I haven't read much of the new Star Wars YA stuff, but I have read the new SW comics and a couple of the new adult novels. There is precious little to nothing in them about Rey.
But, it just came to me--my thoughts on who she is.
I don't think she's related to anybody. Not Skywalker. Not Kenobi. Not Solo.
What I think is that she was a prodigy. She's extremely strong in the Force, and Skywalker sensed it. Rey, as an infant or very young girl, was under the care of Skywalker as he trained his new Jedis. Then, Ben Solo became enthralled with his grandfather and fell to the Dark Side, with Snoke's guidance. He became Kylo Ren, leader of the Knights of Ren. And, he destroyed Skywalker's Academy, slaughtering all the trainees.
Luke reeled at the massacre. He hid the young girl (maybe her parents did, and then they were killed) on Jakkuu, then went into hiding, searching for the Lost Jedi Temple and guidance of his own--he blames himself for Ben's fall, and Luke searches for more Jedi guidance that he needs if he is ever to re-establish the Jedi.
This prodigy...this young girl, so strong in the Force...was, of course, known to Ben. That's why Kylo Ren recognizes her but doesn't recognize her.
Ren has always been good at things. She's a mechanical wiz, a natural flyer, and a good fighter. Whatever she puts her mind to, she picks it up quickly. That's why she was able to fly the Falcon the way she did--overcome Unkar Plutt's devices that he worked into the Falcon--and pick up a lightsaber and fight a trained (not fully) Knight of Ren.
The Force is not just strong with her. It's overbearing. It's a focal point.
And, there has been an Awakening, and it's about to explode all over Episode VIII.
Just my take.
But, it just came to me--my thoughts on who she is.
I don't think she's related to anybody. Not Skywalker. Not Kenobi. Not Solo.
What I think is that she was a prodigy. She's extremely strong in the Force, and Skywalker sensed it. Rey, as an infant or very young girl, was under the care of Skywalker as he trained his new Jedis. Then, Ben Solo became enthralled with his grandfather and fell to the Dark Side, with Snoke's guidance. He became Kylo Ren, leader of the Knights of Ren. And, he destroyed Skywalker's Academy, slaughtering all the trainees.
Luke reeled at the massacre. He hid the young girl (maybe her parents did, and then they were killed) on Jakkuu, then went into hiding, searching for the Lost Jedi Temple and guidance of his own--he blames himself for Ben's fall, and Luke searches for more Jedi guidance that he needs if he is ever to re-establish the Jedi.
This prodigy...this young girl, so strong in the Force...was, of course, known to Ben. That's why Kylo Ren recognizes her but doesn't recognize her.
Ren has always been good at things. She's a mechanical wiz, a natural flyer, and a good fighter. Whatever she puts her mind to, she picks it up quickly. That's why she was able to fly the Falcon the way she did--overcome Unkar Plutt's devices that he worked into the Falcon--and pick up a lightsaber and fight a trained (not fully) Knight of Ren.
The Force is not just strong with her. It's overbearing. It's a focal point.
And, there has been an Awakening, and it's about to explode all over Episode VIII.
Just my take.