James Cameron's Avatar: The Na'vi Quest (James Cameron's Avatar Series) »

In the futuristic world of James Cameron's Avatar, a young man named Jake becomes part of an exploration team on the planet Pandora, inhabited by the exotic Na'vi. Scientists have created an avatar a body that looks like a Na'vi but is operated by a human's consciousness. When in his avatar body, Jake finds himself drawn to the planet's way of life. But before the Na'vi will accept him as one of their own, he has to pass a series of fantastic and dangerous tests. Can Jake survive long enough to become a full-fledged Na'vi? And will he ever want to live as a human again?

Children's Literature

Former Marine Jake Sully lost the use of his legs years ago in combat. Unlike his twin brother Tommy, a scientist, he has not done much since then to count himself a success. When Jake is informed that Tommy died while preparing for a trip to Pandora—a moon of the faraway planet Polyphemus—and that his identical DNA makes him a match for his brother's "avatar," he packs his things immediately. After all, what is there to hold him to Earth? The avatar program was designed to improve relations with Pandora's inhabitants, the tall, blue-skinned Na'vi. Each participant operates a lab-grown Na'vi "avatar" from a link unit; Jake's role is to protect the other scientists. When a routine mission goes awry, Jake ends up lost and adopted by the Na'vi. The more he learns about their ways—and the magic of Pandora—the less he is sure whose side he is on. This book version of the blockbuster Avatar film does a credible job of narrating a story whose main draws are admittedly visual, not plot and dialogue. Frequent pictures throughout the text also show glimpses of the movie. Those who are interested in a pure text interpretation of the script, however, should look elsewhere: Pitesa's narrative ends before the battle for Home Tree, Jake/Neytiri's marriage, and the deaths of any major characters. And it also omits much of Cameron's supporting cast. A "Movie Scrapbook" and "Reusable Sticker Book" also are available in this series. Reviewer: Cara Chancellor