From Childhood Obsession To Adult Passion: My Star Wars Books Journey

My Star Wars story is like many others. I was not yet 5 years old when The Phantom Menace was released in theaters, meaning I have no memories of a time before I knew about the far, far away galaxy. 

The franchise permeated my childhood. Lightsaber duels, AttackTix battles, and Battlefront rounds (too many to count) defined my time with my younger brother and the other boys who lived on our street.

Eventually, I got older, and while my passion for the franchise remained, it took a backseat to interests I could share with other girls my age. Middle and high school environments required me to conform and compromise my nerdier parts to fit in with my peers. Being nerdy was frowned upon, especially if it related to anything deemed a “boys” franchise. I would go to the sci-fi section of the library and read the back of every Star Wars book, but I never checked them out because I didn’t want to get caught with one.

A Turning Point

Then, in January 2021, I saw an Instagram post about a new book called The Light of the Jedi. Set during the new High Republic era, I was intrigued to know more about the time known as the height of the Jedi. I became fully invested in this new story from page one. It not only introduced me to new characters and settings in a world I already knew and enjoyed.

Caroline Vincent/Youtini

From there, I continued to read and consume over 20 Canon stories across novels, comics, and audio dramas. I had missed out on so much over the years by not consuming the written stories of this universe. Backstories, character introductions, and entirely new worlds awaited me on pages I had never turned to before.

Real-World Impact

Reading Star Wars also introduced me to people I wouldn’t have known in real life. I found Youtini because of their coverage of this new-found hobby of mine. Four years later, I’m legitimate friends with the rest of the staff and a member of the best online fandom community. 

It’s a community that outwardly and often celebrates the parts of myself I used to feel like I had to hide.

These stories offer insight into characters I thought I knew well my whole life. Learning the inner workings of teenage Leia and Padmé’s relationships with her handmaidens completely changed how I viewed these women I had looked up to for so many years. Characters who had maybe had their story cut short got new life and were explored to depths visual media could never follow.

Caroline Vincent/Youtini

Defining events, like the explosion of the Death Star, took on new meanings as I read about how different groups experienced the same thing. Systems and institutions were broken down through the eyes of characters across the galaxy experiencing the impacts of the rules set in place. All this made the galaxy feel even bigger and even more real. 

As I read more, I was better able to understand the inner workings of characters and the worlds in which they lived. And the more I read, the more I could similarly understand those around me. I found Star Wars to be an avenue to question and philosophize about the politics, religion, and interpersonal relationships I’m surrounded by in real life. While the visual media of the franchise could raise similar questions, I would not be able to explore them as deeply as I do when I read Star Wars books.

My love for Star Wars has grown from childlike enchantment to a better understanding of myself and the world around me.

Caroline Vincent/Youtini

These days, I read a little less Star Wars than I used to, but I still try to make it a priority. The franchise continues to be a lens through which I discuss and understand things. On the page and on the screen, Star Wars stories are some of my favorites ever told and some of the most important. And if I weren’t reading about them, I’d only be getting half of the saga.