Books like Return of the Padawan

A hilarious, doodle-filled survival guide to the most dangerous planet in the galaxy: middle school. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Return of the Padawan.

lighthearted
chaotic
cozy
nostalgic

01
Jedi Academy
Jeffrey Brown
A hilarious, doodle-filled journey through the awkwardness of middle school, set in a galaxy far, far away.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- humorous
- playful
- earnest
02
Darth Vader and son
Jeffrey Brown
A heartwarming and hilarious collision of epic space opera stakes with the everyday exhaustion of raising a toddler.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- cozy
- nostalgic
- playful
03
Star Wars - Force Collector
Kevin Shinick
A galaxy-hopping quest for truth that blends the thrill of discovery with the earnest search for belonging.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
04
Droids in distress
Michael Kogge
A high-energy, scrappy sci-fi adventure that captures the thrill of outsmarting a galactic empire.
Shares:
- playful
- earnest
05
Star Wars Kanan
Greg Weisman
A fast-paced, visually driven journey tracing a sarcastic renegade's origins back to his days as a disciplined apprentice during a galactic war.
Shares:
- nostalgic
- earnest
06
Legends of Zita the spacegirl
Ben Hatke
A delightful, action-packed graphic novel romp through space that balances intergalactic chaos with a heartfelt exploration of staying true to yourself.
Shares:
- chaotic
- earnest
07
Star Wars - Lost Stars
Claudia Gray
A sweeping, star-crossed romance that tests the breaking point between childhood loyalty and ideological duty against the backdrop of a galactic war.
Shares:
- earnest
08
All's faire in middle school
Victoria Jamieson
A warm, visually engaging exploration of the awkward clash between a quirky, theatrical family life and the harsh realities of public middle school.
Shares:
- humorous
- relatable
- earnest
09
Star Wars. Vader down
Jason Aaron
A thrilling, high-stakes comic experience where overwhelming odds meet the terrifying, unstoppable force of the dark side.
Feels:
- action-packed
- tense
- ominous
10
Star Wars - Legacy of the Jedi
Jude Watson · 2003
A sweeping, generational adventure that traces the tragic unraveling of a friendship through the shifting loyalties of the Jedi Order.
Shares:
- earnest
11
Timmy Failure
Stephan Pastis
A delightfully absurd, deadpan romp through the mind of a spectacularly oblivious kid detective and his polar bear partner.
Shares:
- lighthearted
- chaotic
- humorous
12
The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Ryder Windham
A sweeping, bittersweet journey through the life of a legendary hero defined by duty, heartbreak, and enduring hope.
Shares:
- earnest

Back to Return of the Padawan