Alongside his other book Stonewall Hinkleman and the Battle of Bull Run, Tom was writing under his pseudonym "Sam Riddleburger". The first book of his that came to my attention was the great if too little lauded The Qwikpick Adventure Society (one of the rare books where you'll find happy kids living in a trailer park, and where one us a Jehovah's Witness). It's not as if author Tom Angleberger hasn't written children's books before. Believe the talking folded paper or consider it a hoax and play it safe? The book is filled with little drawings and sidenotes as different classmates weigh in on the Origami Yoda conundrum. Of course, then Tommy starts asking Origami about Sara, the girl he likes, and the answer he receives leaves him conflicted. Example: How do you get out of a potentially embarrassing situation when you're in the bathroom and you spill water on your pants so that it looks like you peed yourself? Origami Yoda says: "All of pants, you must wet." See? Strangely good advice. It may not always be spot on, but it's certainly heads and tales more intelligent than Dwight, the boy who created the puppet and who voices him (poorly). But then he starts recounting for us the wonders of Origami Yoda's advice.
Because I've got to decide whether to take his advice or not, and if I make the wrong choice, I'm doomed!" It's strange to think that Tommy would be this torn up over an origami finger puppet belonging to the school's biggest dork. It's REALLY important for me to figure out if he's real. "The big question: Is Origami Yoda real?. Tommy comes right out with his dilemma on page one. With Origami Yoda I don't think I'll have a lot of trouble getting this into the hands of kids. Basically, funny books are the most requested books in the children's rooms of libraries and the most difficult kinds of books to recommend. You can't help but appreciate it, regardless of whether or not you're a fan of guys holding light sabers in outer space. Sure, you might have a few folks avoid it because there appears to be a Star Wars reference on the cover, but c'mon. It's been a while since I found a book that can truly be called genderless (in that it has wide appeal across the board). That's sort of how I approach The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. If the book is strong, the premise believable, and the characters well developed then you're gonna have fans of all sorts, regardless of gender. Boys read Babymouse all the time and girls dig Diary of a Wimpy Kid. "Oh, boys won't read anything with a pink cover." "Oh, girls won't pick up a book unless there's some romance in it." Phooey. You see these stereotypes referred to all the time. By which I mean, the novel that perfectly balances out the stereotypical vision of what boys like in a book versus what stereotypical girls like in a book.
Let us now sit back and consider what the ultimate boy/girl middle grade novel would contain.
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