Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger is the follow-up to the clever book, The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. In the first installment, Dwight created and used an Origami Yoda to dispense advice and help relate to his classmates. Harvey continually argued that the finger puppet was just that, a puppet. In Darth Paper Strikes Back, Dwight still has Yoda, but Harvey has created his own puppet, Darth Paper. Harvey and his origami puppet are clearly on the dark side of the force, and after a few Origami Yoda incidents manages to get Dwight expelled from school. Tommy and his friends create a new case file, detailing how Dwight and his paper Yoda make school a better place and hope to convince the school board to let him return to school. However, Harvey is still on his crusade of darkness and just as determined to make sure Dwight does not return to their school.

Darth Paper Strikes Back is as entertaining as The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, but I think it did a better job of dealing with the underlying issues of interpersonal relations in the school. The situations outlined in the case file show some of the reasons behind Dwight not quite fitting in, and why other students that might be looked down on act, look, or dress the way they do. While some of the interactions include name-calling and rudeness that some adults might initially object to, I think that it is well within the levels of what seventh graders might run into any day at school. I also think that the lessons about giving people a chance and taking the time to discover why people act a certain way greatly outweighs any negatives.

I highly recommend Darth Paper Strikes Back to children between nine to twelve, as well as anyone that enjoys children's books. I think teens and adults that work with middle-schoolers will also enjoy, and understand this book. I do not suggest reading Darth Paper Strikes Back until you have read and enjoyed The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. Read them both, and enjoy!