Text 3- Zorgamazoo

Here is a story that's stranger than strange

Before we begin you may want to arrange 

a blanket,

a cushion,

a comfortable seat,

and maybe some cocoa and something to eat.

Unlike any other novel written completely in verse, Zorgamazoo is a wacky, luny story of a young girl named Katrina Katrell who runs away from home (because guardian wants to have her brain removed, of course). Katrina meets lovable non-adventerous Morty the Zorgle who wants nothing more than a  quiet life. His hopes of a quiet life are dashed when all of the country zorgles of Zorgamazoo go missing. Katrina and Morty set out to find out what happen to the zorgles. Are they still alive? Will they ever be returned to their beloved Zorgamazoo? This novel follows Katrina and Morty as they discover the answer to these questions and more?

Robert Paul Weston takes the cake with this zany tale of imaginary fantastic beasts and places. As an adult I found it difficult to this novel of 283 pages down.  The way it is written is nothing short of unique and grabs the readers attention the whole way through. One of the special feautures of Zorgamazoo is that there are entire pages that are dedicated to one or just a few words to give emphasis to what is happening in the story.

So if you've no time for the whimiscal things

for pirates and gadgets and creatures and kings

if you spurn the fantastic to never return,

then

PUT

THIS

BOOK

DOWN...

for it's not your concern.

I like that the book has themes that are a bit scary; at times it reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events. Katrina Katrell runs away from her guardian that wants to give her a lobotomy, she lands on the turf of a local gang, she runs away from mechanical bugs, she brings free from a prison, and escapes other dreadful circumstances just in the nick of time (all with Morty's help, of course).

Older elementary school learners will find this book extremely entertaining. It also expands students' vocabulary since there are many words that they do not use in everyday speech.

      "Dear sir,"

       he recited, beginning to read

       the document's pompous, punctilious screed

      "On behalf of the Bureau of Heroes and Quests,

       we acknowledge your deed, which plainly attests

      to your selflessness, bravery, vigor and verve,

      as well as your steely, unwavering nerve.



Specifically, fourth and fifth graders would get the most of this book. I think it's perfect for a read aloud time. Also, teachers could use this book to complement the E.L.A unit on poetry. Students can also write their own wacky story in verse or create an alternative ending.