Tom Angleberger
Amulet, 2010
141 pages
Grades 4-6
Realistic Fiction--or is it?
The sixth grade students at McQuarrie Middle School have a secret weapon to solve their problems: a small origami Yoda, who sits on the finger of class nerd, Dwight. Dwight is far from wise and ignores Yoda's advise himself, which proves that Origami Yoda must be real, right? Various narrators relate their experiences with the mythical wise-man and weigh in with opinions on if he is the real-deal, or a figment of Dwight's overactive imagination. Tommy, a believer, is the primary narrator who gathers the accounts. Harvey is the skeptic who provides the counterpoints, and Kellen adds the whimsical cartoon doodles all through the casefile. Yoda proves to be an expert on many matters ranging from those of the heart, teacher trouble, and erasing a reputation blemish. One event leads to another culminating in the middle school fun-night/dance when all of his advice proves to be solid though his origin remains suspect. The adventures continue in Darth Vader Strikes Back and five other titles in this hilarious and popular series.
I have been a fan of this series since it was released over ten years ago. I think that the concept is clever, as well as the over-all book design, which resembles a kid's notebook. The different narrators are in different fonts adding to the clarity of the narration and authenticity. The problems and the voices of the kids are realistic and relatable. The best thing about this book is that it is an easy sell to reluctant readers and has a Star Wars hook, which always draws a fanbase. Much like the Wimpy Kid series, the pages give an impression that the story is for younger children, but the subject matter makes it more appropriate for older elementary/early middle school. Readers will wonder if Origami Yoda is real, making for a great classroom/book discussion. Readers will also be inspired to make their own Origami Yoda from the instructions in the back of the volume and may even check out how to do the twist on YouTube. Best of all, this story demonstrates kindness, understanding, and respect, which we could all see a bit more of these days. A sure-fire winner for reluctant readers and anyone searching for something light-yet not trashy.
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