The Strange Case of Origami Yoda (audiobook) by Tom Angleberger - Paul's REVIEW

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Title: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda
Author: Tom Angleberger
Year Published: 2010

Narrators: Mark Turetsky, Greg Steinbruner, Jonathan Ross, Julia Gibson, and Charlotte Parry
Audiobook Length: 2 hours 13 minutes


Synopsis: IT TAKES THE WISDOM OF YODA TO SURVIVED THE SIXTH GRADE

Meet Dwight, a sixth-grade oddball. Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same T-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight." This is embarrassing, particularly for Tommy, who sits with him at lunch every day. 

But Dwight does one cool thing. He makes origami. One day he makes an origami finger puppet of Yoda. And that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions.

Tommy wants to know how Origami Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. Is Yoda tapping into the Force? It's crucial that Tommy figure out the mystery before he takes Yoda's advice about something VERY IMPORTANT that has to do with a girl.

This is Tommy's case file of his investigation into "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda."

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Review: I am a huge fan of Star Wars books. This book is interesting in that Yoda is a big part of it, but it doesn't take place in the Star Wars universe. It takes place in an American middle school in modern times. And Yoda is made of paper. 

I listened to the audiobook, which has multiple narrators. The voices are all done well, allowing the listener to differentiate easily. 

There are many different middle school aged children featured in this book. I think any kid of that age would enjoy this book and be able to find different parts of themselves in different characters. Dwight is at the center of the story, having created Origami Yoda. He is a different kid who plays by his own rules. The author himself identifies as having Asperger’s. It appears many of his own school experiences were used in this book. 

I think kids who may be considered weird and kids who know other kids they call weird will enjoy this book. It can provide a means of empathy. There are multiple perspectives shown throughout the book. I personally found some of the things the bullies were saying harsh, but that's the point.

I give this book a 4/5. It is great for middle-school aged kids, especially those who may find themselves a little different than everyone else. 


--PAUL