The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

"I found The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger to have a great plot. This contemporary realistic fiction features awkward middle-school kids that are all too ready to grow up. The story takes place in a familiar place to the audience, a junior high school. The progressive storyline shows everything from how self-conscious, weird, high-strung, and embarrassing it can be to be in junior high to how to take the high road and how to be a loyal friend. Tommy’s case-files, his friend Kellen’s pictures, and his other friend Harvey’s comments portray stories that will remind kids of themselves and their best friends. Dwight, who does everything socially unacceptable, has a finger puppet that solves everyone’s problems. I feel like the puppet is great in the story but is a bit of a stretch in terms of realism. This book will entice the reader to question conformity and whether they’d be accepted for being different, even to Dwight’s extreme. The short story, journal format is great for young teens. This is the age where they start journaling themselves and seeing that represented in literature helps them see themselves represented. Children that may be experiencing problems with how to fit in with their friends and feelings toward the opposite sex will find characters to relate to. Despite characters in the book being fictionalized, that doesn’t stop them from seeming real. I feel like the language is spot-on for the age range that this book is intended for, as they’re treading the waters of what is acceptable to say and what isn’t. Some parents and teachers may consider the typical middle-school name calling unacceptable. This book is humorous, and even a little romantic, and is great for late elementary to early junior high students that are discovering who they are."