Two weekends ago I drove from my home here in DC to western Pennsylvania, picked up one younger brother, and then headed to my grandmother’s house in upstate New York. On our way back to DC from that delightful stay, Lincoln (aforementioned younger brother) and I listened to the audiobook of Tom Angleberger’s
The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. I, ahem,
engineered that little bit of listening time to fit into our trip. Use what you have, right? Our joint thoughts were that it was cute, funny, and entertaining.
In this funny, uncannily wise portrait of the dynamics of a sixth-grade class and of the greatness that sometimes comes in unlikely packages, Dwight, a loser, talks to his classmates via an origami finger puppet of Yoda. If that weren’t strange enough, the puppet is uncannily wise and prescient. Origami Yoda predicts the date of a pop quiz, guesses who stole the classroom Shakespeare bust, and saves a classmate from popularity-crushing embarrassment with some well-timed advice. Dwight’s classmate Tommy wonders how Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. With contributions from his puzzled classmates, he assembles the case file that forms this novel.
Tommy and his friends are in sixth grade. They’re doing their best but, well… each is facing his/her own challenges. Most challenged of all? Dwight. Dwight can’t seem to function like a normal human being, and Tommy and his friends don’t know what to do about it. That’s why it’s strange that Dwight’s origami finger puppet of Yoda seems so wise. Yoda gives good advice – but is it because Yoda IS Yoda, or does Dwight have anything to do with it? Tommy puts together a case file to make a final decision – because he needs to know if he can trust Yoda on one specific answer.
Angleberger has created a memorable cast of characters in Tommy, Dwight, Harvey, Kellen, Quavondo and Sara (to name a few). Each of them contribute either an interaction with origami Yoda for the case file or comments on the same. Some believe that Yoda has an actual connection with the Force, and others think that Dwight is the one behind Yoda’s answers. The main question that emerges is whether Dwight, socially-awkward Dwight, can have the sort of insight that Yoda possesses. And if so, why doesn’t he use it for himself? WHY is he such a mess?
The book is by turns sweet, funny, intelligent and awkward – like real sixth-graders! It will appeal to all ages, and be an especial hit with boys, by nature of the
Star Wars references alone. My brother (currently age 23) turned to me at one point and asked “Do you SEE what sixth-grade boys have to
go through?!” I was really amused and glad that we could discuss it afterward, and laugh during the listen. A good bonding experience, for sure.
A word on the vocal artists: most of the narration was stellar, but Lincoln and I both agreed that Harvey’s ‘voice’ was annoying in the extreme. And possibly that’s as it was supposed to be. Who knows? In any case, it’s a fun listen, and I’d recommend it even to those not usually audiobook aficionados.
Recommended for: readers aged ten to fourteen, young Star Wars fans, and anyone who remembers the agonizing days of middle school – and knows they require a healthy dose of humor and patience to survive.
