Tween Tuesday: The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun, post a tween review, and add your link in the comments.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Genre: Contemporary

Release Date: 4/1/2010

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About the Book: Is Origami Yoda real or just a hoax? That's the question on Tommy's mind as he tries to discover the truth about Origami Yoda. Tommy is having girl problems-he likes Sara but doesn't know if she likes him back-and Origami Yoda has given him advice, but before he follows it he wants to know if Yoda is real or not. Origami Yoda is a finger puppet made by Dwight. Dwight has always been the strange kid at school and surely he's not smart enough to give the wise advice that Origami Yoda has given. So is Origami Yoda magical and real and should Tommy listen to him?

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: This is a short, fast, and fun read that has great tween appeal as well as appeal to all ages. I'm sure teens and adults would get a kick out of this The Strange Case of Origami Yoda as well. As Tommy tries to discover the truth, he compiles a case file with reports and stories from people who have asked Origami Yoda for advice. Tommy also makes a case for why Dwight isn't smart enough to be giving out the wise Yoda advice on his own.

The middle school sixth grade relationships and friendships are so well drawn and realistic and tweens will relate. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda is one of those books that has a great cover and a great premise that makes it easy to booktalk to any age and any gender-girls will enjoy this as much as boys. I could see this one easily getting passed around the middle school library.

I especially liked that while the characters all thought Dwight was strange and odd, they never totally dismissed him. He sat at their lunch table, they talked to him, and believed in Origami Yoda. That made the book even more realistic to me because they weren't one way or the other about Dwight-they were all trying to figure him out and decide for themselves what they believed about Dwight and the Origami Yoda.

If you work with tweens, be sure to include The Strange Case of Origami Yoda on your bookshelf-and don't be surprised if Origami Yoda's start showing up and giving advice!

Full Disclosure: Reviewed from library copy

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Realistic Fiction Release Date: 2/26/2013 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Eleanor and Park are both misfits. When new girl Eleanor sits next to Park on the bus, they don't want anything to do with each other. But over the course of the school year, things change. It starts with comic books and becomes a friendship and a romance that the two will never forget. You never forget your first love. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Have you ever had a book sit on your shelf that you've heard so much hype about? And you think that books sounds like it would be right up your alley, but you're in a reading slump and you're afraid to give it a try unless it fails? I knew Eleanor and Park sounded like my perfect book, but I was in such an after committee slump that I even though I knew this book would help, I just didn't want to be disappointed. I should have known better because Eleanor and Park was perfect and everything that I had hoped it wou

Post Downton Abbey Reading List

Downton Abbey is over (with a shocking and frustrating ending!) and now I'm suffering Downton Abbey withdrawal. I've got a reading list full of books that I hope will satisfy my post-Downton Abbey cravings and I thought I'd share what's in my pile and get suggestions for other after Downton reads. Here's what I hope to be reading this year (a mix of YA and adult titles): A couple Julian Fellowes reads: And a few re-reads: Edited to add: What's on your Post-Downton Abbey reading list?

Tween Tuesday: Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars Genre: Magical Realism Release Date: 3/4/2010 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Polly Peabody lives on a magical farm. They grow chocolate rhubarb, it rains every Monday at exactly 1:00, and her best friend is a plant named Harry. When the rain stops, Polly's brother falls ill, and her aunt wants to sell the farm, Polly must figure out a way to save her beloved home. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Drizzle is on our state book list and one of our Chat & Chew book club picks. The kids reviews were mixed on this one and sadly, it was my least favorite of all the books we read for Chat & Chew. The kids that liked it said it had action, but for me the plot was slow and dragged too much. The book could have been edited down and I lost interest in the story. I liked the magical farm that Polly lived on, but the magic wasn't enough to hold my interest. I felt like the plot went around in circles too much and never got going. The ending was also a bit

NomesJuly 20, 2010 at 8:04 AM
Oh - this one sounds awesome. I think I'll get it for sure. my oldest son is 9, so maybe a bit young? but not for long... :)
AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 9:58 AM
I just heard about this book last week. It sounds pretty cool. I bet my brother would like it too.
melissa @ 1lbrJuly 20, 2010 at 3:44 PM
Sounds fun! Here's my Tween Tuesday post.
Alison Can ReadJuly 20, 2010 at 6:06 PM
I've heard good things about this one. It seems like something that would be good for boys...and there's certainly not enough of those out there.
Here's my Tween Tuesday (definitely not a boy's book: http://alisoncanread.blogspot.com/2010/07/tween-tuesday-6-mother-daughter-book.html
UnknownJuly 20, 2010 at 11:27 PM
I loved this book too. Fun, sweet and a good lesson!
MichelleJuly 21, 2010 at 6:34 PM
I have this one on my TBR shelf to review too. It looks like such an original and fun book.

GreenBeanTeenQueen

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