The Last Book in the Universe - Character Insights and Story Highlights

The Last Book in the Universe by Rodman Philbrick unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world where Spaz, an epileptic boy in The Urb, navigates through poverty and gangs. Meeting the wise Ryter, Spaz discovers the historical significance of his condition. As he encounters the affluent Proovs and embarks on a journey to reach his ill sister, Bean, Spaz's perspective on life and his future undergo a transformative shift.

• Rodman Philbrick
• The Last Book in the Universe
• Post-apocalyptic
• Epilepsy
• Character Development

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1. THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE BY RODMAN PHILBRICK

2. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS Spaz: Suffers from epilepsy Epilepsy: a medical condition that causes electrical abnormalities in the brain. This leads to sudden convulsions, seizures, and/or blackouts. Lives in The Urb a very poor area of the world within The Pipe His latch (neighborhood) is run by The Bully Bangers Spaz works for Billy Bizmo the latch boss by ripping off other people Has a sister named Bean

3. GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CHARACTERS CONTINUED Ryter An older gentleman Seems to be working on a novel In possession of many old items Tell Spaz that his epilepsy is a gift not a curse and references many historical figures who also had epilepsy Offers to help Spaz get to his sister, Bean

4. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 1-3 The story is set in a post-apocalyptic future The Urb is an impoverished world the people who live in the latches are poor and underfed. Their homes are barely livable, the people are dirty, (e.g. Little Face) and the latches are controlled by gangs Spaz s latch is controlled by Billy Bizmo and The Bully Bangers. Billy sends Spaz to steal from Ryter, but Spaz has conflicted emotions about this once he gets there. We learn that Spaz does not think about his future and does not like to reflect on his past.

5. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 4-6 Spaz makes contacts with a proov-girl, Lanaya The Proovs are genetically modified people. They live in Eden - a wealthy, luxurious, and lavish place. We will learn more about Eden in upcoming chapters. The proov-girl is handing out edibles (food) to the poor people of The Urb. Ryter and Spaz have an interesting conversation about the past as well as Spaz s epilepsy. Ryter tells Spaz his epilepsy is a blessing and makes him unique.

6. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 7-9 A latch runner (messenger) is waiting for Spaz at his cubicle (home). The latch runner tells Spaz that his sister, Bean, is sick and needs to see him. Spaz demands a meeting with Billy and says he must leave the latch. Billy denies this request, but Spaz leaves anyway. The Boxers surround Spaz and, because of his growing fear and epilepsy, he has a seizure and blacks out. Ryter is alongside him when he awakes and the travel through The Pipe a sewer line that connects all of the latches

7. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTER 10 Spaz, and Ryter enter The Pipe - this is a major sewer line that connects all of the latches throughout The Urb While on their way out, they are frightened by a mysterious figure Little Face! The three are now on a journey to get to Bean When they make it to the first latch on their journey, they are surrounded by The Monkey Boys The Monkey Boys are the gang that control this new latch. They are wild, savage, and uncivilized people. They act more like animals than humans.

8. MIND-PROBES VS READING & WRITING WHICH IS BETTER? WHY? Provide an experience to the reader like mind-probes. Mind probes are also similar to books because they are both activities that people enjoy doing. -Tori Both books and mind probes were created and meant to entertain people; the mind probe is the upgraded version of the book Lukas You get to see what's going on you can pick your favorite and see them and you feel like you are in it.- Soundwayve They both give people something fun to do. Jason Both tell a story that you can get information about and learn or imagine what is happening. Kelsi You learn the things from thinking you re in a story. In a book, you learn things from reading the book. Reza When you express these thoughts other reader might also express their thoughts into a book as well.-Shenpen In mind-probes dump the information directly to our brains, but when reading books we are given the opportunity to try to interpret what the author is trying to communicate through their words. -Julian

9. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 11-13 The trio is captured and brought to Mongo the Magnificent the leader of The Monkey Boys He presented himself as this large intimidating figure, but Spaz is amused because it is simply a hologram The real Mongo has become so addicted to mindprobes that his brain is degenerating. His body is physically incapable of support his life anymore. Mongo is stuck looping. If Mongo is taken off of the mindprobe he will die. Ryter and Spaz convince Mongo s Tekboss, Gorm, that the Monkey Boys need a capable leader, and it should be him! He calls himself The Great Gorm. He releases the trio, and they begin traveling to the next latch.

10. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 14-15 Once the trio leaves Gorm, they travel on. Soon they see that the next latch is being burned down. There is fire ablaze, and an angry mob is circling around Lanaya! They want to steal her food. Ryter draws the attention of the crowd by shouting about his own food, and Spaz and Little Face run to Lanaya to save her. The four of them are picked up by Lanaya sTakvee and escorted through The Forbidden Zone a dangerous minefield with proximity mines scattered throughout it. Spaz tells Lanaya about his sister Bean, but suddenly they see Eden Security Patrol. They are able to evade the patrol takvee, but run into a new problem.

11. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 16-17 The Vandals surround Lanaya s takvee. The Vandals are the gang that run this next latch. They are loud, intimidating, ride around on loud jetbikes, and carry splat guns! Their leader, Lotti Getts, is another vicious leader, and it seems Spaz is familiar with Lotti. They ask for Lotti s help, but Lotti says they will only receive safe passage out of the latch if they can find out who is smuggling mind-probes into the latch Mind-probes are banned in Lotti s latch! The gang goes to Traderville to speak with someone named Bender

12. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 18-20 Lanaya knows Bender from her time spent in The Urb She says that things become more valuable when they are banned if you can t have it, you want it more. They encounter a rival gang -The Furies. They are silent assassins, they wear masks to cover their faces, dress is dark robes, carry sharp daggers, and move in stealth. They leader is Vida Bleek. The Furies want control of Lotti Gett s latch Spaz and his group find out that mind-probes come from .EDEN!

13. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 18-20 CONTINUED As they get closer to Spaz s old home, he begins to think more and more about his childhood, his memories with Charly and Kay, and more importantly, with Bean. He also wonders if Bean is even still alive was he in time, or is he too late? He remembers how Bean used to think of Eden a blue sky, the perfect place to live It turns out that Bean has Leukemia. Basically, this is a type of cancer that causes the body to produce too many white blood cells. White blood cells fight infection and pathogens in the body. When the body has too many white blood cells, it begins to believe that everything is a pathogen, and the white blood cells begin to attack its own body.

14. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 21-22 Little Face is enjoying his time at Bean s home; he is dancing around joyously entertaining everyone after a nice meal (food and shelter something he doesn t have). Little Face even begins saying other words beside Chox! Bean goes into a coma she appears to be sleeping, but it unconscious and cannot be woken up because of her illness. It seems the best place to go for help is Eden, but Charly is against it because it s forbidden for Normals to enter. Lanaya promises to keep her safe, and Kay suggests they have nothing to lose by trying, so they go. The Vandals return victorious after their encounter with The Furies. Lotti Getts tells Spaz to tell Billy Bizmo about the battle and the Vandals win.

15. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 23-25 The color blue is a notable color in this section Bean has always been infatuated with the color, believing that everything in Eden was blue. It was almost a symbol and hope and prosperity. Charly never liked this telling her blue didn t exist and means nothing! When the group arrives to Eden, they see a magnificent world unlike the Urb: blue skies, green grass, flowing clean water, fresh air, trees, plants, flowers, etc. Then they arrive to Lanaya s home: a palace! The group meets Jin and Bree Lanaya s contributors (remember, they are genetically improved, so they aren t formally Lanaya s parents, exactly, their DNA was used to create Lanaya scientifically). The group is also introduced to new technologies: Cyber Intelligence and the Authority

16. HIGHLIGHTS FROM CHAPTERS 23-25 CONTINUED Ryter is especially intrigued by the Cyber Intelligence as it is, basically, an interactive AI room that can load, show, teach, and explain any subject. A mega AI Google room!! Ryter tests this Cyber Intelligence by asking to see the Grand Canyon, then he learns Bean s condition is called Leukemia It is explained that there is no cure for this disease because Proovs do not get the disease, so there is no need for a cure to it. This makes Spaz furious. Spaz begins to realize that Proovs are able to maintain such a wonderful lifestyle because the Normals are too diluted to riot or rebel against them. He believes that sending mind probes to the Urb would keep the people subdued and eventually destroy the Normals.