Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus

Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus picks up where Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue ended, and the kids from McQuarrie Middle School are in for yet another adventure…one without Origami Yoda!

Now that the FunTime Menace is no more, the students of McQuarrie Middle now get to enjoy things like elective classes and, of course, their highly anticipated field trip to Washington, DC. But what will they do when Rabbski, their principal-turned-math-teacher declares that origami–especially Origami Yoda–is off-limits? How will these seventh graders survive without the sage advice of Origami Yoda?!

Have no fear! Dwight is here…with a bunch of Fruit Roll-Ups he folds into Fruitigami Yodas. Unfortunately, the vile Harvey also comes prepared with EMPEROR PICKLETINE, the most evil, sour, and smelly being in the galaxy! Harvey and Emperor Pickletine seem bent on ruining this field trip, and the Dark Side may be more powerful than anyone realized. Is Fruitigami Yoda strong enough to fight this new threat?

As the seventh graders of McQuarrie Middle explore Washington, DC (and get into a fair amount of trouble), a battle is brewing between the Dark and Light Sides of the Force.

Who will win? Will Yoda come through for the Origami Rebellion one more time? Well, I can’t say. But I can tell you that this final battle is full of mischief-making, fisticuffs, space food, and even a little bit of smooching! I’ll leave it to you to find out who does what!

To learn more about all things Origami Yoda, click here. May the Force be with you!

The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett

In this fourth book in the Origami Yoda series, the students of McQuarrie Middle School are facing a terrible evil.  More evil than the Empire. More evil than a Sith Lord without his morning coffee.  More evil than Jar Jar Binks. (Well, maybe not that bad.)  This semester, the school is eliminating all electives–Lego robotics, drama, music, yearbook–and forcing kids to spend those class times watching the horrible FunTime videos that are supposed to help increase standardized test scores.

As one can probably imagine, the students are not happy about this, and, with the help of Captain Dwight and Origami Yoda, they decide to do something about it. The students of McQuarrie Middle form their own Rebel Alliance and try to figure out a way to put an end to FunTime (and it’s stupid singing calculator). Their plan is risky, but it may just work if they can get enough kids on board. Armed with a battalion of origami Star Wars figures, the students of McQuarrie Middle seek to restore order and balance to the Force at their school.

Will the Rebel Alliance succeed in defeating the dreaded FunTime Menace, or is this war bigger than they realize? And what will this rebel band do when help comes from a surprising source? Learn just how much a determined group of kids can accomplish when you read The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger! May the Force be with you!

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbø is, as one can probably tell from the title, a book about a very powerful fart powder. I received a free copy of this book, and I decided to give it a quick read before I put it in my school library.  That was a wise decision.  At times it was funny, but I really wasn’t thrilled about reading a book where the main focus was flatulence.  I quickly grew tired of the entire premise.  I’m thinking many of my students might feel the same way.  (At least, I hope so.)

This story takes place in a small town in Norway, and a tiny young boy named Nilly has just moved into the neighborhood.  He and his new friend Lisa kind of inadvertently become assistants to the strange Doctor Proctor, who is trying to invent something that will make him famous.  And Doctor Proctor has done it.  He’s invented a fart powder that will make people have super-powerful farts with no bad smell.  In addition to the regular version of this powder, he’s also created a special powder that will lift who ever ingests it into outer space.  It’s Fartonaut Powder!

Nilly and Lisa decide to sell the regular powder to the kids at school, making them instantly popular.  They, along with Doctor Proctor, decide to send the special powder to the scientists at NASA, but, before they can go through with their plans, thieves decide to steal both powders!  Now, Doctor Proctor and Nilly are in a world of trouble, and Lisa needs to find a way to fix everything.  It won’t be easy, and it may just involve sewers, trickery, an anaconda, and escaping from a seemingly inescapable prison.  (Who knew a book about farts could be so suspenseful!)  Will Lisa, Nilly, and Doctor Proctor win in the end, or will all of their plans–ahem–run out of gas?  Read Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powderto find out!

Anyone who knows me can probably already surmise that I wasn’t a big fan of this book.  A book that was essentially one long fart joke kind of left me cold. Also, I wasn’t terribly impressed with the writing, and I think it will be hard for some young American readers to relate to the Norwegian setting.  While this book does have some merits, and I will tell some of my students about it, I don’t think this is one I’ll be putting in my school library.  There are better books that are not so blatant with the potty humor and have the same kind of voice that was present in this book.  Do with that what you will.

The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee

Warning!  Read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back before continuing.  The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee picks up right where Darth Paper left off.

When we last saw the students at McQuarrie Middle School, Dwight (the “owner and operator” of the famous Origami Yoda) had been suspended.  He is now attending Tippett Academy, and his friends (Tommy, Kellen, and the gang) aren’t quite sure what to do without him…or Origami Yoda.  Who will give them the advice they need?  Who will keep them from embarrassment and trouble?

Chewbacca to the rescue!!!   Sara has arrived with the Fortune Wookiee!  This paper fortune teller, along with his companion Han Foldo, has come to McQuarrie Middle to guide students in the ways of the Force (even though Chewie and Han never used the Force).  But why does the Fortune Wookiee’s advice seem to get the guys to do exactly what the girls want them to do?  This is one mystery that needs to be solved!

Another mystery that is plaguing the students at MMS concerns Dwight.  According to reports, ever since he transferred to Tippett, Dwight has become normal (boring).  He does his homework, he behaves in class, he’s given up origami (even Origami Yoda), and he’s just not as lively as he used to be.  What’s going on here?  Can Dwight’s friends—and even his arch-nemesis Harvey—discover the truth before both Dwight and Origami Yoda are gone forever?

Just like the other Origami Yoda books, The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee combines humor, Star Wars, art, and mystery to create a fun, fast read that everyone will enjoy.  And this isn’t the last we’ve heard from the students of McQuarrie Middle!  Something horrible is about to happen at their beloved school, and they’ll need to harness the power of the Force to fight it!

If you’d like to learn more about this fantastic series (including how to fold your own origami Star Wars characters), visit http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/.  Have fun!

Darth Paper Strikes Back

If you haven’t already read The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, do that before proceeding.  The events in Darth Paper Strikes Back directly follow Origami Yoda.

Last year, students at McQuarrie Middle School began taking advice from a finger puppet.  This wasn’t, however, just any finger puppet.  This was Origami Yoda, and it seemed as if he was one with the Force, even though he was probably just a piece of paper sitting on Dwight’s finger.  Origami Yoda helped guys talk to girls, predicted upcoming pop quizzes, and stopped bullies in their tracks.  The Force was strong with this one.

Now, it’s one year later, and the Dark Side has descended on the students of McQuarrie Middle.  Dwight—along with Origami Yoda–is in danger of being expelled.  Who will give students guidance as they navigate the rough halls of middle school?  Chaos is rampant in Origami Yoda’s absence, and the situation is not helped by a new presence at the school—Darth Paper (an origami Darth Vader resting on the finger of Harvey, general negative guy and Dwight’s nemesis).  Darth Paper has brought the power of the Dark Side to McQuarrie Middle…and things are bad and getting worse.

It’s also becoming clear that Harvey and the evil Darth Paper could be responsible for getting Dwight and Origami Yoda kicked out of school in the first place.  Can the friends of Yoda overcome the Dark Side and redeem Dwight’s good name, or will the Sith rule at McQuarrie Middle School?  Read Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger to find out!

Just like The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, this book is a must-read for Star Wars fans.  In addition to an awesome story, Darth Paper Strikes Back contains instructions on how to create origami Star Wars figures and a cool game that would be super easy to play.

Adults, particularly educators, who read this book will also find something to enjoy.  Darth Paper Strikes Back addresses such issues as encouraging student creativity, how much emphasis is placed on standardized testing, school fundraisers, and taking action against bullies.

There is truly something for everyone in Darth Paper Strikes Back, and, if you pay attention, you’ll see that there might just be more origami Star Wars fun in the future.  For more information on this series, visit http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda

Dwight is not a normal kid by any stretch of the imagination.  He’s probably the weirdest kid in the sixth grade, and he’s about to take his weirdness to a whole new level.  Dwight has created his own origami Yoda.  Yes, Yoda.  The little green Jedi master from Star Wars.  Origami Yoda even gives advice to the people around him, including Tommy, a sort-of friend of Dwight’s who needs an answer to a really important question.

Everyone knows it’s just Dwight speaking in a really bad Yoda voice, but why, then, does Origami Yoda seem to know things that no one, not even Dwight, could possibly know?  Is the Force flowing through Origami Yoda and helping the students at McQuarrie Middle School?

Tommy and his friends want to know the truth about Origami Yoda.  How can he possibly have all the answers?  And why does Dwight, on whose finger Yoda rests, not follow Origami Yoda’s advice?  Will Tommy be able to find out what’s up with Dwight and Origami Yoda before asking the most important question of his entire life?  A question about–gasp!–a girl?

Join Tommy, Dwight, Origami Yoda, and a whole cast of characters as they navigate the confusing world of middle school and try to find the answers to the really tough questions in life.  Can Origami Yoda help?  Read this book you must if to find out you want!

If you’d like more information on the Origami Yoda books, including the next book, Darth Paper Strikes Back, visit http://origamiyoda.wordpress.com/.  May the Force be with you!