The Last Universe by William Sleator

Booktalk version: Gary was a high school sports star, but now he is wasting away, and has to be pushed around in his wheelchair by his sister, Susan. Without much else to do, they explore the huge overgrown garden and woods in the back of their house, where strange things begin to happen. Paths move, flowers grow overnight, and Gary begins to feel drawn to a hedge maze that appears to have something to do with their uncle's work with quantum physics. Will the siblings be able to use these strange events to help Gary get better? Or will things only get worse?

Full-length version: Gary used to be a high school sports star and enjoyed spending time with his friends, but now he is confined to a wheelchair with an unnamed disease. His sister Susan, the narrator of the book, is stuck with the job of pushing his chair around whereever he wants, which she resents, but is expected by her parents to do whatever Gary wants her to do.

The siblings discover that the huge overgrown garden behind their ancestral home contains secrets, including some to do with quantum physics and alternate universes. If this sounds overwhelming, the author includes explanations of quantum physics woven into the story, as Susan learns more about it through her brother and her friend Lisa, helping both Susan and the reader understand the concepts.

The description of the garden in the backyard is vivid, it is easy to picture the flowers, grass, dark and menacing trees, and the maze that they find through a quirk of quantum physics. As the characters explore the garden and maze, Gary is focused on getting well again, while Susan alternates between wanting to do what is best for Gary and making sure that she gets what she needs and wants out of life. Susan is stuck in a difficult position and her conflicts come out in various situations.

The book allows the reader to suspend their disbelief because of its clear explanations of quantum physics and the struggles of the characters. I believe this book would be a good choice for students advanced enough to comprehend the basic physics explanations and for those who enjoy science fiction. Often science fiction focuses on technology and futuristic ideas, while this book focuses on known physics and embeds it in a realistic, if farfetched, situation.