The Last Book in the Universe Book Reveiw
By Makenna Smith
The Last Book in the Universe, by Rodman Philbrick, is about a boy named Spaz trying to get back to his sick sister Bean with the help of Ryter, an old gummy, Lanaya, a beautiful girl from Eden, and Little Face, a five year old boy off the streets. When Spaz finds out Bean is sick he asked Billy Bizmo, the leader of the Bangers, permission to go to Bean's family unit. Billy Bizmo said no, but Spaz went anyway with Ryter, and old gummy he happened to be ripping off at the time. They decide that the safest way to get to Bean would be to take the abandon pipe that used to bring water to the city. A few miles into their walk they hear a terrifying noise. A few moments later they realize Little Face was behind them the entire time. Spaz and Ryter agree that there is no time to take him back and he will just have to tag along with them. Their walk is interrupted again when they are attacked by Monkey Boys. Monkey Boys are men who act like vicous monkeys and not human. They are taken to prison and held hostage but only until they trick the security guard and escape. A few miles later they find the beautiful Lanaya and starving mindless mob with her. They attacked Ryter and he was almost eaten to death but ran and lived. Lanaya agrees to take them to Bean but on the way to Beans family unit they where caught by the city. There punishment was they had to bring back a prober which where strictly forbidden in the city. As they attempted to catch a prober there was a huge war happening and luckily the city was distracted and they ran away to Beans family unit. Shortly after Spaz arrived at Beans family unit she fell into a coma. They decide to take Bean to Eden. Eden was a beautiful place unlike the city. There was blue sky and green grass and trees. They take Bean to the doctor and they found a way to cure her. After about a week in Eden Spaz, Ryter, and Bean where taken away and forced to go back to the city. Later Ryter dies and Spaz is the last writer in the universe.A great theme for this book would be to never give up. My first example is when Spaz, Ryter, and Little Face where captured by the Monkey Boys Spaz thought they all would die but then he thought the opposite and it all changed. "And for the first time since the Monkey Boys grabbed us I really do think we might make it out alive." (77) My next example is when the world was on fire when coming out of the abandoned pipe and they almost died of smoke but lived. "I'm getting worried we won't make it when Ryter coughs out "We're almost there." (93) My last example is when a starving mindless mob attempts to eat Ryter alive but he survives. "Am I? I didn't realize. Relief I suppose. I'm just glad to be alive." (98)
For most of the book Spaz feels in danger and he is in fear that he won't make it to Bean or that she'll be dead before he even gets a chance to see her. He also feels in danger because he went against Billy Bizmo's wishes. My first example is when Spaz, Ryter and Little face were going through the abandoned pipe he was so terrified. "Other times I'm so scared it feels like my knees are coming unscrewed or something." (89) My second example was when Spaz was in so much shock from the war that he was watching that he ran for his life only thinking about himself. "Too scared to move until the prove girl slapped me. Too scared to help anyone but myself. Too scared to do anything but run. Too scared, even, to think of Bean." (132)
I would recommend this book to other seventh grad readers becasue of the action and adventure. The entire time I was on my toes waiting to see what would happen on the next page. I would also recommend this book because it was based in the future and will leave you thinking about humanity's future. If you like adventures books then I would defiantly recommend Rodman Philbrick.
