The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Origami Yoda Books #1)

by Tom Angleberger (Author)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (Origami Yoda  Books #1)
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade

In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren't strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient.

Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight's classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless.

With contributions from his puzzled classmates, Tommy assembles this first case file in the blockbuster bestselling Origami Yoda series, written by Tom Angleberger, author of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side, and hailed by School Library Journal as "honest, funny, and immensely entertaining."

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Publishers Weekly

Is Origami Yoda real? is the question that plagues sixth-grader Tommy and drives the plot of this snappy debut. From one perspective, Origami Yoda is a finger puppet that offers cryptic but oddly sage advice to Tommy and his classmates. From another, he is simply the green paperwad animated by Tommy's misfit friend, Dwight, who wear[s] shorts with his socks pulled up above his knees and stares into space like a hypnotized chicken. Compiling a series of funny, first-person accounts of Yoda's wisdom from his friends, Tommy hopes to solve this mystery to determine whether to trust Yoda's advice about asking a certain girl to dance. Angleberger peppers his chapters with spot-on boy banter, humorously crude Captain Underpantsstyle drawings, and wisecrack asides that comically address the social land mines of middle school. Tommy confronts the ethical dilemma of standing up for the weird kid and the angst of school dances: My hands were shaking and my stomach was excited like the time my dad accidentally drove into a fire hydrant. But with enigmatic counsel like Cheetos for everyone you must buy, Yoda keeps the mystery alive. Ages 812. "(Apr.)"

Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6  For Tommy, the only question is whether or not Origami Yoda is real. Of course he's real as a small puppet on Dwight's finger. But does the oracle possess magic power? In order to find out, he decides to compile scientific evidence from the experiences of those who asked Origami Yoda for help. His friend Harvey is invited to comment on each story because he thinks Yoda is nothing but a "green paper wad." Tommy also comments because he's supposedly trying to solve the puzzle. In actuality, the story is about boys and girls in sixth grade trying to figure out how being social works. In fact, Tommy says, "]it's about this really cool girl, Sara, and whether or not I should risk making a fool of myself for her." The situations that Yoda has a hand in are pretty authentic, and the setting is broad enough to be any school. The plot is age-old but with the twist of being presented on crumpled pages with cartoon sketches, supposed hand printing, and varying typefaces. Kids should love it."Sheila Fiscus, Our Lady of Peace School, Erie, PA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

This book is so cool. I love it!!! >u<

I think this book is fun. It has Origami instructions, too.

Tom Angleberger
Rose Brock is a professor and educator at Sam Houston State University who has dedicated her career to turning young people into book lovers. Building relationships with readers through books is her superpower. In addition to her career as a librarian and educator, Dr. Brock is the cofounder of NTTBF, the North Texas Teen Book Festival, the largest library run book festival for young people in the country. Dr. Brock was awarded the Siddie Joe Johnson Award for Outstanding Service to Youth by the Texas Library Association. She is the editor of Hope Nation: Young Adult Authors Share Personal Moments of Inspiration and author of Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian's Guide. Visit her online at drrosebrock.com.

Follow her on Twitter @reallyrosebrock.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780810984257
Lexile Measure
760
Guided Reading Level
T
Publisher
Harry N. Abrams
Publication date
March 01, 2010
Series
Origami Yoda Books
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV040000 - Juvenile Fiction | Toys, Dolls & Puppets
JUV035000 - Juvenile Fiction | School & Education
JUV039000 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | General
Library of Congress categories
Schools
Interpersonal relations
Middle schools
Eccentrics and eccentricities
Origami
Finger puppets
Yoda (Fictitious character: Lucas)
Cybils
Winner 2010 - 2010
Bluebonnet Awards
Winner 2012 - 2012
Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
E.B. White Read Aloud Award
Winner 2011 - 2011
Kentucky Bluegrass Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens
Recommended 2011 - 2011
Georgia Children's Book Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Colorado Children's Book Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Great Stone Face Book Award
Nominee 2011 - 2012
North Carolina Children's Book Award
Winner 2012 - 2012
Virginia Readers Choice Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Delaware Diamonds Award
Nominee 2011 - 2012
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 2012 - 2012
Sequoyah Book Awards
Winner 2013 - 2013
Flicker Tale Children's Book Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Young Reader's Choice Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Young Hoosier Book Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
William Allen White Childens Book Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
South Carolina Childrens, Junior and Young Adult Book Award
Nominee 2012 - 2013
Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Rhode Island Children's Book Awards
Winner 2012 - 2012
Sasquatch Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Nene Award
Winner 2014 - 2014
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award
Nominee 2013 - 2013
Land of Enchantment Book Award
Winner 2012 - 2013
Nevada Young Readers' Award
Winner 2014 - 2014

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