Name: Star Wars: Before the Awakening
ISBN: 9781484728222

Greg Rucka

A companion piece to the "Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens" character novels, Star Wars: Before the Awakening is an anthology book that focuses on the lives of Rey, Finn, and Poe before the events of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: Before the Awakening

b.andherbooks

A short book that gives a bit of backstory to Finn, Rey, and Poe in the time leading up to the events in Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Overall, I really am enjoying these "Mid-Grade" new canon Star Wars books. I would urge any Star Wars fan to read them, as they are not childish in anyway. This particular novel was a bit heavy on the action sequences for my personal taste, but gave good insights into the motives of each of my new favorite characters.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

In Finn's section, we learn that he is still in training to become a Stormtrooper, and that he is one of "the best" candidates training under Captain Phasma. However, his superiors are worried that he has too much empathy... Finn is part of a four-person squad, and as I read I wondered if perhaps one of these others may have been the trooper from the film that seems to recognize Finn, tosses his or her blaster away, and than attacks Finn with a crazy lightsaber-repelling staff of some kind. WELL just as I'm finishing this the Internets confirms that yes, indeed, one of Finn's cohort is indeed that trooper in the movie. Nailed it.

Rey's section was very poignant, and sad, and made me love her even more (if possible). I especially enjoyed learning how she gained her piloting skills because it is not like she had a ton of access to working ships. I'll let you read it to find out.

Poe's section didn't really reveal much more of his character and just reinforced his awesomeness and how he became attached to the Resistance. I did like the explanation of how the Resistance fits in between the Republic and The First Order.

Again, highly recommend.

Jane Krauss

The book starts at an exciting place and shows these once peaceful people cope with living within the Empire. Once again, a glimpse of the ordinary people of the galaxy. 
I also loved the different poems from the in-universe book of collected poems. It was just the right amount of nerdy for me.