Modern Fantasy Book Review: Zathura

Modern Fantasy

Title: Zathura

Author: Chris Allsburg

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Copyright date: October 28, 2002

Number of Pages: 32 pages

Awards: N/A

Reading Level: Independent Reader Jr. "I am a Reader"

Generally appropriate for 4th Grade to 7th Grade
These books are appropriate for the independent reader who can retain and understand more elaborate and sophisticated story elements.

Lexile: 540L

Genre: Children’s Literature, Science Fiction, Modern Fantasy

Summary:

This story is a sequel to the book Jumanji: A Jungle Adventure. The story follows two brothers, Walter and Danny Budwing. Danny and Walter Budwing don't get along. When their parents go out for the evening, small arguments escalate until finally Walter, the older brother, chases his little brother out of the house and into the park, where he tackles him to the ground. As they wrestle, they found a board game propped up under a tree. It was called Jumanji, a Jungle Adventure. The boys brought the game home. As Walter sat down in front of the TV, Danny explored the game. But, underneath the Jumanji game board, the Danny found another game called Zathura. Danny starts to play the game on his own, struggling to read the first game card: Meteor showers, take evasive action. Immediately, real meteors begin to crash down through the boys' roof! Realizing then, that they were not on Earth anymore. What happens next? Are Danny and Walter okay? Do they return to Earth?

Academic Purpose:

This book emphasizes science fiction and modern fantasy and is a great book for students to use their imaginations. In my classroom, I would use this book in a writing lesson. When the students are learning about writing fiction stories, I would read this book to them, for them to get an idea of where a story can go (what different universes an author can take his readers). I would have students write their own fiction stories about going to another make believe world/universe. The goal would be for my students to use a lot of detail in their writing, so the audience can vividly picture their make believe world. By doing this activity the students can engage in the five step writing process.

A teacher can also integrate this book in a writing lesson and also in a science lesson. This book has great science vocabulary words, such as gravity, meteorite, gyroscope, etc. The teacher can have students create a fictional story, but the students would have to use these science vocabulary words in their story in context. This is a great way to stretch your students’ thinking.

Rating System:

Categories:	5 Stars	3 Stars	1 Star	Comments
Style and Language	The book anticipates readers’ questions and uses great word choice for the age targeted. It has linear progression and communicates its point clearly.	The book follows a linear progression, with some unclear points. The word choice is okay.	The book is confusing as it doesn’t follow a linear progression at all. The vocabulary in the book is either too simple or too complex for the age group targeted.	This book uses great word choice for the age targeted. There is many vocabulary words such as, gravity, meteorite, and gyroscope. The books style and language creates a great book for independent readers. This book communicates its point clearly about a modern fantasy story and has a linear progression for a storyline.   5 stars
Plot and Character Development	The plot is in depth and helps to create a picture in the reader’s mind. The plot is organized having a beginning, middle, and end. The character development is strong.	The plot is okay. The book is organized with a beginning, middle, and end. The characters are well developed.	The book is confusing and doesn’t have a clear beginning, middle, or end.	This book does have a plot, which creates a picture in the reader’s mind. The plot is organized having a beginning, middle, and end. The ending is great!       5 stars
Interest	The book holds real life situations which draw the reader in. The word choice and story hold the reader’s attention. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book holds little interest and draws the reader in sometimes. The book is suitable for the age group targeted.	The book is very boring and doesn’t hold the reader’s attention. The book is not suitable for the age group targeted.	This book definitely holds the reader’s attention. The illustrations are detailed and exciting. The illustrations draw you into the book, because they are so precise. The book does such a great job engaging the reader, because the reader will not expect all the different trials the characters have to go through. 5 stars
Educational Value	The book is relatable to education. The book can be integrated into other content areas.	The book is relatable to education. The book may need further resources to help connect it to other content areas.	The book is not relatable to education whatsoever. The book is not appropriate to be integrated into other content areas.	This book is relatable to education. This book teaches what students can include in fiction writing and also science vocabulary words.       5 stars