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!

Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue!

Note: Read the first four Origami Yoda books before reading this post!

The Origami Rebellion thought they had won a victory when Principal Rabbski agreed to see about putting an end to the horribly boring, soul-crushing FunTime program. This expensive test-prep program put an end to their field trips, electives, and everything else that really made school fun. Even the teachers hate it.

But FunTime seems to be Force-choking McQuarrie Middle. The students are still sitting through the mind-numbing videos and worksheets, and Principal Rabbski doesn’t appear to be doing much to stop it.

So what’s a rebellion to do? They ask the advice of the puppet that started it all: Origami Yoda. Yoda urges the rebellion to let Principal Rabbski take a look at their extensive case file (which details how everyone really feels about FunTime). Since there are entries that paint Rabbski in a rather unflattering light, the rebellion disagrees.

Someone, though, has taken matters into her own hands. The mysterious Princess Labelmaker has given Rabbski the case file, hoping that it will convince the principal to finally take action against the evil FunTime Empire.

Will the Origami Rebellion finally get their principal to turn from the Dark Side? Who is the rogue rebel who gave the case file to Rabbski, and was that act worth it? Will the FunTime Menace finally be vanquished? Find out when you read Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue! by Tom Angleberger.

Jedi Academy

A few months ago, one of my 5th grade students brought a book to my attention:  Jedi Academy. (How awesome is it that my students know how much I love Star Wars and look for ways to enjoy it with me!) I was totally charmed by this comic book/diary, and I think the same will be true of many Star Wars fans, no matter their ages.  Jedi Academy is kind of like Diary of a Wimpy Kid set a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, and I think it sends the message that middle school is hard on everyone…even aspiring Jedi!

Roan has always dreamed of going to pilot school, but what’s a poor kid on Tatooine to do when he’s not accepted? Roan is sure he’s going to end up at farm school, but he receives a letter that will change everything. Roan has been accepted into the Jedi Academy!  He’ll study at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant and learn all about the Force, lightsabers, and all that other cool Jedi stuff.

Roan is very nervous about this new adventure. What if he’s not Jedi material? Most of the other kids have been training since they were toddlers. How can Roan hope to catch up? Well, he’ll have some help from his teachers, including Jedi Master Yoda (who is a young 700-year-old in this book), and some new friends.

Will Roan have problems at the Jedi Academy? Sure! All middle schoolers do! Bullies, girls, learning new things, feeling unsure, exploding science fair projects, and finding a place to fit in. Roan goes through all of that, but he might just discover that he’s stronger than anyone (including Roan) ever realized. Is the Force strong in Roan? Read Jedi Academy to find out!

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!

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!

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!