Time period: 18 (?) years after Return of the Jedi. [Editor's note: This is an educated guess, based on the twins being 14 years old, and Leia and Han not getting together until 4 years after Return of the Jedi, as shown in The Courtship of Princess Leia.]

Back cover text: JACEN and JAINA. When the Empire died, they were born -- a new hope for a New Republic. The young twins of Han Solo and Princess Leia are now fourteen, and enrolled at Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy on Yavin 4. Together with friends both old and new, the future heroes of an already legendary saga begin their training.

Luke Skywalker has come to a grim conclusion. With the threat of a new generation of Dark Jedi being trained at the Shadow Academy, he knows the New Republic will need all the fighters it can muster. At last, it is time for the young Jedi Knights to build their lightsabers.

But there is more to mastering the ancient weapon than mere swordsmanship. Each student must learn about the mysterious bond between Jedi and lightsaber. For Jacen and Jaina, success will mean growing stronger in the Force. But for one of their friends, failure will mean tragedy...