“The Last Universe” is a book written by William Sleator. William Sleator is a science fiction author. His books are often suspenseful, mysterious and scary. He has written over 30 books for young adults. I read a lot of his books, including: The Green Futures of Tycho, Marco's Millions and Strange Attractors.
Gary is so sick that he has to sit in a wheelchair. Susan, Gary's younger sister, has to push him to the garden everyday. Throughout the story they discover more and more about the garden. Later they find out it is not an ordinary garden, but a quantum garden. Then while exploring the garden, the path leads them to a maze. Gary seems to get stronger every time they go through the maze. He discovers that every time they leave the maze, they arrive in a new universe. One time after going through the maze, Gary becomes weaker. Mom and Dad become meaner. They agree that you won't always arrive in a good universe, when you come out of the maze. This is one of the bad universes. At night, Susan hears sirens and Gary is taken to the hospital. Susan manages to follow the cat, Sro-dee, a special cat, through the maze and escapes to another universe. Susan has to find a universe in which Gary is better. At that point I almost think she isn't going to find it because there are infinite universes you can arrive in. After going through universes, she finds a universe in which Gary is better. In fact he isn't even in a wheelchair. But there is still a wheelchair and pill organizer ready. Susan is confused.
The book always has me wondering. The strange things happening in the garden makes me want to know exactly what is going on. I had to read on to find the answers. Gary's dad seems to be hiding something about the garden. He always wants to get off the topic and doesn't talk about it much. Then they find opium poppies and lotuses growing in their garden. Normally these flowers can't grow in their climate. A path in the garden leads them somewhere else. There is also this maze you can see but can't get there. These are the evidence that the garden is not ordinary. There are also scary and sad parts. “I was awakened in the middle of the night by flashing light outside my window.” That sentence gives me a scary feeling by using the words “Awakened in the middle of night ” The next sentence makes me feel sad and hopeless, “Go tomorrow and follow the cat into the maze, while there's still a chance.”
“I might not make it in this universe. I want you to find one where I do.” The sentence uses these words to give the effect, “While there's still a chance” and “I might not make it in this universe.”
I didn't like the ending because it isn't clear. It isn't saying clearly what is going on, almost assuming you know. Other people can interpret it in a different way, so there is really more than one ending.
The book is based on real information on quantum mechanics. When Gary is explaining quantum mechanics to Susan, that's when you can learn. I chose this book because I have read a lot of William Sleator's books. After I started reading one of his books, I couldn't stop. The word “Universe” in the title caught my eye and made me want to read it. I think the author's goal is to teach you about quantum mechanics through a book. But also the book is made for entertainment and fun. William Sleator enjoyed making it and I enjoyed reading it. It also says, people who are sick can still be smart. Gary is sick, but he is the only one who really understands the quantum mechanics. Sick people can see things in a different way. Just like Gary sees the garden and maze as a place he can become better. Everyone else think it is a dangerous place to be.
