A Rebellious Obi-Wan? Oh, I Don't Think So

So far we have yet to see a young Obi-Wan in the early days of his training until now. Padawan by Kiersten White delves into the complex intricacies of Obi-Wan's psyche as he struggles to find his footing as a Jedi Padawan. Between contemplating his place within the Jedi Order itself and where he stands with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan discovers old files from Orla Jareni that were logged into the records but were never updated, and since Obi-Wan feels a strong connection to this Wayseeker, he decides to finish what she started. Ultimately, Obi-Wan ends up on Lenahra, an otherwise unfamiliar planet, and meets what appears to be the planet's only inhabitants: a group of children. Lenahra's secrets begin to unfold the longer Obi-Wan remains on the planet, and he soon realizes everyone is in danger unless he can get to the bottom of the great disturbance in the Force.

For a YA installment, Padawan delivers on all of the key aspects and is still a smooth read for older fans. The premise of following a 16 year-old Obi-Wan on an adventure while having him sort through some heavy burdens is especially relatable for the target age group and is something anyone can identify with. Despite strategic uses of themes, Padawan fell short for me due to the overuse of said themes - meaning it's rare to find a chapter where Obi-Wan isn't questioning everything he is doing, is about to do, or his Master - and the story progression suffered as a result. The end is where the plot picks up but has a rather convenient ending that feels rushed which I think is a missed opportunity for including a tailpiece demonstrating how Obi-Wan is different at the end of the novel versus in the beginning. Although, despite its shortcomings, I found a few instances where I enjoyed learning the history of some prominent components to the prequels - one of which being how Obi-Wan first knew a certain Besalisk.

Final Thoughts: Padawan by Kiersten White is another fine addition to the YA lineup of Star Wars novels set around the time of the prequels. With references from The High Republic and beyond, there are hidden gems for fans to discover along the adventure of following Obi-Wan through one of his earliest trials.

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