The Strange Case of Origami Yodaby Tom Angleberger

Published in 2010. 144 pages.
2010 Cybils Award Winner.


Summary of the book from goodreads:

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, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.

My eleven-year-old son adores this book! After numerous encounters around the house with Origami Yoda (in various sizes and colors) - and because the book was a 2010 Cybils Award Finalist - I finally decided that I needed to read the book myself.

I thought it was a lot of fun. I highly recommend it to middle grade students, especially those that are fans of Star Wars and/or origami. (The book includes instructions for making an origami yoda.) Enjoy it you will!

Jennifer at 5 Minutes for Books called the book "a realistic age-appropriate look at 6th graders that won’t make a parent cringe." Read her full review here.

According to the Origami Yoda website, a sequel is forthcoming: Darth Paper Strikes Back. My son will be so excited to hear that news!

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