Books by
Michael Reisman

SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER

SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER
by Michael Reisman
Dutton Juvenile
ISBN: 9780525479222
Ages 8-12
256 pages

• About the Book
• Read an Excerpt
• Author Interview –– April 2008

Caveat: I am automatically swayed (in a good way) by any author who mentions THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY in the acknowledgments and then gives it a cameo. It's often that a new book with science fiction elements and a great deal of humor gets compared to the Douglas Adams classic. It's rare when the new book deserves the comparison. With SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER, Michael Reisman’s debut novel, it's most accurate to say that the spirit of Adams's wry humor is alive and well, and the influence propels Reisman's work into its own niche rather than binds it to the category of "just another Adams rip-off."

SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER is powered by an all-seeing Narrator who reports and comments for a Chronicle of events on behalf of a mysterious organization known only as the Union. This Union, we learn, possesses a series of Books that holds the secrets to manipulating the universe. The Union itself is split into various Orders that are responsible for overseeing the workings of Physics, Biology and other functions thought to be the machinations of nature.

From his hidden position, the Narrator introduces us to 11-year-old Simon Bloom, who, along with some friends, is lured into a mystic woods by a mischievous Breeze. It's there that Simon finds (well, he's hit on the head by) a teacher's edition of one of the Order's physics books. As he experiments with the book's formulae, he finds that the information within allows him to control gravity. But, of course, with this sort of power comes responsibilities that Simon can't even begin to imagine. Worse, the physics book Simon possesses is being sought by a traitor within the Union who has nefarious plans for the book's usage.

Although bearing similarities to the recently released THE SEEMS: THE GLITCH IN SLEEP, where the complex workings of the universe are reduced to manageable mechanisms and formulae, SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER stands out with its quirky sense of humor. With chapter titles like "What Newton Said (And Simon's Dirty Ceiling)" and "Gravity Is For Suckers," it's hard to go wrong. While the characters rarely extend beyond familiar archetypes, the book's deft mixture of pacing and idiosyncratic imagination will give readers an adventure that's difficult to forget. Reisman's prime talent is in setting a tone that, even when shifting masterfully from silly to serious, never loses sight of the fun.

SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER is the first in what hopefully will be an inventive new series. I've already reserved space on my bookshelf for the second installment. And unless you stumble upon your own teacher's edition physics book, I suggest you do the same.

    --- Reviewed by Brian Farrey

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