Star Wars: A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
by Alexandra Bracken
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens is scheduled to be released this month. Build on students' enthusiasm for this movie by sharing this modern retelling of an earlier movie in the series, Stars Wars: A New Hope. Not only does it take a deeper look at how these three heroes fought the forces of evil that threatened them, but it's organized into three parts, one for each each character's perspective.
Activity: Stereotypes and Reader's Theater
After students have read Bracken's novel, ask them to discuss the ways in which Princess Leia defies the traditional role of "princess," citing passages from the text to back up their points. Next, have students read Reader's Theater Script Two, in which Princess Leia is interrogated. Discuss as a class how this scene exemplifies the conflict between Leia and Darth Vader and how actors might use their voices to highlight the meaning and emotion behind certain phrases. (Reading: Foundational Skills: RF.4.4; RF.5.4)