''Zathura'' is a 2002
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
children's
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person young ...
picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The images ...
written and illustrated by American author
Chris Van Allsburg
Chris Van Allsburg (born June 18, 1949) is an American illustrator and writer of children's books. He has won two Caldecott Medals for U.S. picture book illustration, for ''Jumanji'' (1981) and ''The Polar Express'' (1985), both of which he a ...
. In the story, two boys are drawn into an intergalactic space adventure when their house is magically hurled through space. The book is a
sequel
A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...
to the 1981 children's book ''
Jumanji
''Jumanji'' is a 1995 American fantasy adventure film directed by Joe Johnston from a screenplay by Jonathan Hensleigh, Greg Taylor, and Jim Strain. Loosely based on Chris Van Allsburg's picture book of the same name, the film is the first ...
'', also by Van Allsburg, and visual and textual references are made to "Jumanji" in the story. The book was adapted into a film, titled ''
Zathura: A Space Adventure'', in 2005.
Plot
''Zathura'' picks up where ''Jumanji'' left off, as the parents of two brothers, Danny and Walter Budwing, are leaving. The two brothers don't get along with each other. Danny wants to play catch, while Walter wants to watch television. Danny tosses Walter a baseball which hits him on the head. Walter then chases Danny through the house and catches him in the park across the street from their house, where they find the insidious ''Jumanji'' board game. Danny brings the game home, where he then loses interest in playing it.
Underneath ''Jumanji'', Danny finds another game called ''Zathura''. Danny starts playing this game, then he gets a card that says, "
Meteor shower, take evasive action", to which an actual meteor shower occurs. Danny and Walter soon realize that the game is affecting reality and has sent them into outer space. Danny concludes that they must finish it in order to return home, so they continue playing. Soon, Walter loses his gravity and Danny saves him from disappearing into space.
When Walter takes his turn, a defective robot chases him through the house. When Danny takes his, he gets close to a star called Tsouris 3 and gets shorter and wider. Soon, a ship carrying
extraterrestrials
Extraterrestrial life, colloquially referred to as alien life, is life that may occur outside Earth and which did not originate on Earth. No extraterrestrial life has yet been conclusively detected, although efforts are underway. Such life might ...
known as Zorgons arrive and they board the house. The robot chases the creatures away as Walter takes his turn and gets pulled into a black hole and sent back in time. Walter is transported back to when he was with Danny in the park. When Danny finds ''Jumanji'' and is about to take it home, Walter throws it out and instead offers to play catch with Danny. Evidently, having gone through these dangerous adventures and helping each other has brought the two brothers closer together.
Reception
''Publishers Weekly'' said the book was a "satisfying enigma" like its predecessor. ''Booklist'' said readers of ''Jumanji'' would also like ''Zathura''. Alternatively, ''The Horn Book Magazine'' said the book did not work as a sequel to ''Jumanji'' but worked as part of a series.
Film adaptation
A film adaptation of the book titled ''
Zathura: A Space Adventure'' was made in 2005, directed by Jon Favreau. It received positive reviews from critics but was not a commercial success.
See also
*
''Jumanji'' (picture book)
References
External links
''Zathura'' on the author's site*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zathura
2002 American novels
2002 children's books
American fantasy novels
American science fiction novels
Children's books adapted into films
Children's science fiction novels
Fictional games
Novels by Chris Van Allsburg
Picture books by Chris Van Allsburg
American picture books
Science fiction picture books
Jumanji
American novels adapted into films
Sequel novels