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THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE by Tom Angleberger Kirkus Star

THE SECRET OF THE FORTUNE WOOKIEE

From the Origami Yoda series, volume 3

by Tom Angleberger & illustrated by Tom Angleberger

Pub Date: Aug. 7th, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4197-0392-8
Publisher: Amulet/Abrams

A short time ago in a middle school not far away…

The forces of good have lost Dwight and Origami Yoda to Tippett Academy. McQuarrie Middle School is suddenly as boring as linoleum flooring. On the second day of the post-Dwight era, Sara, Tommy’s sorta girlfriend and Dwight’s neighbor, arrives at school with a fortune Wookiee (a cootie catcher shaped like Chewbacca) and says Dwight has sent Chewie to help in Origami Yoda’s absence. Kids ask advice. Sara counts off their favorite movie, spells the name of their favorite Star Wars character, lifts a flap and: “Mmmrrrgggggg!”—Chewie offers sage advice. Thankfully, Han Foldo’s there to interpret, usually offering a Han Solo quote from the movies. Chewie solves several student problems as Tommy compiles a case file with stories from each, but Tommy’s also concerned that Tippett Academy seems to have drained the weird from Dwight. Will Harvey expose the fortune Wookiee as a fraud? Will Dwight return to McQuarrie? Will principal Rabbski outlaw origami and destroy what little fun there is to be had at school? Angleberger’s third in the series continues the fun but relies on knowledge of its predecessors, but unlike the movies, going back to the prequels is no hardship. 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. 

The end is foreboding…all young Jedi rejoice! There will be a sequel.

(Graphic hybrid fiction. 9-14)