User:SparksOak231/sandbox

Plot summary
The Last Book in the Universe is the story of an adolescent boy named Spaz who lives in the Urb. The Urb is a futuristic city that rose after the world was destroyed by an earthquake known as the "Big Shake." The citizens of the Urb live in poverty and constant fear of the gangs that control the different latches, or districts of the city. Spaz is part of a gang called the Bully Bangers, led by a gang boss named Billy Bizmo. The story begins when Spaz is sent to "rip off" Ryter, an eccentric old man who is writing a book.

In this fictional society, books have almost disappeared entirely. They have been replaced by a new technology called probing, which involves injecting the brain with a fluid that enables the user to envision stories directly inside his mind. Spaz is unable to probe because he is epileptic and has seizures if he is injected with a probe. As a result, he is fascinated by Ryter's book, which Ryter claims is the work of a lifetime.

Soon after Spaz leaves Ryter's little shack, he receives news from a messenger that Bean, his sister from his former adoptive family, is sick and dying of leukemia. Since Billy Bismo forbids anyone from leaving the latch, Spaz chooses to sneak away unseen to visit his sister one last time. With the help of Ryter and a little boy named Little Face, Spaz travels along an underground system know as the Pipe.

The fist obstacle the group encounters is the Monkey Boys, led by another gang boss named Mongo the Magnificent, who is under the influence of the probes. Mongo has been "looping" on a probe for over a year and is decaying and in a coma, showing Spaz the consequences of probing. Following their encounter with the Monkey Boys, Spaz saves a girl named Lanaya from an angry mob. Lanaya is a proov, one of a group of elite, genetically improved humans who live in an area known as Eden. Lanaya agrees to escort Spaz, Ryter, and Little Face to Spaz's sister's latch. However, they are delayed once again when the boss of that latch, Lottie Getts demands payment for entering the latch. People have been smuggling probes into the latch, even though Lottie banned probing, and she demands that they bring her the people smuggling probes into the latch. They agree to help her, and finally see Bean, who is on the brink of death.

Lanaya comes up with a brilliant plan. They rush Bean to Eden, where medical technicians begin to alter her genes. Bean recovers, but they are unable to stay in Eden. When Spaz and Ryter return to the latch, Ryter is punished and publicly executed. Spaz decides to continue Ryter's work and write his story for the people of the future.

Major Themes
Major themes, in a list created by Scholastic, included reading, technology, challenges and overcoming obstacles, courage, bravery, heroism, and individuality. Scholastic also wrote in conclusion, "the story is ultimately about those who have the courage to become conscious in a world that invites us to choose illusion and denial."

Background
The novel is an adaptation of a short story previously written by the author in a collection called Tomorrowland. The story was also influenced greatly by Lois Lowry's The Giver and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.

Reception
The Last Book in the Universe has received mixed reviews. Many critics praised the novel for its involving plot. Debbie Carton, a reviewer from Booklist, called it a "fast-paced adventure" with a "moving conclusion" and "memorable characters." A number of critics agreed: Scholatic called the stary "chilling and inspiring." A reviewer from Publishers Weekly wrote, "[the book's] futuristic dialect combined with striking descriptions of a postmodern civilization will convincingly transport readers to Spaz's world."

However, Susan L. Rogers from School Library Journal pointed out that there are too many distractions that pull the reader's attention away from the main theme. She also noted that the science in this science fiction novel was "vague." Publishers Weekly added that the story was "not fully developed," complaining that some scenes, such as the ones involving the Monkey Boys and the Furies, were "a bit abrupt."

Awards

 * ALA Best Book for YAs
 * Maine Lupine Award
 * Maryland Readers Medal
 * Isinglass Teen Read Award
 * YALSA 100 Best of The Best Books for the 21st Century