The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee: An Origami Yoda Book [Hardcover]

Tom Angleberger (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 7, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: An Origami Yoda Book

With Dwight attending Tippett Academy this semester, the kids of McQuarrie Middle School are on their own—no Origami Yoda to give advice and help them navigate the treacherous waters of middle school. Then Sara gets a gift she says is from Dwight—a paper fortune-teller in the form of Chewbacca. It’s a Fortune Wookiee, and it seems to give advice that’s just as good as Yoda’s—even if, in the hands of the girls, it seems too preoccupied with romance. In the meantime, Dwight is fitting in a little too well at Tippett. Has the unimaginable happened? Has Dwight become normal? It’s up to his old friends at McQuarrie to remind their kooky friend that it’s in his weirdness that his greatness lies.
With his proven knack for humorously exploring the intrigues, fads, and dramas of middle school, Tom Angleberger has crafted a worthy follow-up to his breakout bestsellers The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back.

Praise for The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee
STARRED REVIEW
"Angleberger’s third in the series continues the fun. A chorus of spot-on middle school voices and plenty of laughs are wrapped around this tale of friendship and seasoned with Star Wars references."
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Tom Angleberger offers a hilarious third book in his best-selling series starring origami Star Wars characters. Angleberger’s grasp of middle-school emotions, humor and behavior is spot-on, and parents who want to get a sense of what it’s like be a preteen these days might consider reading this book. But you'll likely have to pry it out of your young reader’s hands first."
—Scripps Howard News Service

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Angleberger is the bestselling author of the Origami Yoda series, which includes The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper Strikes Back. He is also the author of Horton Halfpott and Fake Mustache. Visit him online at www.OrigamiYoda.com. He lives in Christiansburg, Virginia, with his wife, the author-illustrator Cece Bell.

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Amulet Books; Third Edition edition (August 7, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419703927
• ISBN-13: 978-1419703928
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Sports & Games > Activities & Toys
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > School

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!!!! August 8, 2012

By Anshuman [a kid]

Format:Kindle Edition

This book is very entertaining and funny. My dad got this book for me not in Kindle edition. It is very good. Since Dwight is gone, the book looks like it is not going to that good in the beginning. But it's awesome!! I think a kid like me would love this book if they've read the other books in the series. This book is awesome!!!!!!!!!!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Star Wars fans of any age October 28, 2012

By Lisa

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Have you heard of origami yoda? If you haven't, you are seriously missing out. I know these books are more for the Diary of a Wimpy Kid audience, but if you are a Star Wars fan of any age, you will love these books. And they're not just for boys either - my daughter likes them, as do I. Let's face it, Star Wars is for everyone. :)

Anyway, I just finished this book tonight with my daughter and we are already looking forward to the next installment, Art2-D2 coming March 2013.

So what's the theology skinny on these books?

Theology: Look to the force you should

God is not discussed in any way, shape, or form in these novels. The kids look to these origami characters for advice, some might consider it prophesy or fortune telling (I don't personally). So some parents might have concerns. If you're the kind of parent that didn't want your kids to read Harry Potter because it was about witchcraft, then you probably won't like these books for your kids either. But we're not talking ouija boards or the occult here, we're talking about a creative expression of kid wisdom. It's a fun read with a lot of Star Wars references, and I don't worry that my daughter is going to seek spiritual guidance from folded paper. Don't take it from me, read it and decide for yourself if you're worried.

Rating: G

The only profanity looks like this - #$%&!!!. Good, family friendly fun. Nothing to worry about.

Social Issues

The themes in this book are individualism vs. conformity. Acceptance for who you are, not who people think you are. There is some fun poked at ridiculous school administration initiatives and teachers that don't `get it.' The library is the only cool place to hang out (because the librarian is cool, of course).

This is the third book in a series. So you might want to check out the first two before you read this one. They are all good reads. And with origami instructions at the back of the books, how can you go wrong?

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Critique of our school system doesn't interfere with an entertaining romp October 17, 2012

By Kenya Starflight

Format:Hardcover

As the "Origami Yoda" series has progressed, I've noticed the books have become more critical of our education system, and some of its glaring flaws -- most noticeably the focus on test results over actual education, and the tendency for "problem" students to be swept under the rug and/or removed from the system entirely. Under normal circumstances this would bother me considerably. It's annoying enough when a book gets preachy, but when an entire series gets derailed because the author suddenly wants to use his books as a soapbox, especially when said series hasn't been preachy before now, it gets tiring.

"The Secret of the Fortune Wookie" manages to be an exception, however. Yes, it is very openly critical of the shortcomings of the American school system. But it remains true to the spirit of the series -- funny, witty, heartwarming, and an open and honest look at the lives of kids and preteens today. And its "message" fits in well with story without feeling crammed down the reader's throat.

Of the main cast of the previous books (Dwight, Tommy, Kellen, and Harvey) there's a notable absence -- Dwight, the eccentric creator of Origami Yoda and dispensor of cryptic but usable advice and predictions, who is now attending a private school. In his absence his next-door neighbor, Sarah, provides her own brand of advice using a modified "cootie catcher" called Chewbacca the Fortune Wookie, and a folded Han Solo puppet named Han Foldo. Naturally, Harvey sets out to prove her advice is full of hogwash, while Tommy is more interested in rumors that Dwight is unhappy in his new school... and that something dire is taking place at McQuarrie Middle School.

While this book could stand well on its own merits, it really helps if you've read the previous two books ("The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" and "Darth Paper Strikes Back"). It retains the sense of zany fun mixed with realistic-feeling but not over-the-top drama of its predecessors, and Kellen's drawings in the margins add quite a bit to the humor. And the ending manages to be satisfying... but also provides an "Attack of the Clones"-worthy cliffhanger that sets the stage for the fourth book.

As always, instructions for creating your own Fortune Wookie and Han Foldo are in the back of the book. :)