The Secret of the Fortune Wookie: an Origami Yoda Book

Angleberger, Tom. (2012). The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee: an Origami Yoda Book. New York, NY: Abrams Books.

Lexile level: 680L
Grade level: 4-8
Pages: 188
Subjects: Finger puppets, Origami, Eccentric and Eccentricities,
Interpersonal relations, and Middle School

Summary: McQuarrie Middle School has become boring now that Dwight is suspended and has to attend Tippett Academy, if he's absent so is his finger puppet, origami Yoda. Dwight gives a gift to his friend, Sara, a fortune Wookiee in the form of Chewbacca. The Wookiee, with Han Foldo translations, comes to life and is able to give advice to students and solve many of their problems, for example what to do when someone you like likes someone else. Some predictions come true, but some students think is a hoax. Meanwhile at his new school, Dwight shows everyone how to make an origami Yoda, but the students' origami finger puppets don't come to life like his. Dwight stops bringing Yoda to school, because he feels like an outcast. Students at McQuarrie M.S. are concern that Dwight would try to fit in at his new school and forget about origami Yoda forever.

Reader's response: Origami Yoda Series by Tom Angleberger are definitely for all the Star Wars Fanatics. Even though this book targets middle school readers, no one is too old for Star Wars or too old to create origamis. Definitely a book to use with our reluctant readers, the plot is easy to follow and students can make many connections to their middle school life. Each chapter is an entry for a case file on the characters. Each character does the writing and illustrations for that chapter. The illustrations add humor to the book and the vocabulary is appropriate for middle grade audience. What I like most about this book is that the characters are all different, they teach us that is ok to be unique. If students like reading The Diary of the Wimpy Kid, they will like reading the Origami Yoda Series.


OrigamiYoda.com

Activity Kit from Abrams Books

Origami Yoda Series:

Grasshopper Jungle

Smith, Andrew. (2014). Grasshopper Jungle. New York, NY: Penguin Random House. 

Awards: 2015 Michael Printz Winner
Grade level: 7-12
Pages: 388
Lexile level: 910L
Subjects: Survival, Friendship,
Gender-identity, Insects, Science-Fiction

Summary: Austin and Robby Brees were beaten up behind the Ealing Mall (Grasshopper Jungle) by some boys from Hoover High School. Robby got a bloody nose and use the blood to write a message to his attacker on the concrete. Both friends climb to the top of the mall's roof and find an access trap door that led them to the story where Austin worked. They shuffle through his bosses's belonging and find a globe with some writhing labeled "Contained Plage 412E." Their attackers also find the mall's access trap and steal the globe. While escaping they dropped the globe on top of Robby's blood, the boys get infected with a strange plague that turns them into huge, man-eating praying mantis. Austin, Robby and their friend Shann find an underground shelter name the Eden Project which contains all survival necessities. In order to stop the praying mantis they have to shoot them with Robby's blood, but they are unsuccessful. All three friends and their parents start a new life in Eden.

Reader response: The novel can be use to teach cross curriculum between Language Arts and History. In the novel, Austin recorded his life's history and that of his ancestors. Students can research information about their ancestors and make connections to their lives. In this science-fiction novel, the characters encounter unusual fantasy like creatures, and at the same time experience teenage love. Very unique.

Andrew Smith Official Site

Other books by Andrew Smith:

Reality Boy

King, A.S. (2013). Reality Boy. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group.

Grade level: 7th-12th

Pages: 353

Lexile Measure: HL620L
Subjects: Family problems, Emotional problems,
Reality television programs,
Self-actualization (psychology), and Fame 

Summary: Gerald Faust was five years old when his mother decided to participate in a Nanny reality T.V. show to help with Gerald's anger outbursts. His whole childhood was broadcast on international TV without his approval. He was so traumatized by the show that he would leave feces all around the house earning him the nickname of "The Crapper". The show concentrated on showing the viewers how terrible things were in Gerald's life: how his older sister Tasha does horrible things to him and his younger sister Lisi, how his mother prefers Tasha, and his parents arguments, and his father non-presence. The more dysfunctional the family, the higher the ratings. Gerald is tired of the director telling him how to act and what to say, he just wants control over his life. Twelve years later, his nickname has stuck like glue, he still has violent outbursts, and no friends. His anger management guidance doesn't help much.  He meets Hannah, the junkman's daughter as she calls herself, and she becomes his first girlfriend. Hannah sees Gerald as a boy not a TV reality star, and she helps him discover hope in his life. He gives himself chance to start all over and have a normal life.  

Reader's response: Wow! This novel reminds me so much of all the reality shows that we see on TV, but we don't know exactly how much is real and how much is acting. Many people that participate in reality shows don't know the value of what their giving up, their privacy. I like how is told in the point of view of the protagonist. I also enjoyed the way the book is written, some chapters are telling the story during the filming of the reality show when Gerald is five and some chapters are telling the story after the show when Gerald is in high school.  This is a great novel to teach young adults about the many ways anger presents itself and how we can cope with it. The book will appeal to many different readers since we all have experience anger in some point in our life, but not all of us are able to control it. 

Official Page of A.S. King

Reading Guide fro Little Brown and Co.  

Interview with A.S. King by YALSA-The Hub

Other books by A.S. King:

Period 8

Crutcher, Chris. (2013). Period.8. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Awards: YALSA Best Fiction YA Nominee, Teen Choice Book of the Year Nominee, and PNBA Award Nominee

Grade level: 9th-12th

Pages: 288

Lexile level:  HL660L

Summary: Period 8 is a safe haven where students can talk about their feelings, concerns, or  troubles, the only rule is to keep it real. It's run by Mr. Logs, who has earn the trust of the students for many years. Paulie "the Bomb" Baum is dating Hannah, but they broke up because he confesses cheating on her with Mary Wells. Just like thin air Mary Wells goes missing. At first everyone points the finger at her strict father. She suddenly appears again, claiming she only needed time off, but her behavior says other wise. Paulie's friend, Arney Stack, starts acting suspicious and getting too close to Hannah. Then, just like at the beginning, Mary Wells goes missing again.  Mr. Log will help the students solve the mysteries in Period 8.

Reader's response: Chris Crutcher characters represent everyday students and their everyday problems. Young adults can identify with Chris Crutcher's novels, read the book and feel like if they are reading a part of their own story. Period 8 is a thriller novel, the author adds tension and mystery to the novel as the plot progresses. At the end of the novel, Mary Wells goes missing again and the reader is left with uncertainty about her whereabouts, unable to infer what happened, or predict what her future holds. I would of like to know the end of Mary Wells, since she was a big part of the plot and climax.  

Chris Crutcher Official Website

A Guide to Teaching Challenge and Banned Books Featuring the Novels of Chris Crutcher

Textbook Reflections YA Literature

Textbook Reflections 1-13