From the Bookshelf of class of 2014…

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The Last Universe by William Sleator is a very fast and interesting read. It's narrated by Susan, who has to spend her summer wheel-chairing her brother Gary, who has an unnamed disease, wherever he wishes. So when Gary insists on Susan taking him out to the vast, neglected garden behind their ancestral home, Susan becomes very weary. They come across a maze created by their great-uncle allowing access to multiple quantum universes, which alters their world every time they turn a corner. This brings Gary excitement seeing it as a way of changing his fate, where as Susan only sees negative outcomes. By the end of the story you have a very well explained and understandable explanation for the changes in their worlds, which is often repeated, however leaves the reader with other unexplained events. The story tends to drag on and focus more on quantum theory than creating a compelling story line, however at the end of the story you are surprised with an unexpected twist. Overall, it's a nice pick up if you are into science and theories, the suspense is what helped keep me turning the pages.