Read, You Must: Rey's Story

Thanks to a fantastic performance by actress Daisy Ridley in The Force Awakens, Rey has quickly become a favourite new character to many fans. It’s easy to see why: she’s awesome!

Now Rey fans can enjoy reading Star Wars: The Force Awakens Rey’s Story, a new middle-grade chapter book from author Elizabeth Schaefer, available in paperback from Disney-Lucasfilm Press. It’s a brisk, 140-page take on The Force Awakens and a fun, exciting way to relive many of the main scenes of the film. The book is literally only Rey’s story from the film. 

The narrator follows Rey along on her adventure from scavenging the desert of Jakku to meeting BB-8, Finn, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Maz Kanata and then Kylo Ren and eventually even a very famous Jedi in hiding...

That means, however, that there’s barely any mention of Poe Dameron, General Hux, Captain Phasma or Supreme Leader Snoke. I didn’t realize that Rey never or barely encounters so many key characters in the movie until reading this book!

The story unfolds as though the author is there side-by-side watching Rey’s journey, but no more privy to her deeper thoughts than the other characters. Most likely there were many restrictions placed on the author because Rey is a character with such a secretive past, hopefully to be revealed in future Star Wars movies.

Then again, even Kylo Ren couldn’t get inside her mind either!

Elizabeth Schaefer’s writing is never needlessly complicated but offers vocabulary appropriately challenging to confident young readers. The book also contains many terrific Brian Rood illustrations, as does the cover.

Put aside any expectations that this will answer all the big questions about Rey from the movie and just enjoy a well-written, fast-paced version of Rey’s Story from The Force Awakens.

Publisher’s Recommendation: Ages 8-12

Also check out: Before the Awakening, a middle-grade collection of three short stories, one of which focuses entirely on Rey. Read our review here.