The Force is with Tom Angleberger (Horton Halfpott) in this sequel to his funny and clever novel/comics hybrid, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.
Tommy and his friends are now in seventh grade. After examining the evidence on Origami Yoda (Dwight Tharp's advice-dispensing finger puppet), Tommy now believes that Yoda is real, genuinely "Jedi wise." The school year has hardly begun, however, when one girl reports Yoda's advice as a threat, and Principal Rabbski suspends Dwight and threatens to send him to CREF (Correctional and Remedial Education Facility). It's up to Tommy and his friends to prove Dwight's innocence at an upcoming school board meeting, where Dwight's fate will be decided. Meanwhile, Harvey, a naysayer classmate, has created his own origami puppet, in the likeness of the Star Wars villain: Darth Paper. Harvey is determined to defeat Yoda.
The narrative unfolds through the students' testimonials to the school board, which they compile in a "case file" (Yoda's idea, naturally). Yoda's insightful advice applies to a variety of problems. Kellen tells of a brat who hangs out at their town's sole skate park and shoots off nonstop insults (e.g., "Tony Hawk does it better"). Kellen's near to blows when Yoda suggests, "To skateboard, teach him you must." Sure enough, the kid was hiding his ignorance with criticism. One of the funniest anecdotes raises questions about school fund-raising efforts. "Nothing you must sell," Yoda advises, and the riddle offers insight that changes the friends' approach to raising money. Fans will be thrilled to learn that the author has just announced a third book on the way. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness