by Tom Angleberger

Amulet, $12.95, 165 pages

In a middle school not so far far away, a kid named Dwight fashioned a Star Wars puppet out of paper. Origami Yoda dispensed advice and most of the kids at McQuarrie Middle School liked it. But that was last year. This year, rat-fink Harvey brings Darth Paper to school, determined to get Dwight to admit that Origami Yoda is a fraud. Darth Paper Strikes Back is author Tom Angleberger’s sequel to middle-grade smash The Strange Case of Origami Yoda. When Dwight is threatened with expulsion, it’s up to Tommy and the other kids to defend him against the principal, Harvey and the Dark Side of the Force.

With the same deft touch that made The Strange Case of Origami Yoda a pleasure, Angleberger takes readers through the ups and downs of adolescence. Not quite as seamless as its predecessor, Darth Paper Strikes Back nevertheless retains enough humor and twists to keep fans happy. The graphics of Darth Paper will appeal to reluctant readers, who may even be inclined to make figures of their own. Origami instructions are included.

Reviewed by Katie Schneider