A true delight best described as a coming-of-age adventure novel. We follow a young Obi-Wan on a pivotal adventure in his teen years that helps him discover his place both as a Jedi and where he fits into the greater galaxy. His internal struggle of feelings of anxiousness and helplessness, as well as the feeling that he is 'just not good enough' is deeply relatable. In this adventure, as Obi-Wan learns a lot about himself, the reader also gets to learn a lot about him and who he is behind the mask of great Jedi hero that we see in his later years.

In addition to a fulfilling character driven story, we get an exciting page turning adventure with an incredible cast of original characters, plus some old favourites like Qui-Gon Jinn. Kiersten White also does a fantastic job of blending the mysterious world of The High Republic with the familiar world of the prequel era. Fans of Obi-Wan Kenobi won't want to miss this latest instalment of insight into his character and fans who don't have a connection with Obi-Wan Kenobi are almost guaranteed to find one after finishing this book. A definite must-add to Star Wars essential reading lists!

The final pages of the Padawan will have you desperately hoping that she’ll revisit the fledgling bond between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, and dig deeper into Qui-Gon’s own fragile connection to his own former Master. Of course, Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: Master & Apprentice is set roughly a year after the final pages of Padawan, but still you want more of this little piece of Star Wars that White has carved out for her muses to play in.

Young Obi-Wan is just trying to be the best Padawan he can be. But with a rebellious master and word of Dooku leaving the order entirely, Kenobi isn’t sure he’ll ever become a Jedi. With no one to turn to, Obi-Wan finds a mission of his own to prove himself and see once and for all, if the Jedi path is where destiny will take him.

Kiersten White introduces us to one of our most familiar Jedi in his early Padawan days. Teenage Kenobi is a very young, self-doubting, scared boy who is working his hardest to become the Jedi hero he knows he’s expected to be. Along the way, Kenobi finds out what it’s like outside of the Jedi Order, and what family means to others. The story is interesting and mysterious and lets us get to know the insecure boy who will eventually become one of the greatest Jedi Masters ever.

This is a must-read for Kenobi fans and anyone who wants to see what it’s like for a self-critical young man to find a way to rise to his expectations, hopes, and dreams.

“The right way isn’t always easy.”
- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Padawan by Kiersten White is a coming of age tale about Obi-Wan Kenobi's time as a Padawan. From the very start of this book, White establishes a titular character who is not only trying to find his place in the universe but also trying to navigate his feelings. The pairing of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and their relationship is at the heart of this book and it carries through to the very end. Qui-Gon is very much a father figure to Obi-Wan and while they do fight, there is a bond that will stand the test of time. I don't want to get into spoilers here but this book has some real epic moments. Come for the adventure and stay for the growth. Padawan is hands down a 5 out of 5!

Obi-Wan Kenobi is, shall we say, not my favorite character. When his Disney Plus TV show was announced, I was almost dreading the fact that in a post-Phase I of The High Republic world, almost all of the material would be based on Obi-Wan Kenobi. The first major release, Brotherhood by Mike Chen, was a delightful surprise, which I enjoyed quite a bit. The Marvel series, Obi-Wan, the logo recycled from Soule’s past series Obi-Wan & Anakin, speaks to me as much as most Marvel mini-series, which is to say… not a ton. Now, Padawan, by Kiersten White, finds itself right in the middle of the two, personally!

Padawan Full CoverThe novel follows a pretty straightforward young adult premise: a young hero is on their own for the first time and faces an existential crisis. I actually kind of liked the concept of taking someone as strict and no-nonsense as Obi-Wan and putting him through the YA wringer. As Obi-Wan grows as a Jedi Knight, he chafes with his Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, as the older Jedi is far different from the younger one. Almost too different, he fears. After exploring the Jedi Temple, Obi-Wan discovers a note left by a very, very exciting Jedi from the High Republic era, and uses it as an excuse to create a mission for him and his Master. Obi-Wan wants to use the adventure to prove himself as a Jedi both to himself and his Master. But when he gets to the planet Lenhara, he finds that maybe he doesn’t want to do either, anymore.

On Lenhara, an interesting planet in itself, Obi-Wan comes in contact with a group of kids that are a weird mix of the Children of the Corn and the Lord of the Flies. They are a community unto themselves, but they are also gifted with extreme powers. These powers are necessary for survival on Lenhara, as the whole planet, wildlife and fauna alike, seem to be poised against the kids and seeking to destroy them. As Obi-Wan spends time with them, his anxiety grows and he feels like he may not have a place in the Jedi Order any more, and might prefer to stay on Lenhara. Of course, bigger things are happening than Obi-Wan might realize, and it’s up to him to figure them out and potentially save a lot of lives.

There are a lot of things to like about this book. We get to know a lot about Obi-Wan, like, more than I thought we would. Personally, I resonated with his internal anxiety monologue. Maker knows that I’ve had almost verbatim anxiety monologues myself. I think White gets these really well here, and I think it really introduces a lot of dimensions to his character that I would have liked to see in Master & Apprentice and the not-yet-announced-and-honestly-surprisingly-MIA-book about him and Satine on Mandalore. It was really nice watching Obi-Wan interact with peers, as it usually feels like Obi-Wan is interacting with people that he almost sees himself as above, like Anakin, Luke, etc. I did feel like some of his anxiety and inability to mesh with Qui-Gon was a bit redundant after Master & Apprentice, but I do appreciate that they were written for different audiences. This novel helps Obi-Wan figure out his place in the Order, and the rest of the story of the Skywalker Saga is seeing him view that place as absolute.

I really liked Lenhara as well. As I talk more on in my The Princess and the Scoundrel review, the franchise has suffered from a lack of place. The Disney Plus series have generated some fairly bland locations for the stories, and the comics and other visual media don’t seem to be creating totally creative or cool places, either. Lenhara bucks this trend a bit. It has a really diverse and interesting wildlife, one that makes the planet feel unique. The fact that the planet is out to destroy its inhabitants is really cool, too, making one of the primary antagonists of the book the planet instead of a person.

I did have a few problems with the book, and most were pacing. I felt like the villain showed up way too late in the book to be anything but a plot device, as I didn’t really engage with him as much. If he were introduced a bit more explicitly earlier, I feel like I would’ve engaged more. His crew has some interesting characters, but they don’t really get a lot of time to shine and exist in ways that mostly fill roles instead of fleshing out their character. One in particular could’ve really used a LOT more time to develop, and I am a little disappointed by how tertiary he seemed. There were also a few places where the writing felt very young adult, which doesn’t mean it had bad writing, just that the writing wasn’t aimed at me.

All in all, Padawan is a good book for fans of Obi-Wan. If you liked Master & Apprentice, it’s a good prequel and the two would work pretty well together, even if I felt they overlapped a bit too often. As far as the young adult Star Wars offerings go, it’s one of the better ones.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisWerms, and of course, you can follow the Manor on Twitter @MynockManor and Instagram @mynockmanor!

DISCLOSURE: I received a copy of this book, through NetGalley, from the publisher at no charge in order to provide an early review. However, this did not affect the overall review content. All opinions are my own.

Padawan is a great example of what the YA format, such as it is, has allowed Star Wars books to become. Where most "adult" books, and even some other YA books, have several POV characters and sprawling plots, Padawan's greatest strength is its tight focus on one young man and, for the most part, one very unusual planet.

While at first glance the premise seemed pretty standard for a coming-of-age story, Kiersten White hooked me early by tying the events of the story to Orla Jareni, a Jedi Wayseeker and one of my favorite characters from the High Republic. Realizing that the planet Lenahra was significant to her for some reason accomplished for me much the same goal that it accomplished for Obi-Wan--I had to know more, and that inciting mystery, while not hugely significant in the end, was enough to propel me well into the book until I had met the rest of the young characters and firmly settled into the book's overall Peter Pan vibe (or is it more of a Hook vibe?).

From that point on I suspect that readers' enjoyment of the book will boil down to their willingness to go along with what is a pretty boilerplate coming-of-age formula--particularly a late revelation regarding the planet's ecosystem that seemed so obvious to me that I kind of wish Obi-Wan had caught on sooner. If you can pick up what White is putting down, though, Padawan is a very breezy and entertaining Star Wars debut that doesn't try to do too much--the kind of book I wish the franchise did more often.

Overall Thoughts

While it may mean different things for different fans, the highest compliment that I can give this book is that it feels like a High Republic story, except it manages to further develop a character we already know so much about. It went far beyond the story connections to Orla Jareni and Cohmac Vitus, which both surprised and delighted me. This novel focuses plenty on the Jedi and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but with Obi-Wan unsure of himself, the concept of the Force and its connection throughout the galaxy is a recurring idea, something that the High Republic has done extensively in every book and comic released. Unlike most stories set around the prequel era, we don’t see much, if at all, of how the Jedi have lost their way and have become obsessed with the rules. Rather, the Jedi Council, and the Order as a whole, are described as expected from a brand new Padawan. They’re very powerful individuals that use what they have to help the galaxy. It’s not as genuine or realistic as in the High Republic, but the Jedi through a Padawan’s eyes are seen as perfect and ideal. The story itself had interesting twists and turns, even when I thought I knew what was coming. One of the more self-induced problems I had with this book that relates to that point is that once I got to the second act, I thought I had it all figured out. There were small hints along the way that build up to the plot twists, so I thought that I knew who the real villain was and that I knew the unexpected twist before it happened, even though I was almost never completely right about it. I am glad to say though that it never dampened my reaction to the twist, it just lessened the stakes building up to it for me personally. The first act of the story is relatively slow, but there’s one chapter about halfway through that turns the entire story on its head and it never slows down again until the ending. The ending was much shorter than I anticipated but it was still strong nevertheless and did a solid job of wrapping up the major parts of the novel. It shows an important moment between Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon that develops their relationship, almost to what we see from them in Master & Apprentice.

Obi-Wan Kenobi

I’ve always liked the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi, but never as much as the majority of fans. But after unintentionally experiencing his life backwards, by going from the Disney Plus series to Brotherhood to Master & Apprentice to this, I’ve grown to appreciate the character much more and what he’s been through. Even though I didn’t mean to, I’m glad that I was able to experience his more detailed life backwards because I got to see where the character came from and how much each event forced him to grow. Obi-Wan’s relationship with Qui-Gon specifically was interesting to see. The Disney Plus series showed him attempting to communicate with his old master after Obi-Wan went into hiding. Brotherhood showed Obi-Wan thinking back on how his master handled both him and Anakin, and used Qui-Gon’s teachings as guidance when dealing with Anakin. Master & Apprentice showed that not everything between the two was always smooth, and that they didn’t always get along before the mission to Pijal. Now, Padawan shows the early days of Obi-Wan’s apprenticeship to Qui-Gon and how he constantly disagreed with his master and doubted if he was meant to be a Jedi. Because Qui-Gon kept Obi-Wan on the basics of lightsaber combat and focused on medication, not allowing Obi-Wan to leave the planet or go on other missions like the other Padawans, Obi-Wan doubted his abilities and whether the Force even wanted him to become a Jedi Knight. He lacked confidence as a young Jedi and constantly tried too hard to connect to the Force. As a Jedi who we have seen go through heartbreak and disaster time and time again and still come out strong, it was amazing to see him have such insecurities as a Jedi and it makes his journey even stronger now. Even though I really enjoyed the story in the novel, Obi-Wan’s journey as a character is what bumps it up to the next level. With him being the main character of the novel, everything is from within his head, so as a reader we get so many great realizations and reflections from Obi-Wan’s point of view that forever enhances the character in my eyes. While on the new planet, Obi-Wan does a lot of soul searching that leads to some really good moments of looking within and self realization. He learns to accept the feelings that he has and to not be controlled by them. In the novel, Obi-Wan is characterized very similar to how Anakin was as a Padawan, which makes their dynamic all of the more interesting knowing that Obi-Wan once had the same feelings that Anakin had. They care too much about those around them, and those feelings turn into a fear of loss and a fear of not being good enough to protect everyone. Seeing Obi-Wan feel out of place within the Jedi Order and having these doubts and fears made him a much more relatable character both in this novel and overall. He’s always struggled with external problems, like the Clone Wars or losing Satine and Anakin, but we rarely see him deal with internal problems like his emotions. Because he was such a great youngling and was ahead of everyone else, he had fears that he was being left behind when the other Padawans his age were being taken on missions and Obi-Wan was stuck meditating at the Jedi Temple. By giving him these character flaws, I was much more engrossed in the story and I consistently cared about how his journey would end once he arrived back at the Jedi Temple. Coming off of just finishing Master & Apprentice, there were also a few small connections that got me excited. It’s described in that novel how Obi-Wan was rebellious as a youngling, so he was put with a rebellious master in hopes that he would try to be different and follow the rules more. We get to see this firsthand in this novel, with Obi-Wan purposely trying to be different than his master, so he does follow more of the rules, and yet we still get to see his rebellious nature throughout the Temple as well as him leaving on a mission by himself. Obi-Wan also had a short thought later in the novel about how he needed to learn how to fight and meditate at the same time in battle, even though it seemed impossible, which is a skill that he finally is able to do in the latter novel. There was also a beautifully written moment where Obi-Wan finally connects to the Force, and it reminded me of Rey reaching out on Ahch-To in The Last Jedi.

Lenahra & the Force

The moment that Obi-Wan landed on this mysterious planet and was introduced to the natives, I was instantly hooked. Enough is described to keep me interested, but I still kept wanting to know more and more about these new characters and this mysterious, force-centered planet. It was a bit overwhelming at first because of the many different characters that are introduced once he arrives. With a bunch of different species and kinds of people it was hard to keep track of them near the beginning of the novel, but it gradually became easier to distinguish the characters. Some I really grew to love, and others I knew and cared enough just to keep enjoying the story. It took a while, but eventually they became a strong supporting cast for the novel and added a lot to Obi-Wan’s journey as a character. There were a lot of parallels between Obi-Wan and the Lenahrans, with them both having to choose the life they have or the life that’s possible. With Obi-Wan having doubts that he’s even meant to be a Jedi, he’s faced with a decision; stay on Lenahra with his new friends and help keep them safe, or leave to go back to the Jedi Temple to face the consequences of his actions. For the Lenahrans, they have to decide between continuing to live as they have their whole life, but knowing that they will never be safe, or find a new way of living that could be more peaceful, but give up everything their parents sacrificed for them. It was a very interesting connection that continued to play out for the rest of the novel, and the decisions forced both parties to broaden their horizons and learn from the other party. There’s a continued theme of self preservation and not accepting help, but eventually the Lenahrans have to consider that Obi-Wan may be doing what’s in their best interest. Kiersten White’s best decision may have in fact been deciding to slowly give out small details about the planet and its people. Getting to discover the history of what had happened on Lenahra and what was actually happening in the present day was the main reason that I kept reading. The planet’s mysterious connection to the Force intrigued me and made me want to never put the book down. Finally getting the background story through Obi-Wan’s eyes was satisfying and added depth to the native characters and their decision to live on Lenahra, even after everything they’ve been through in their lifetime. The interludes at first were very confusing and felt out of place, but they still intrigued me. However the scarcity of them made it hard to follow, but once it finally connected to the major story it strengthened both sides and added a lot of background details. They even continued after connecting to the major story and gave the reader details that the characters didn’t have.

Spoiler Thoughts

Oh boy. Because this book just came out to the public, I wanted to keep my spoiler thoughts until the end, but there is a lot that I want to talk about with this book. To start with, I think I genuinely squealed when a four-armed, Besalisk miner was being described for the first time. I never expected to see Dex going into this novel, but I was overjoyed getting to see the first time that he and Obi-Wan met. He has a meaningful impact throughout the story that makes sense, and it never felt like he was only included as fan service. The fact that he sticks to his morals and helps Obi-Wan and the natives escape that planet adds much more depth and background to the character. Between this novel and Brotherhood, the character has been developed so much more beyond what we saw of him in Attack of the Clones, and the one small diner scene now retroactively carries more value to it. There were hints of Dooku near the beginning of the novel, and it got me very interested in what I thought would be a much larger scaled plot, and yet when it was explained at the end to just be good hospitality from the Jedi Order, I wasn’t at all disappointed. I had loved the story I was given so much that I didn’t care that what I had expected never came to be. There was a small moment where a fellow Padawan reveals to Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon never actually chose Obi-Wan to be his Padawan, rather that Yoda had requested it. Just like the character, it surprised me that that was even possible, or that it was something that Yoda would do, but it then made sense why the master and apprentices pair had never quite gotten along. It was a very short moment that grew to have a profound impact on the character throughout the novel, and now that it’s become a part of canon it would be a neat topic to bring up again in future stories. For the most part I saw the twist that the Lenahrans were the villains coming, but the moral conflict between them and Obi-Wan was still interesting to read about because they view their actions as necessary to survive. They aren’t purposely harming the planet, it’s just what they were taught by their parents before they died. There was a mysterious financier mentioned a few times during the later half of the novel, and while it was never revealed, I really wanted to learn who it was. If there’s any sort of sequel to this story, which I doubt there would be, having a powerful person fund a mining trip to Lenahra to bring back its life force would be a great jumping off point and would give the story a villain to develop. I kept wanting to think that it would connect to a larger story, but it ended up being nothing more than a tease. When Orla Jareni and Cohmac Vitus were first mentioned at the beginning of the novel, I thought it was just a nice connection that would come to pass. I never expected Orla to have such a profound role in the novel even though she was killed on Starlight Beacon hundreds of years ago. Once I could tell I was getting close, I kept looking forward to the moment where I would get all of the details about her mission to Lenahra. It helps add background details for both the planet and its inhabitants, but also for Orla’s story that we never saw in the High Republic. As someone who reads just about everything, I got really excited the moment her holomessage mentioned her having to leave her study on Lenahra to go help Elzar find peace, which connects to where the two characters were at at the beginning of The Fallen Star. Even though I had liked the character before, her appearance in this novel gave her death in The Fallen Star much more meaning to me personally. It’s shown just how similar a young Obi-Wan was to Orla, and how they were both never perfect Jedi. They had their fears and doubts, and sometimes needed to follow the Force in unusual ways. Once the story on Lenahra had been wrapped up, I was a bit disappointed at first just because I had really grown to like the new planet and it being gone means we’re likely never going to see it again, but I was able to get over that relatively easily. The natives are still out there somewhere in the galaxy so we could still have them appear in another story.

Final Grade

A solid story, compelling characterization, and the development of a brand new culture makes Padawan a necessary read for any Obi-Wan Kenobi fan, earning a grade of 9/10

This is indeed the year of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Fans have now fully experienced the titular limited series on Disney+ while reading Mike Chen's Brotherhood and comic book miniseries. All these various types of medium have explored different moments in Obi-Wan's life—from newly appointed member of the Jedi Council to confronting his painful past after the Jedi Purge. However, a story about teenager Obi-Wan was yet to be told, until now. Author Kiersten White brought a compelling origin story about the turning point of the Padawan's life in a YA novel that is meaningful to the character while also being fun at the same time.

Just like Brotherhood, Padawan serves the readers with an incredible amount of character development, digging into Obi-Wan's young mind as he struggles through his insecurities and fears. This is an incredible insight that doesn't just add to the already established character—it makes the readers understand why Obi-Wan was destined to be Qui-Gon's apprentice and consequently the master of Anakin Skywalker. The similarities between Obi-Wan and Anakin are evident in the book, especially the fact that both characters really care for being their best selves and to protect others. This side of Obi-Wan is so refreshing, and perfectly ties to the character we've known over the last forty five years.

Although Padawan's point of view is predominantly that of Obi-Wan, the planet itself (and its power source) takes center stage of the story. Its natural beauty and symbiotic nature make it an actual, living character that will challenge and inspire the Padawan and the planet's inhabitants. And speaking of the youngsters living the land, White did a marvelous job at creating supporting characters that have a balanced variety of personalities that truly drive Obi-Wan's thoughts and decisions. The book also has a main villain (which makes an official appearance in the third act of the story), but his presence is merely a story device more than a full fledged, fascinating foe. Overall, the author's main inspiration for the tale seems to come from Peter Pan—the peculiarity of the planet, its young residents, and the evil adult very similar to the timeless fairy tale.

Besides being a standalone story, Padawan does make some unexpected connections to the ever expanding timeline, especially with The High Republic in a meaningful way. Obi-Wan's decision to discover the uncharted planet is motivated by a very well known character from the all-new era of Star Wars, which is not just a clever story driver, but also forever shapes the characterization of Obi-Wan. Padawan is also home to an iconic introduction between Obi-Wan and one of his best friends. Their accidental acquaintance fits nicely into the main plot, further developing their relationship from Attack of the Clones and Brotherhood.

Arguably, Padawan hits the spot for young adult readers, but adults will also appreciate the character development for Obi-Wan Kenobi and his fascinating journey to the hidden planet (and let's not forget the gorgeous cover art by Charlie Bowater). Are you ready to journey into an uncharted planet alongside young Obi-Wan? Then make sure to grab a copy of this must read book (also available in audiobook format, narrated by the energetic Gary Furlong) and let us know your thoughts on our social media channels.

From my review on Dork Side of the Force: "Padawan is a fun Obi-Wan Kenobi story of adventure and self-discovery"

Just when we thought we knew all there is to know about Obi-Wan Kenobi, author Kiersten White gives us a heartwarming adventure tale in Star Wars: Padawan.

The young adult novel Padawan follows a teenage Obi-Wan, newly apprenticed to Qui-Gon Jinn and just not having as much fun as a Jedi padawan as he thought. He doesn’t understand his master’s teaching methods nor the connection he’s supposed to have with the Force. He feels like he’s not good at anything besides lightsaber training and desperately wants to leave the stifling Jedi Temple on Coruscant for any kind of mission that doesn’t involve meditation.

Finally, he finds an opportunity to go off-planet and investigate a mysterious planet noted in Jedi records by a certain famous Wayseeker. But on the day they’re supposed to leave, Qui-Gon doesn’t show up at the docking bay.

So, what does Obi-Wan decide to do? He goes alone (with a sassy Astromech droid, of course), breaking all the rules he’s been so rigidly adhering to. What he finds on this previously-unknown planet is…more mystery.

White’s descriptions of the flora and fauna of the planet are reminiscent of the world of Pandora from the Avatar franchise. And the group of teens and younglings Obi-Wan encounters give off some serious Lost Boys vibes.

The main action and adventure of the book are just plain fun. The mystery of the planet and of the eventual “villain” of Padawan makes it easy to devour this over 400-page book quickly. The pacing and neat packaging of this Obi-Wan story harkens back to the Jedi Apprentice book series and even the multi-episode arcs of The Clone Wars.

And while this novel explores the events of just a few days, Obi-Wan goes on an epic journey of self-discovery. Knowing Obi-Wan and his character for more than 40 years, fans know his greatest strength (and sometimes weakness) is that he cares immensely about those around him and the meaning of right and wrong.

The heart of Padawan is just that – heart. The heart and selflessness of Obi-Wan even for people (and a planet) he just met. The heart of the group of youths who have been forced into extraordinary survival circumstances yet care about one another above all else. And the heart of the planet Lenahra, which is such a beautiful and fascinating example of the diversity of this galaxy.

The biggest highlight of the novel is Obi-Wan’s breakthrough understanding of the Force and his connection to it, which is paralleled by his adventure on Lenahra. With each Star Wars book featuring Jedi, we get moving perspectives on what the Force and spirituality mean to each wielder. With Padawan, Obi-Wan’s introspective discovery is an excellent way to show how the young Jedi developed such a deep connection with his master and what influenced his relationship with his own padawan 10 years later.

Some of the drawbacks, however, pertain to the relatively low stakes and lack of narrative tension within the novel’s core adventure. The planet Lenahra is fascinating, as are the younglings Obi-Wan meets, this story very much exists as a standalone addition to the Kenobi canon. It’s not necessarily required reading to fully understand Obi-Wan’s personality and arc in Star Wars, but you’ll certainly have fun with it.

However, with Padawan, White does an excellent job adding even more depth and nuance to a legacy Star Wars character. It’s the adventurous and heartwarming young Obi-Wan Kenobi story we didn’t know we need and now can’t imagine living without.

*** Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Lucasfilm Press for sending me an e-arc of Padawan by Kiersten White! All thoughts are my own! ***

First things first, when I found out there was a book coming out about Obi-Wan Kenobi, I was immediately excited to read it after watching the new Obi-Wan show. I was obsessing over more Obi-Wan content. And my excitement soared ever higher when I saw the cover was done by one of my favorite cover artists, Charlie Bowater. Also the fact that I got the chance to review a Star Wars book amazes me!

Obi Wan Kenobi, a teenage Padawan learner being mentored by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jin to study the ways of the Force at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Obi-Wan thinks his Jedi training will involve more excitement than meditating and finding the answers to his own questions. But when Obi-Wan finds data reported by a Wayseeker about a strange planet in the galaxy, he wants to use this opportunity to show Qui-Gon and the Jedi Council how great a Padawan he can really be. On a solo mission to this remote planet, Obi-Wan meets a group of teenagers that seem to have Force-like abilities that lead him questioning them and this unknown planet's connection to the Force.

This book's main setting was really interesting to see a new planet that Star Wars fans are unfamiliar with. The environment and wildlife on this planet is well explored. The cast of characters at first irritated me for how they were treating Obi-Wan when he arrived on the planet. With him being an outsider, they were very standoffish toward him, calling him "sky trash". Part of them never wanted to give Obi-Wan a chance and that they only trusted each other, not him. It took almost three quarters of the way through the book from them to actually to acknowledge Obi-Wan's opinion and things he researched.

The best thing about this book for me is the amount of character development we see in Obi-Wan. When the book begins, he is just a Padawan who doesn't know his place among his fellow Padawans and Jedi and the amount of confidence he gained helping the group learn about the Power being more harmful than helpful. The ending shows the turning point to the Jedi we know and love today.

Some of the Easter eggs Kiersten White threw in enhanced the story quite enjoyably. From some of Obi-Wan's key phrases to him saying he would never have a Padawan as badly behaved as he is was a laughable foreshadowing.

Padawan is on sale July 26th, 2022!

I simply cannot put into words how special PADAWAN is. As a life-long Star Wars fan and a massive Obi-Wan enthusiast, I knew that I would most likely love it, but I was absolutely blown away by how profoundly impactful this book is not just to Obi-Wan's character, but the Star Wars franchise as a whole. Kiersten White has taken a character who we already know and love and has flawlessly built out the nuances and complexities that drive his actions--even his subconscious ones at times--throughout all forms of media: the movies, the books, and the TV shows. While the nods to several Legends characters from the Jedi Apprentice series and the connections to the High Republic were deliciously fun, the true heart of this book is Obi-Wan's inner journey as he struggles through his insecurities and self-doubt to answer the question of who he is as a person outside the Jedi Order and, more importantly, who he truly wants to be. 

While plot-wise, the book follows Obi-Wan on his first solo mission as a Padawan to a mysterious planet that was noted to be of interest to the Jedi by Orla Jareni--a Wayseeker from the High Republic era--and the group of younglings he meets there, the core driving elements of this book are it's themes, which center upon Obi-Wan's inner struggles and his fear of being an inadequate Padawan in nearly every aspect--connecting with the Force, disappointing his Master (who Obi-Wan thinks may not actually want him as a Padawan), and feeling isolated, unwanted, and alone in a world where his peers seem to fit flawlessly into the Temple life.  This book also explores a brand new, extremely important aspect of Obi-Wan's character as he reflects upon personal revelations and realizations that have never been touched upon in canon or Legends.  As a result, the impact is astounding, relatable, and humanizing in a way that we've never seen him before. There are also some wonderfully fun jokes that foreshadow Obi-Wan's life in the future, including his own Padawan. As we learn, Obi-Wan and Anakin share many of the same traits, which makes Anakin's downfall and the overarching story of their incredible friendship even more tragic.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough to readers of all ages as Obi-Wan's journey of self-discovery is multifaceted and profoundly powerful.  As he learns to embrace his fears of inadequacy, we see the foundations of the great Jedi Master that he one day will become.  I very, VERY much hope that Kiersten White has a chance to write more of Obi-Wan's adventures again in the future as her understanding of his character--and most importantly, his heart--is simply unparalleled!

** [Note: review linked below will be posted upon publication as to avoid spoilers!]**

In Padawan van auteur Kiersten White gaan we met een zestienjarige Obi-Wan Kenobi op avontuur. Obi-Wan is nog niet zo heel lang de Padawan van Qui-Gon Jinn, maar hij kan niet zeggen dat hij heel erg tevreden is met de situatie. Terwijl al zijn vrienden gekoppeld zijn aan meesters waar ze het goed mee kunnen vinden en die ze allerlei nieuwe dingen leren waar ze in geïnteresseerd zijn, zit hij vast aan Qui-Gon en bestaat Obi-Wans leven nu vooral uit meditatie. Geen excursies naar exotische planeten, maar stil zitten in een kamer in de Jedi Temple. Maar wanneer Obi-Wan notities van een oude Jedi Wayseeker ontdekt, die wijzen naar een onbekende planeet stelt Obi-Wan aan Qui-Gon voor om op onderzoek uit te gaan. Qui-Gon stemt in, maar komt vervolgens niet opdagen wanneer ze zouden vertrekken. Uit frustratie besluit Obi-Wan vervolgens om er maar in zijn eentje op uit te gaan!
Eenmaal op de mysterieuze planeet, Lenahra, aangekomen ontmoet Obi-Wan een groep tieners en kinderen die, door gebruik te maken van ”the power,” als ware Jedi door de bossen rennen en springen. Wat ook hard nodig is omdat de flora en fauna van deze planeet – en zelfs de planeet zelf – constant proberen om de groep te doden. Obi-Wan ziet in deze groep een nieuwe manier van leven, en begint zich af te vragen of hij wel thuis hoort in de Jedi Order, of dat hij het op Lenahra – ondanks de moordlustige instelling van de planeet! – beter naar zijn zin zou hebben.
White geeft ons een diepe blik in de geest van de jonge Obi-Wan, ze beschrijft uitstekend hoe het voor een jong persoon voelt om in een nieuwe situatie terecht te komen waar je zelf niet helemaal tevreden over bent. We spenderen heel wat tijd in Obi-Wans hoofd, wat erg interessant is, maar wat ook ietwat eentonig kan worden. Vooral in de eerste helft van het boek veranderd Obi-Wans instelling niet en vallen zijn gedachte vooral in herhaling. Maar aan de andere kant is dit wel weer heel realistisch voor hoe een persoon in een dergelijke situatie denkt. Het is heel makkelijk om te zien hoe Obi-Wans ervaringen in dit boek hem op weg helpen om de persoon te worden die we kennen uit de films.
White zet een prima representatie van Obi-Wan neer, je twijfelt geen seconden dat dit hetzelfde personage is als we in The Phantom Menace leren kennen, zijn manier van spreken en doen is heel erg in lijn met de Obi-Wan die we in de prequels zien, alleen dan in een jongere vorm. Ook de manier waarop Qui-Gon neergezet wordt voelt heel trouw aan het personage dat we in The Phantom Menace zien. Verder zien we een vrij grote groep nieuwe personages – de inwoners van Lenahra – welke in verschillende mate uitgediept worden. Omdat de groep zo groot is zijn er een aantal personages die weinig aandacht krijgen, maar de belangrijkste personages voelen allemaal als volwaardige personen, met een eigen persoonlijkheid, gedachtengang en onderlinge relaties. De uiteindelijke vijand is naar mijn idee wat magertjes uitgewerkt, maar het boek richt zich dan ook meer op Obi-Wans interne strijd dan de fysieke vijand waar hij het met zijn nieuwe vrienden tegen op moet nemen.
Hoewel het leeuwendeel van het boek draait om Obi-Wan en zijn nieuwe vrienden, komen we her en der wel een flink aantal oude bekenden tegen. Zo heeft Padawan Siri Tachi een rol in dit verhaal en komen we er in Padawan achter hoe Dexter Jettster en Obi-Wan elkaar ontmoet hebben!
Het zeven en een half uur durende audioboek is ingesproken door Star Wars nieuwkomer Gary Furlong. Furlong heeft een prettige voorleesstem maar is vooral ontzettend goed in het imiteren van Ewan McGregor. Niet dat zijn stem identiek klinkt, maar de manier waarop hij spreekt, zijn intonaties en dergelijke zijn nagenoeg perfect. De manier waarop hij Obi-Wan vertolkt is een genot om naar te luisteren. Ook zijn Qui-Gon komt ontzettend natuurgetrouw over.
Zoals met alle audioproducties van Disney-Lucasfilm Press wordt er weer schaars gebruik gemaakt van geluidseffecten en muziek. Geluidseffecten zoals droid en lightsaber geluiden worden gebruikt waar nodig maar er zijn maar weinig extra geluiden te horen, ook muziek is her en der aanwezig voor extra sfeer, maar zeker niet constant, en al helemaal niet afleidend luid. Al met al is het een prettig boek om naar te luisteren, en Furlongs stemkunsten maken het wat mij betreft zeker de moeite waard.
Het boek heeft her en der wat trage stukjes, maar de meeste lezers zullen met een flink tempo door de 410 pagina’s heen vliegen. Het verhaal is pakkend – ook los van Star Wars zou het een uitstekend science fiction verhaal zijn – we leren een hoop over Obi-Wan en Qui-Gon, en na het lezen van Padawan zullen een hoop mensen denk ik ook weer zin krijgen om Master and Apprentice nog eens op te pakken om nog even verder te borduren op de interacties tussen Obi-Wan en Qui-Gon. White heeft wat mij betreft een uitstekend boek geproduceerd en ik zou het niet erg vinden als ze met een volgend Star Wars boek de tijd zou verkennen die Obi-Wan en Qui-Gon op Mandalore doorgebracht hebben. De relatie tussen Obi-Wan en Satine zie ik graag door Kiersten White verteld worden.

I think what I’ve enjoyed most about Kiersten White’s STAR WARS: PADAWAN is getting to see a younger, far less confident Obi-Wan Kenobi than what we’re used to seeing. Instead of the self-assured, surefooted character we see in the films, here he is insecure and full of doubt about his place with the Jedi. This portrayal actually works very well when you mirror it against the recent @disneyplus OBI-WAN KENOBI series, where we again see Obi-Wan doubting his place in the galaxy and his connection with the Force, but finding his way back to believing in himself again.

There are nods to the High Republic books, which I appreciated. I know people have had their issues with the way Disney has dealt with the old Expanded Universe books, but for me, I like this tighter continuity in the publishing branch of the Star Wars universe.

I definitely think that this is a solid read if you are a hardcore SW fan and reader, and this would work for even the casual SW fan.

Gary Furlong’s narration of the audiobook is great. His narration is easy to understand and clear & precise.

Plus, check out that cover by Charlie Bowater. I love how Obi-Wan is portrayed here.

A huge thanks to @disneybooks and @netgalley for providing an early audio download of #StarWarsPadawan in exchange for a fair and honest review.

QOTD: Who is your favorite Star Wars character?

AOTD: I honestly don’t know that I can choose just one, but Vader and Leia are definitely at the top of the list.

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There has been a lot of Obi-Wan content lately, from the Disney+ series to the new line of comics, anyone who is an Obi-Wan fan is certainly eating well! The latest release in this wave of Kenobi is the novel Padawan by Kiersten White. The book follows Obi-Wan back when he was sixteen years old and has only recently been assigned to his mentor, Qui-Gon. Being a Palawan isn’t everything he thought it would be and he is frustrated with his new master, feeling that they don’t do anything important. This leads to him uncovering some old records in the Jedi Temple and taking off on a mission of his own. It is very much a coming-of-age story for this iconic character.

In the past, we have had a Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan Master and Apprentice story so it was refreshing to see Obi-Wan off on his own. In addition to that, we haven’t seen him at this young age before and he is a very different person. But despite that, it still feels exactly like Obi-Wan through and through. It works really well with Claudia’s Master and Apprentice novel and gives us insight into why he makes certain decisions throughout his life. Who he is in the future and his choices can be traced back to events from this novel. And that’s a fantastic connection to make.

For those who have read the High Republic novels, there are some fun little references and callbacks to certain characters from those books. Additionally, at one point Obi-Wan claims he will never have a reckless apprentice which did bring a smile to my face.

Padawan weaves a prequel to this legendary hero, that is sure to delight all fans of his character. I truly loved it. Padawan hits store shelves tomorrow, July 26. Thanks so much to Disney Books for this review copy.

First, thanks to NetGalley and Disney Publishing for an advanced copy of this book!

Kiersten White does an exemplary job at bringing teenage Obi-Wan to life. At his core, Obi-Wan is the same heartfelt and determined person we know from the prequels and original trilogy - he's also just a little more anxious and unsure of himself. And it's in this uncertainty where the best part of this book lies. Seeing Obi-Wan tackle his insecurities and find a peace in the Force we all know he will continue to strive to uphold throughout his life is nothing short of heartwarming and bittersweet.

I would love to see White bring more Star Wars characters (or, indeed, more Obi-Wan adventures) to life. She understands not only the characters she writes but also the representation that is still deeply needed within the Star Wars universe.

Aahhhhhh! This was such a fun read!

It’s like… the lost boys meets Star Wars. And Obi Wan is hilarious, even as a Padawan. I love how his sarcastic hilarious attitude and desire to love people well just shine through in this book.

And the other teens he meets, how spunky and interesting their characters are, I really enjoyed watching how this story played out.

Not to mention the GROWTH we see Obi Wan come through, becoming who we see in the various other canonical series and movies… how he learns about the force, and how to trust it, how to embrace his fear. The self-actualization in this is just so well written. I was examining myself, as we see Obi Wan examine his own mind.

I loved it. I’m not even a hardcore Star Wars fan, just a pretty casual fan. But this was really good. 💛 Definitely a 5 star read— check it out!!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4857192227

Padawan is a YA-Star Wars novel by beloved author Kiersten White. Yes, it is canon and to put it in timeline order, this falls after Dooku: Jedi Lost and prior to Master and Apprentice. I have really been looking forward to this release and for one main reason: MORE OBI-WAN!!!

At the time this story begins, Obi-Wan and his new master, Qui-Gon Jinn, are residing in Coruscant, the home of the Jedi Temple and the Galactic Senate. Obi-Wan is becoming increasing frustrated with his position. He longs to be a great Padawan to Qui-Gon, but Qui-Gon is so distracted, he's not making it easy for young Obi-Wan to feel confident in his training.

Most frustrating to Obi-Wan is how powerless he feels. While his contemporaries are all out on missions throughout the galaxy with their Masters, gaining experience and first-hand knowledge, he is stuck in the capital endlessly studying and meditating. Something has to give. He wants so much more than this. What is the point otherwise?

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon weren't paired up in the usual way. They were actually brought together by Master Yoda. Perhaps it was a mistake. After Qui-Gon's own Master, Dooku, leaves the Jedi Order rumors begin to fly that Qui-Gon may be considering the same move himself. This obviously causes great concern for Obi-Wan. What will happen to him if his Master leaves the Order?

In spite of all of the concerns, Obi-Wan is still desperate to make it work with his Master and he eventually gets Qui-Gon to agree to go on a mission to a remote planet. On the morning they are set to depart, however, Qui-Gon doesn't show. Obi-Wan, young, impulsive and fed-up, decides to go on the mission solo. He is getting out of Coruscant one way or the other.

Along with a droid, A6, Obi-Wan sets out to find the distant planet once explored by Orla Jareni. Yep, you read that right, we are now getting connections to the High Republic-era.

I really enjoyed this story. Getting to spend this much time deep-diving into the growth and development of one of my all-time favorite characters was an absolute treat. This is definitely a coming-of-age story and I thought it was really well done. Obi-Wan is questioning everything about his commitment to the Jedi, his connection to the Force and the workings of the galaxy in general.

The experience he gains on this mission is crucial to his development as a Jedi. Obi-Wan questioned himself a lot and having the freedom to explore by himself really helped to build future success for his character. He couldn't have become who he does without this experience.

I'm really glad that we had the opportunity to get this additional content involving Obi-Wan's development and his relationship with Qui-Gon. White did a great job with this. A must read for fans of Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon!

Thank you so much to the publishers, Disney LucasFilms Press and Disney Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook for this one and as always, Star Wars audiobooks are listening gold. There are so many great sound effects and narration. Highly recommend!!

Pretty easy read, and an interesting story. i read it right after I read master and apprentice and felt like it was a little much obi-wan and qui-gon. But it is very Obi centered and fun to read!

Padawan by Kiersten White isn’t the best YA Star Wars novel but it’s not the worst, either. I had difficulty remaining invested in the story after the first few chapters, and even though White reeled me back in for the final act, I still felt like something was missing. The overall premise is interesting; however, I’m not sure if it was executed well. Nevertheless, Padawan provides a decent bridge from the High Republic content to the prequels and it makes me all the more interested to see what direction the High Republic will go in.

3.5⭐️s
Coming off of the Obi-Wan show on Disney+, it is the perfect time to release a book about him as a padawan. This book was a great insight into the lives of padawans and how their training works as well as a look at Obi-Wan before The Phantom Menace. There were some great connections to the High Republic as well as the prequels and even some foreshadowing of the events of the original trilogy. It is definitely a YA story and could be read by middle-grade readers as well. Overall, it was a quick, easy and enjoyable read that gives more background on Obi-Wan and how he became a jedi.