The Last Kids on Earth

Jack faces an actual monster apocalypse and could choose many different ways to survive. Why does he treat the apocalypse as a video game? Reflect on the following ideas as you complete your analysis:

• What are some characteristics of video games?
• What do video games mean to Jack?
• Where does Jack reference video games directly in the text?
• In what ways do Jack and the other characters act as though they are in a video game?
• What might cause Jack to approach his situation this way, and what are the effects?
• How do characters act or events unfold contrary to what one might expect in a video game?

Teaching Suggestion: It might be interesting to brainstorm different video games and their characteristics. Identifying similarities and differences between games and novels can guide students as they categorize Jack’s actions. To lead students from application to analysis, consider asking them to describe Jack’s life, character traits, and goals. One way to wrap up this discussion could be to ask one or more evaluative questions: “How effective is Jack’s decision to face the apocalypse like a video game? What positives and negatives arise?”