adult novel, The Rising Storm, I recommend reading that book before this one to get a better understand of what's happening on Valo. This story doesn't focus too much on all that is happening during the tragedy. It's focused on certain characters being pushed to their limits, and the tasks they needed to accomplish to help resolve the tragedy at hand.

I only have a few issues with the story, mostly with the dialogue. Some of the names of people and creatures are far too goofy. The Nihil are a vicious bunch, but the other villains that show up, the Drengir, are just far to silly to be taken serious. However, it is a book designed for kids, so it's fine, the Drengir are a decent fit for this age group.

It's quite fun to see familiar characters from the other books and comics weave through the multiple stories in the High Republic era. In this young reader book, we have several characters and locations that make an appearance, and they're handled so well. I really enjoy how the characters each have a personal conflict or set back that they must overcome. The challenges they face are both interesting and risky.

I highly recommend reading The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott before diving into this book. Race to Crashpoint Tower is a fun junior reader book, and it reads really fast.

Rating: This book receives a B+.

This was a wild, enjoyable ride in the High Republic universe. I enjoyed the new characters as well as the action throughout the story. I thought the author did a great job conveying the conflicts the main character went through without too much time spent on tepid introspection. This was perfect for the age group and even fun to read for adults. The author did a great job balancing comedy, action, and dialogue throughout the story. I am very excited for Daniel Jose Older’s continued work in Star Wars,

After reading Last Shot from Older, I was so excited to see him back in the Star Wars Universe! Race to Crashpoint Tower takes place on the planet Valo, where two padawans must fix the comms tower before the Nhial destroy the peace and joy the Republic has built. By far, the best part about this book is it’s characters; full of personality and dimensions, these are the types of Jedi I have been dying to see! And it makes me want to go back and pick up the High Republic Adventures comic so I can see where some of them got their start (but you can definitely start here!)

I do wish we could have gotten more time with a few characters, as the book was mostly action heavy, and I do think it might be better to read this after The Rising Storm if you are planning to read both. But overall, I absolutely adored this and can’t wait to see the adventure continue! 4.5/5

“Race to Crashpoint Tower” is listed as a middle-grade novel. It takes place concurrently with the events of Cavan Scott’s upcoming “The Rising Storm.” The storytelling is fast paced but doesn't feel rushed. Keeping its reader both entertained and invested. Daniel José Older’s familiarity with the setting and characters from his work on “Star Wars Adventures: The High Republic” comic series is on full display. Primarily in the way he blends this tale into the ongoing metastory. He integrates humor proficiently, especially for a novel aimed at younger readers. Doing so in a way which doesn’t detract from the more serious story beats and still feels very ‘Star Wars’.



Keeping the action focused around a single event is an efficient device for moving the plot along. It allows the narrative to jump between a few different viewpoints. Older takes full advantage without selling any of those characters short. I especially liked his descriptions of how newly introduced Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram interacts with the Force and machines. Characters like Anakin and Rey Skywalker displayed similar talents with droids and starships in other media. Here, Older ably allows the reader to see from Ram’s point of view. He describes very well how the Padawan works with mechanical devices through the Force.


The continuing story of Padawan Lula Talisola from Older's “Adventures” series was a welcome addition, providing a deeper look into her own thoughts and motivations. I enjoyed the author’s inclusion of different creatures in important roles to the narrative. Which is something that reinforced the sense of being part of the galaxy far, far away. I did feel however that the ending of the book was a bit abrupt. It may be the result of the action occurring at the same time as “The Rising Storm.” Perhaps not wanting to stray too far from those events. The book could have benefitted from more time wrapping up the various threads of the story. Perhaps allowing the consequences to settle with the characters.

Those concerned about younger readers should be aware that there are a number of battle scenes. Many of these contain some violent content, but they are in no way gratuitous or overdone. Instead they fit quite well with the themes and pacing of a Star Wars story. Overall making “Race to Crashpoint Tower” a very enjoyable and easy read.

Race to Crashpoint Tower, a middle-grade novel written by Daniel José Older, is the second novel out June 29 as part of The High Republic’s Phase I, Wave II. With a breathless pace, both to its benefit and detriment, and two great young Padawan characters at its center, it’s a quick, exiting adventure to read.

Set concurrently with The Rising Storm, the adult novel releasing the same day, Race to Crashpoint Tower finds its focus on a smaller set of characters who get caught up with the chaos that unfolds at the Republic Fair, another of Chancellor Lina Soh’s Great Works that is interrupted by the Nihil raiders, thought to be beaten back a year ago. Whereas TRS shows readers the true, horrifying scope of the Nihil attack on Valo, Crashpoint instead deals with a small slice of the larger battle, as Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram finds himself and his new friends at the center of one of the most important parts of the chaos: getting the communication tower working again so they can call for help to beat back the Nihil. Like A Test of Courage (by Justina Ireland) before it, Crashpoint doesn’t shy away from the darker subject matter around it, finding a more age appropriate way to deal with it and help make it accessible to younger readers but also make it entertaining and meaningful for readers of all ages; the brutal attack by the Nihil on Valo might be mostly background noise, but its repercussions and how the young Padawan characters respond and react to it keeps it prescient without having to focus on or give greater detail to the destruction. Though not like the book would even have the time to focus on it, as its pace is well beyond .5 past lightspeed, carving through its story and characters in record speed, which definitely makes for an exciting rollercoaster— it truly is a Race after all— but it sacrifices characters to reach the finish line. As much as I enjoy characters like Ram, Lula Talisola, and her friend Zeen Mrala, co-protagonists of Older’s The High Republic Adventures, their character development in Crashpoint feels organic but rushed, though at least they get to develop even if it’s a blur.

Ram, much like Reath Silas from Into the Dark, isn’t much for adventure, expecting his life on Valo to be a largely peaceful affair, where he’ll take a Padawan and retire at an old age. Like many of the Jedi in the era, he sees and uses the Force in his own unique way, as he has had the time and space to focus on his specialties, and for him it’s through mechanics, as he’s able to dive through the innards of machines, droids, ships, and weapons alike and repair or take it apart. How he uses that ability throughout the book, coming into his own despite the dangerous situation, is a joy to watch and I love the ingenuity he comes up with to use his special skill set to save the day. In particular, it introduces us to V-18, a droid modified throughout that provides plenty of laughs, as do his mechanic partners, the little furry bonbraks. The High Republic era’s Jedi are fascinating in several ways, and with Padawans like Ram or Lula, it comes from how they never expected a life of action and adventure, surprised and shaken by the possibility of combat, but they rise to the occasion, realizing swinging their lightsaber now won’t just be in practice or imagining the ancient stories of wars against the Sith. Ram has to make his own peace with the new normal he’s thrust into as the Nihil’s attack rages on and watching him accept the new responsibility and take a step outside his own shell is both engaging for all readers and inspirational especially to younger ones, though as I mentioned before, it all seems to happen in a blink of an eye. Since events of Crashpoint overlap with The Rising Storm, there’s even a scene both books share, with Ram in prison and meeting Ty Yorrick, a Force-user with a mysterious past, and reading both scenes side by side makes for a fun effect.

Lula, one of the stars of Older’s The High Republic Adventures, gets equal POV time as Ram, and her own insecurities and adjustments to the Nihil’s attack setting a new precedence for the Jedi and that galaxy, are different and just as entertaining as Ram’s. She’s definitely grown-up for her age, but this all still hits her hard and is quite the adjustment, while seeing Jedi not much older than her like Vernestra Rwoh already so advanced forces her to deal with jealousy and focusing on finding her own balance within to become the Jedi she knows she can be…and the galaxy needs her to be as it changes with the events on Valo. Her interactions with Vernestra, already a favorite of mine, are some of the best of the novel with how she allows Lula to reach her own conclusions; I wish we had more time with Lula and her own Master Sy, however. Also, having the friendship with Zeen Mrala, a Force-sensitive Mikkian she met in the opening issue of THRA, helps keep her mind from wondering and her expectations in check, and the two young girls seem like a great support structure for one another. Zeen, too old to train unfortunately (something I didn’t think would be that big of a problem in this era), at least gets to join the Jedi and work alongside them, learning in her own way, though she has her own problems due to the fallout from her revelation being a Force-user: the religious cult she was in considers the Force a fire and that no one should use it, and her childhood friend unfortunately doesn’t react well to the revelation (also something unfolding in THRA). Zeen has to relive some of that here when they return to Trymant IV, the planet her sect of the Elders of the Path operated from. Lula’s able to support her as they deal with some remnants of her group still on the planet, despite its ravaging by one of the Emergences, and the two are much stronger for it. When they work in tandem, it’s something to behold, working at a level that seems not even the best Jedi Masters could reach, and I look forward to see these two continue their journey together, especially after the events of Crashpoint. Reading this book alone will give you a great idea on who Lula truly is, but reading THRA offers the full picture and trajectory of the character so far, so if you enjoy her appearance her, I highly suggest reading the series for more Lula, and Zeen, goodness.

Vernestra Rwoh, who premiered in the previous middle-grade book, A Test of Courage, is the one who sends Lula and Zeen on the mission to Trymant, trying to uncover what secrets the group holds that Nihil leader Marchion Ro wanted. At 17, she’s the youngest Jedi yet to pass her Trials and already has a Padawan, and she’s the one helping Lula through her internal struggles a bit, talking her through the idea of finding balance within. She’s been a favorite for me and her time here only adds to my feelings about the character, as she felt like the right one to have in the book understanding the younger Padawan’s issues. As mentioned earlier, new character Ty Yorrick, a saber-for-hire, crashes into the stories of Lula and Ram, and her unique mindset and situation add some unpredictability to the proceedings; reading The Rising Storm will illuminate what else she all gets up to and helps out with during the attack on Valo. The synergy between the two books was at a level one would hope and expect from this type of endeavor.

It’s understandable at this reading level we don’t spend too much time with the Nihil nor have any as POV characters, though we do learn some details about how they and the Elders of the Path became intertwined, but Older more than makes up for it by featuring the Drengir late in the novel, to great and spooky effect. The Drengir, plant-life with an obsession for meat spreading across the galaxy with help from the Nihil first seen in Into the Dark, are a spooky and frightening new enemy for the Jedi and Republic. When Ram and his new friends are stuck dealing with them, Older straddles a thin line, like a professional tight-rope walker, using their meat-focused dialogue and interactions for humorous effect but still showing the horrific potential of the dark-side aligned villains. Ram’s efforts, combined with similar methods seen in the story unfolding in The High Republic comic from Marvel, offer a potential way forward for the Jedi to deal with the Drengir once and for all, but it likely won’t be that easy. Especially when we learn one of their surprising abilities that will make hunting them down that much harder!

Petur Antonsson returns to offer more illustrations like he did in AToC, but my review copy didn’t include them. I will update this once I get my hands on a release copy, but one thing I already know, they’ll be gorgeous!

The High Republic – Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel José Older earns the word ‘race’ in its title thanks to its breakneck pace, and while some aspects don’t do well because of it, the characters and their development still manage to cross the finish line with style.

{Link will be live on release date, June 29}

Race to Crashpoint Tower is a junior novel rich in action but probably forgettable in the whole picture of The High Republic. It gives the reader an alternate point of view over the events of The Rising Storm but without adding something truly significant.

Daniel José Older has done an amazing job with all the characters, especially protagonists padawan Ram Jomaram and Lula Talisola. With the first, on his first appearance, the reader will be captivated thanks to his clumsy manners, his acute intelligence and a very well written comic vein.

The novel can be read quickly due to its fast pace, although Older's writing style seems to lack consistency and concentration.

What an AMAZING adventure! Fun and fast paced following young Padawans Ram and Lula finding the balance and order in the force. I enjoyed even with the force and training, there is still the element of self doubt and questioning what you want for yourself in life. V-18 and the Bonbraks are my absolute favorites! Definitely a great read for new and old Star Wars fans!
Thanks NetGalley!

Star Wars: The High Republic: Race to Crashpoint Tower is the latest junior novel in the High Republic line of Star Wars media, written by Daniel José Older with illustrations by Petur Antonsoson, published by Disney–Lucasfilm Press. The Republic Fair is taking place on Valo and even the Chancellor is in attendance. But something is going terribly wrong and only Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram is around to stop it.

Race to Crashpoint Tower is a book that runs on all cylinders at all times. Sometimes, this is to its benefit. It’s non-stop action is fun and filled with great twists and turns. Sometimes though, it’s a little too fast for its own good, glossing over interesting points that I wish it could spend more time on. Fortunately, by the end, the thrill of the chase outweighs everything else.

The High Republic started with a bang at the beginning of 2021 and Race to Crashpoint Tower is part of wave two of Phase 1 of the publishing line. Off the bat, I have to say, it may be a tad hard to follow some of the book’s points if you have not read at least Into the Dark and A Test of Courage, if not Light of the Jedi as well. Characters and plot points are integral parts of this story. While I admire and appreciate the interconnectivity of the High Republic, since this is a junior novel, it does somewhat worry me that it required so much background knowledge to fully understand. While I’m sure a younger reader who has only read the other junior novel, A Test of Courage can probably follow along, still, it’s a lot. Just as much so, it seems this book is perhaps tied directly to the ongoing of the other second wave High Republic books, Out of the Shadows and The Rising Storm. Either that, or there were just some obtuse moments. Regardless, considering the target audience of the book, it felt like it left too much up in the air.

However, Older does as a well a job as one can weaving these disparate elements into his book so that one can understand them as well as possible. A book series made collaboratively by a slew of authors cannot be easy, and I totally respect Race to Crashpoint Tower for attempting to fit in elements that place it concretely in the part of the greater story that it takes place in, even if it means having to read other media to fully grasp it all.



All of that said, what does occur in Race to Crashpoint Tower is good. The book’s two main characters, Ram and fellow Padawan Lula Talisola are equally endearing and possess unique attributes among Jedi characters. One of the greatest strengths of the High Republic so far has been the ways that each author has explained the Force and different Jedi’s connections to it. As a mechanic, Ram has a really unique and personal way of connecting with the Force that has never been seen before. Meanwhile, Lula is really deeply connected to the people around her. She gets the rare opportunity in Star Wars to embrace this quality while also doubting her own worth in comparison to Jedi Knight Vernestra Rwoh, the youngest Jedi to become a Knight in generations. Both characters are pushed beyond their usual comforts as they race to save Valo.

The book also features multiple non-Jedi Force users, begging so many questions that hopefully future installments will address. There are whole segments of the beginning of the book from Lula’s perspective, and some from Ram’s later as well that explore interesting questions about Force sensitivity, but they get dropped so completely thereafter that they almost feel completely out of place having even been brought up.

Lastly, while the book’s plot and setting are generally fun, I wish it spent more time before the action started letting the reader experience the Republic Fair. I don’t know if this setting will be part of other High Republic media, but it is such a cool idea that I would hate to never get to read or see what it was like before the chaos ensued. The story itself is neat though, with elements to the plot and characters that I have not experienced in a Star Wars story before; itself an impressive feat and a selling point.

Race to Crashpoint Tower is at times a bit too interconnected to its publishing siblings, but ultimately, that does not take away from the unique, if not brief, plot and character points throughout the book. I hope that some of its new characters, plot threads, and locations appear in other High Republic media, both so that I can more fully understand the context of this book retroactively, and because so many parts were so intriguing.

Star Wars: The High Republic: Race to Crashpoint Tower is available June 29th wherever books are sold.

While it ultimately gets better with time, I found the writing style unfocused as it flew by at a rapid pace. There wasn't much time for character growth or to get to know the characters as a result. But as a companion to The Rising Storm and as a novel for kids who may not be the strongest readers, this is a good adventure.

Characters

Ram is a Padawan with a high interest in mechanics. He uses the Force to help him see inside machines, understand how they work, diagnosis mechanical issues, and more. This is really unique and not something I've seen before. Usually, Jedi have a bond with animals or other organics, but Ram's is with machines. During the course of the novel he learns to see the bigger picture of the galaxy instead of only seeing the parts.

Lula is a Padawan who is part of a group studying under Mastesr Yoda and Kantam Sy. Lula is skilled, but not always confident in her abilities. She tends to get caught up on over thinking things. In the course of the novel she learns to find balance within herself and how she can help the galaxy find balance.

Both main characters are of Hispanic/Latino descent. Lula is older than Ram by a couple of years, but their exact age is not stated. I doubt Lula is more than fifteen as she is younger than Vernestra. There is another non Jedi Force Sensitive tween/teen who accompanies Lula named Zeen Mrala, but she is not a point of view character. Of course, there's also a crazy droid.

Story

This was an exciting and fast paced read. I read the majority of it in a day while in my hotel room at a state library conference. It had a lot of action and the story moved along at a good pace. It did not get bogged down by too much exposition, more than one plot,  or extra characters. This also allowed both main characters enough page time to become fully fleshed out.

While Vernestra and her apprentice Imri appear, it's brief and it helps to connect their story to the wider High Republic arc and world. Ty Yorrick, a Force Sensitive that will appear in The Rising Storm, and can be seen on the cover of that book, appears briefly as the two books take place concurrently.

Lula, Zeen, and Master Sy appear in the High Republic Adventures published by IDW and also written by Daniel Jose Older. Those comics take place before the events of the book and tell how Lula and Zeen met. I haven't seen a trade paperback for those yet, so I eagerly await a chance to read them in a collected edition to get more of their story.

"...All his life has he looked away…to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing.”

This may have been true of Luke Skywalker, but for Padawan Ram Jomaram, that is anything but the truth. His closest confidants are more of the mechanical variety than organic and all he wants to do as Valo prepares for the Republic's Fair is to hide away in his garage and tinker with various bits and pieces. But as the Force has it, fate has a different path in mind for Ram.

Daniel José Older does a brilliant job of making the parallel events of the adult novel 'Rising Storm' accessible to younger readers, but for readers of the older variety, there are lessons here that are not to be missed. Introducing a cast of characters (old and new) in a story full of heart-stopping thrills, timely emotional beats, and just plain-old good Star Wars adventure, this is a book for all ages and further enriches this new era of Star Wars during the High Republic.

Race to Crashpoint Tower sports a slim frame, coming in at just about 200 pages, but it packs a big punch! In this second installment of The High Republic’s middle-grade offerings, Daniel José Older gives us a story starring Ram Jomaram, a Jedi Padawan on Valo, where the Republic Fair is set to be held. Ram’s talents lie not with combat, but in mechanics, and he soon realizes that that local comms tower (aka Crashpoint Tower) is broken! On Ram's mission to fix the comms, the threat becomes much larger, leaving him with more of an adventure than he bargained for.

Older’s writing is wildly funny and action-packed. Readers will immediately fall in love with the characters of this story: there's our hero Ram Jomaram, the tiny bonbraks of his workshop, and, of course, his droid V-18. In addition to these new characters, we also see the return of Vernestra Rwoh from Justina Ireland’s A Test of Courage as well as Lula Talisola from the High Republic Adventures comics, also authored by Older. Older weaves all these stories together with a mastery, making their coming together feel natural and necessary. We also get to see more of the villains that we were introduced to in the Wave 1 stories, which are, without a doubt, some of my favorite moments in this book!

Race to Crashpoint Tower feels like a true sequel but still maintains its accessibility for readers who just want to hop into The High Republic during this wave of stories or who haven’t read all the materials of Wave 1. It’s a really fun ride and one that feels appropriate for middle-grade aged readers and older readers alike. Don’t sleep on this one just because it's written with younger readers in mind!