Darth Paper Strikes Back

September 19, 2011
Tommy, Dwight, and the rest of their friends from The Strange Case of Origami Yoda are back, and so is Dwight's wise, eponymous finger puppet, Origami Yoda, who has also transitioned to seventh grade. But Dwight's (and Origami Yoda's) days are numbered, as complaints about Dwight's behavior may lead to his being sent to a school for troubled youth. Following the format of the first book, Tommy and his friends compile episodic accounts that attest to Dwight/Origami Yoda's wisdom in dealing with problems that range from a classmate with terrible body odor to getting out of selling collectible popcorn tins for a school fundraiser. But antagonistic classmate Harvey, who has taken to wearing a Darth Paper finger puppet, is slowly turning the class toward the Dark Side. As with this story's predecessor, the well-observed middle-school dynamics (and Angleberger's sharp sense of humor) are greatly amplified by the book's design, which includes faux wrinkled pages, abundant doodles, and other scrawled marginalia. It's a natural step up from the Wimpy Kid series, with more text and narrative complexity, but just as much on-target humor and all-around fun. Ages 8â12.

Starred review from October 15, 2011
Can tiny paper guru Origami Yoda save nerdy Dwight (from whose finger Yoda pontificates) from Principal Rabbski's unfounded suspension (and worse)? Last year, the sixth graders of McQuarrie Middle School compiled a case file to decide whether Origami Yoda was real or just Dwight wiggling his paper-clad finger and talking in a Yoda voice; he seemed to be the real deal and helped a lot of students out. Unfortunately, on the first day of seventh grade, ever-skeptical Harvey appears with an origami Darth Vader on his finger bent on dispensing the gospel of the Dark Side…well, actually he is still trying to get everyone to admit Origami Yoda's a total scam. Is Darth Paper more powerful than Origami Yoda? When Jen asks Origami Yoda for advice about cheerleading tryouts and he says, "Zero Hour comes. Prepare to meet your doom!", Principal Rabbski suspends Dwight for threatening behavior and recommends he be sent to CREF, the Correctional and Remedial Education Facility. Tommy plans to take this new case file, complete with negative comments from Harvey and illustrations from Kellen, to the school board to save his friend. Angleberger's just-as-funny follow-up to The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (2010) delves deeper into the mystery of the helpful paper Yoda in a satisfying tale of friendship and just resistance to authority. Pitch-perfect middle-school milieu and enough Star Wars references (and laughs) to satisfy fans and win new ones. (paper-folding instructions) (Graphic hybrid fiction. 9-14)

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February 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Like The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Abrams, 2010), this book is honest, funny, and immensely entertaining. The story again revolves around Dwight and his advice-dispensing finger puppet, Origami Yoda. Tommy, Dwight, and the rest of the crew are back for seventh grade at McQuarrie Middle School. The promising year takes a turn for the worse when Dwight is suspended, drawing suspicions that Harvey and his rival finger puppet, Darth Paper, are responsible. Origami Yoda's last piece of advice to Tommy is to create a file to present to the school board to keep Dwight from getting kicked out for good. The chapters are narrated by a variety of characters, each building the case in support of Dwight and Origami Yoda. The illustrations and design will engage readers, with pages made to look like those from an actual case file and black-and-white doodles filling the margins. Based on the positive reception Origami Yoda has received, kids will be clamoring for this sequel. They won't be disappointed.-Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI

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