It is an
understatement for me to say that this series in not high on my list of
favorites, but I have found a good use for them. They are an excellent
distraction during takeoff. I am a nervous flyer. I don’t do it often. Books
are my sedative. Fortune Wookiee saw me safely into
the air where I could switch over to more serious reading.
By this third book,
the premise is starting to wear on me. Redemption came in the form of a twist.
The girls get into the action. In the previous books, a social misfit by the
name of Dwight designed his own origami finger puppet that resembled the Star
Wars’ Jedi Master, Yoda. Origami Yoda dispensed sage advice to the students of
McQuarrie Middle School and the students argued whether or not Origami Yoda’s wisdom
was real or just a scam.
Another student by the
name of Harvey likes to antagonize Dwight and his friends. In the second book,
he made Darth Paper who issued evil omens and assisted in getting Dwight
suspended and eventually transferred. This book had less Dwight than the first.
Dwight is practically non-existent in the third for two reasons. Number one –
he is no longer at McQuarrie’s. Number two – he is attempting to assimilate or
be “normal”.
In Dwight’s absence,
Sarah, his next door neighbor, steps in. She comes to school with a fortune
teller that looks like Chewbacca. It is called a “cootie catcher” in the book,
and I find the name to be offensive and vulgar. But I googled the term, and
indeed the little folded paper fortune tellers have many names, one of which
actually is “cootie catcher.” I’m still making faces.
Sarah claims that the
Fortune Wookiee was given to her by Dwight to use as a substitute for Yoda.
Sarah refuses to answer any questions but important ones. The asker names their
favorite Star Wars episode, their favorite character and then they get their
answer – in Shyriiwook, the language of
Wookiees. Fortunately, Sarah also has a Han Foldo to translate! My favorite new
device.
Despite the book’s
small size and comic bookesque appearance, the kids are seventh graders and the
situations require middle school common sense making it ideal for reluctant
readers. There is more going on in this book than meets the eye. The girls are
problem-solving creatively in an attempt to transfer one boy’s affections from
a girl he’ll never attain to a girl he stands a chance with. Dwight is losing
his personality in an attempt to fit in at his new private school and the
McQuarrie kids are trying to save him by proving to him that it is Dwight’s
quirkiness that makes him special. And there is a story arc developing in the
background – the school is shutting down its extracurricular classes in
exchange for standardized test-taking programs.
I cannot tell you the
number of cool points I have earned with the kids by being seen with this book!
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