“Follow step-by-step, or pick and choose from Gust’s exhaustive strategies for teaching setting, characterization, plot, dialogue, figurative language, and mechanics. A treasury of information and imagination for middle-grade writing teachers whose goal is to provide students with a means to discover the joy and accomplishment of good story writing.”—David Gifaldi, Vermont College faculty member; fifth grade teacher, Vancouver, WA School District; and author of Listening to Crickets

“Gust describes how he engages his students in order for them to achieve the creation of their own highly skilled, adventurous fantasy writing journey. Humorous, thoughtful, engaging and practical, Gust provides hope that our children can experience this same educational transformation on the road to becoming real writers. More than mere strategies and activities, he has drawn the secret map and all we need to do is follow.”––J. Cynthia McDermott, Ed.D., program chair, Teacher Education, Antioch University, Los Angeles

“Teachers, students, writers, prepare yourselves! John Gust’s Adventures in Fantasy will propel you into a world like no other: your imagination and the wonderful power that lies within it. This maze of fantasy, constructivist teaching, and creative writing leads you on a heroic journey that surpasses the noble quest to be stronger, more confident writers.”—Bruce Frost, children’s author and fourth-grade teacher, Scituate, Massachusetts