The Last Book in the Universe

The Last Book in the Universe
By Rodman Philbrick
Scholastic, 2000. 223 pgs. Young Adult

This is a "tweeners" or young adult novel set in the post-apocalyptic future. The main character, never named other than "Spaz", lives in a "Latch" (neighborhood) which is part of the "Urb" (city). Each latch us run by a gang with a leader. This is where the "normals" all live. Crime and disease are rampant. Some of the people are degenerating into animals. Across the "zone" is "Eden" where the "proovs" (genetically improved humans) live.

The story is about Spaz who is befriended by "Ryter", an old man that Spaz robs. They team up when Spaz receives word that his sister is dying and he wants to see her again.

I picked this up because it looked vaguely interesting and was a bit put off by the contrived slang at the very beginning then I warmed up to it and found it increasingly interesting. Once I learned that the main character was epileptic and his sister was dying of leukemia I was hooked.

SML