190 pages.
Appetizer: Dwight is gone and the other kids at McQuarrie Middle School are left wondering who is the weirdest kid in school without him and how they can receive the wise advice that Dwight's Origami Yoda used to provide.
When Sara, Dwight's neighbor, arrives at school with a Chewbacca cootie catcher and a Han Foldo to translate the Wookiee, the students learn that they once again have a guide to help them deal with the stresses of middle school, but Tommy is intent on finding a way to bring Dwight back to McQuarrie Middle.
I'm in love with this series. Have been for awhile now. Angleberger gets kids and gets the social interactions of people in a school. Highlights for this book include having a librarian-hero who makes sure to provide students with books that will be of interest to them, Tommy's realization about why Harvey makes the comments he does, new love interest for Kellan, a reliance upon the wisdom of girls and a growing tension about education--both in terms of emphasizing teaching to testing over encouraging artistic development and in terms of a school dynamic that while welcoming, may crush individuality.
I look forward to the next book to see how the students will resist their Principal Rabbski's regime changes:
At one point, one of the characters mention dancing wookiees on youtube. This got me sidetracked for a little while:
You're welcome.
Does anyone else have the Star Wars theme stuck in his or her head? I do.
Alas, I cannot watch any of the movies, since they are currently in a moving truck. I guess I'll just have to keep humming to myself.
Dinner Conversation:
"Every case file begins with a question...The first time it was "Is Origami Yoda real?" Then "Will Darth Paper destroy Origami Yoda?"
It looked like THIS case fill was going tot start--and end--with the question:
How can you have a case file without Dwight?
Because Dwight's the guy who made Origami Yoda in the first place. And it was Origami Yoda who made so much interesting stuff happen that was worth investigating." (p. 1)
"'Hey, guys!' called Sara, as she headed for our table. "Check this out!"
She held up this weird thing. It was sort of like an origami finger puppet. But it sure wasn't Yoda--it was brown.
All of a sudden, it opened its mouth.
"MMMMMRRRRRWTTTTTHHHH!"
"Holy furballs!" said Kellen. "It's Chewbacca!"
"Yeah!" said Sara. "Dwight made it for us. He yelled at me from his bedroom window while I was waiting for the bus this morning. Then he threw it down to me in a plastic baggie."
"Do it again!" said Kellen.
"Mmmrrrgggggg!" went Sara, opening Chewie's mouth. There were fangs in there!" (pp. 6-7)
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Tasty Rating:
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