Written by Tom Angleberger
Published by Amulet Books, 2010
ISBN 9780810984257

Does Origami Yoda, perched on the index finger of Dwight, the weirdest kid in McQuarrie Middle School, really have special wisdom? Can it really solve the other kids’ problems, answer all their questions? That is the mystery Tommy sets out to solve in The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. He gathers reports from other kids’ experiences with Origami Yoda. Has Origami Yoda really solved their difficulties with life, love, and school work, not to mention the whole issue of hogging Cheetos?

With first-hand accounts from outsiders, nerds, cute girls, jocks and snarky kids alike, Tommy delves into this mystery. How can Dwight, who seems so clueless and hopeless, possibly have on his finger a figure of such unsurpassed insight? Is Origami Yoda for real, or is this some kind of a trick?

This book is hilarious and insightful at the same time. We can relate to the problems of these middle-schoolers. Their voices sound real. And the solutions to their problems, though not obvious or predictable, make sense. Tommy’s friend, Harvey, comments skeptically throughout, and is never convinced of Yoda’s legitimacy. Tommy’s other friend, Kellen, doodles on nearly every page, adding his own sort of commentary. And throughout, Dwight, the weirdo loser, sits at the heart of the story, an enigma wrapped in a bad sweater. Is he brilliant, or crazy? A total loser, or the sharpest kid in school? Pick up this book, dear readers, and decide for yourselves!

—Steve Mudd, author