The Best Part of THE FORCE AWAKENS

Adam's debut novel, PEAK CROSSER (EMPIRE OF THE PEAKS BOOK 1) will be released on May 26. To follow its release, sign up for the newsletter (field is on the right). PEAK CROSSER is an epic fantasy about a man who's framed for murder and fights to return home to his wife and daughters. 

WARNING: THERE ARE SOME MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T SEE 'THE FORCE AWAKENS' BUT WANT TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT, STOP READING. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The newest entry into the Star Wars movie universe is now weeks old and breaking box office records. The hype was huge, and the movie mostly matched its lofty expectations.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I'm often asked what I think of the movie or where I would rank it among the six previous films. I may do a post about that someday soon, but not today. Today I'm writing about my favorite part about the newest movie.

"There's been an awakening. Have you felt it?"

But the awakening isn't among older geeks like myself. The awakening happened in thousands of theaters across the globe as children watched the movie.

I saw TFA opening Thursday with my 9-year-old daughter, Lena, and a friend and his daughter. My favorite part about the movie was her reaction to it.

As we drove away, I asked her about her favorite parts. Every part she loved revolved around Rey. Like my fascination with Luke Skywalker as a kid, my daughter is fixated on Rey: how she didn't want her hand held, how she's brave, how she can handle herself, her goodness in caring for a droid.

This is her movie, not mine. I loved the movie, but it will never replace me seeing Return of the Jedi in the theaters as a boy. Don't get me wrong; I loved TFA and JJ Abrams and team got way more right than they got wrong, bringing to life awesome characters and a captivating story. 

But watching my daughter watch the movie was better than the movie itself, watching her imagination take fire like mine did long ago in a galaxy far away.