One of the most versatile, affordable, and bountiful ways to collect Star Wars is in the vast array of novels. The dynamic quantity of Star Wars novels numbers into the hundreds of titles, including many that are made for younger readers.
The 14-book Young Jedi Knights series (Boulevard and Berkley Jam) by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta was published in 1995-1998. The popular young adult series centers around the Jedi training of teenaged Jacen and Jaina Solo, the twin children of Leia and Han Solo.
The Jedi Apprentice series (Scholastic) was among the first to tell stories set in the prequel timeframe once Phantom Menace was released in theaters. Comprising 18 books for young readers, they tell the adventures of Master Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn and young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi before Episode I. The series starts with Obi-Wan trying to become an apprentice, loyalties are challenged, remote planets explored, a scientist experiments with the Force, and there are political struggles, all the while Obi-Wan comes of age during their missions. Published in 1999-2002, the first book was written by Wolverton and the rest were written by Jude Watson.
The 11-book Jedi Quest (Scholastic) by Watson was another series for young readers. Published in 2001-2004, their protagonists were Obi-Wan and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker in the time between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. In the books, Anakin completes tasks in his Jedi training, they investigate a variety of situations on several planets, and the tension between the Master and Padawan becomes evident.
Obi-Wan Kenobi held the spotlight as a solo act in The Last of the Jedi young adult series (Scholastic) in 2005-2008. Written by Watson, the 10-book series follows Obi-Wan Kenobi after Revenge of the Sith when he’s in exile on Tatooine. Obi-Wan adjusts to solitary life, protects baby Luke, laments what happened with Anakin, and mourns the loss of the Jedi ‒ then finds out that Jedi apprentice Ferus Olin is alive and decides to help the vulnerable fugitive.
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