ALA Booklist

Ahsoka Tano, former Padawan to Anakin Skywalker, is no more. Now she's only Ashla, an itinerant tinker living on the farming moon Raada. But when Imperial Forces arrive on Raada, Ashla must make a choice: continue to run or return to her roots and fight for the people she has begun to consider friends. A popular character from the TV shows The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, Ahsoka is here given depth and a backstory for what happened to her between the two series. Unfortunately, this means that some parts might be confusing for readers who have only watched the Star Wars movies. But despite that, Johnston pens an engaging story with plenty of action, strong female characters, and even a bit of light romance. In Johnston's competent hands, the expansive Star Wars universe narrows down to a few simple planets and a group of people that may be small, but whose worth is seen clearly by the burgeoning Rebel Alliance. Teens enchanted by the franchise's return to the big screen will be eager for this, too.

Horn Book

Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano, uses her Jedi training to rescue her new friends on an Imperial-controlled farming moon. Johnston fills gaps in Ahsoka's story between the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. The story's leisurely pace transitions into an action-filled ending. Fans will be pleased, but readers unfamiliar with the source material aren't given enough background.

Kirkus Reviews

Ahsoka Tano is a Jedi on the run. She is a Togruta who managed to survive the aftermath of Order 66, the Empire's plan to eradicate all the Jedi. Ahsoka is forced to hide on planets in the Outer Rim, so as to not attract attention while she tries to reconcile her new fate without the guidance of her former master, Anakin Skywalker. As a Padawan left without counsel, Ahsoka must rely on her Jedi training to keep her true identity a secret. Taking on a new name, Ashla, she finds refuge and work as a mechanic on the farming moon of Raada. After the Empire makes a surprise visit in an attempt to occupy the moon, a failed resistance plan by farmers incites an Imperial attack on Ahsoka's new friends, and she is forced to openly use her Jedi powers to temporarily save them. Now that the Empire is aware that there is indeed a Jedi still alive in the galaxy, they spare no expense to find her. Johnston offers up an emotional and exciting chapter in the Star Wars saga, filling fans in on what exactly happened to at least one Jedi that survived Order 66. The best revelations come when familiar faces treasured by fans appear from the shadows as Ahsoka's allies, as the fight between Light and Dark continues. A great treat for young-and not-so-young-Star Wars fans that provides a thrilling back story for a compelling character. (Science fiction. 12 & up)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Ahsoka Tano holds a special place in the hearts of many "Star Wars" aficionados. The breakout character of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV show finally gets her story told, and fans will not be disappointed. After leaving the order of the Jedis and her teacher Padawan Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka embarks on a journey to discover who she is and how she can move on after leaving the group that has defined her for so long. She ends up on Raada, a small, out-of-the-way moon base, and begins a new life. When the evil Imperial forces rear their heads, Ahsoka's newly idyllic life starts to sour, and she can't help but heed the familiar call of the Rebel Alliance. Teens will be able to relate to Ahsoka's emotional journey of attempting to find her place in the world. The plot moves at a slow pace in the first half as Ahsoka tries to deal with her emotions and figure things out. Those who have little to no knowledge of The Clone Wars and Rebels TV shows will be lost, as Johnston gives almost no background on the title character's previous adventures. VERDICT "Star Wars" devotees will rejoice in reading this long-awaited chapter in the life of a fan favorite; others may want to skip this one. Christopher Lassen, BookOps: The New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library

Voice of Youth Advocates (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Ahsoka, Anakin Skywalker's Padawan, flees one planet after another as the Empire's rule expands. Landing on Raada, a small insignificant agricultural moon, she thinks she may have found a haven. Spending her time repairing machinery, she is welcomed by the farmers, especially Kaedan and her sister Miara. Yet Ahsoka plans for the worst, stashing spare metal parts and food rations in a cave away from town. When the Imperial forces arrive, decimating Raada's fields with their own crops, Ahsoka prepares to save the people about whom she has grown to care. Without her knowledge, the farmers launch an attack on the Imperial Compound and Kaedan is taken prisoner. Ahsoka must use the Jedi skills she has been hiding to free her but she must call on old allies to relocate her new friends.Peppered with flashbacks of Ahsoka's life as a Jedi, the author skillfully ties the movie trilogies together with this transitional story. Darth Vader has already come into his own as a leader of the Empire, and Luke is growing up oblivious to his heritage on Taatoine. There is one heart-stopping moment at the end of the story when the farming community is almost resettled on Alderaan. Unaware that Obi-Wan and Yoda are still alive, Ahsoka begins to gather together the few Jedi who remain and protect any children who are force-sensitive. As an indication of her new beginning, Ahsoka chooses the name Fulcrum. This book will be read in libraries with large Star Wars collections. It is not notable for its literary merit but for its popularity.Nancy K. Wallace.Star Wars Ahsoka will capture the attention of old and new Star Wars fans alike. It follows her journey from when she is hiding away in the outer rims to when she slowly starts to return to the life she left behind. Ahsoka learns to show her vulnerability, something she fought against, and begins to figure out who she is with the help of the friends she made in her darkest times. 3Q, 5P.Mary Kusluch, Teen Reviewer.