Customer Reviews

Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper

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4 star:		(3)
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What would you do if you could control the laws of Physics?

Simon Bloom is an average eleven-year-old boy that dreams of being able to fly and instantaneously travel to the moon. But as a 6th-grader, he doesn't know anything about the laws of Physics. Nor has he ever noticed the woods at the end of Van Silas Way. And not just any woods. These woods have trees as big as the Redwoods, yet no one seems to notice them. Then one fateful day, with his new friend, Owen, the Breeze (yes, with a capital B) beckons Simon to the dead end Van Silas Way. Out of nowhere, Dunkerhoook Woods appears before the two of them. They venture into the magically charged woods and discover a clearing with wood stumps arranged in a circle. While exploring the clearing, a Book (again, with a capital B) falls, seemingly out of nowhere.

Enter the TEACHER'S EDITION OF PHYSICS. The Book belongs to the Keeper of the Order of Physics. Why has it fallen out of nowhere into Simon Bloom's hands? And what is Simon to do with it? Well, as any curious sixth grader would do, he opens it. And thus begins the adventures.

The previous owner of the Book has been injured in a mysterious car accident and the Order of Physics members are out to find the perpetrator of the crime and the missing Book. And a mysterious hooded person and their assistant are trying to find the Book for their own personal use.

Simon and his friends must figure out how to use the Book to protect themselves from those that mean to harm them just to get their hands on the Book.

The story starts out a bit confusing with all of the different characters and names of organizations. But once the plot begins to move along, it all comes together and is quite entertaining to the reader. For fans of the HARRY POTTER and THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY series, this new addition to the genre will be a treat for them.. Simon and his friends are determined eleven year olds not afraid to stand up to stronger adults as they try to return the Book to its rightful owner. Battles ensue and the laws of Physics are put to the test.

Not normally a fan of this genre, Mr. Reisman has created an enchanting story appropriate for all ages to enjoy. The chapters are short so those of a younger age will be able to read a few pages and be able to stop at appropriate places. Older ones will be able to read multiple chapters in one sitting and still want to keep reading. The action is quick and the entire story takes place in less than a week's time. I'm not sure if there will be a sequel to the story, but the ending leaves the possibility there.

Pick up SIMON BLOOM, THE GRAVITY KEEPER and see what is possible!

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

Simon Bloom the Gravity Keeper is an fast paced and incredibly creative book. I read it cover to cover in a day and can't wait for a sequel. What is most amazing is how the author takes basic science and turns it into great entertainment. It's science that is real and seems accurate (gravity, friction). For parents who want to both entertain their children (and themselves) and who want to incite curiosity in their kids, you can't go wrong with this book.

After Harry Potter, I've grown a little tired of fantasy imitators (golden compass, etc). This book takes place in our day, in our time, and uses principles of real science to make it all go. I think it's a great addition to the young adult literature,

A couple of my mom friends were talking about how much their kids loved Simon Bloom. I'm always looking something new for my kids to read and this book is fantastic. The chapters are nice and short and the characters are very compelling--imagine getting to be a real superhero! The names are a little goofy and appeal to a kids' sense of humor. My son couldn't put it down and now I'm reading it. This is a great gift for kids who love to get lost in a story. You could also make it a bedtime book---it is sure to make for some very creative dreams! Will there be a sequel?

Fun to read and it is very entertaining. I love science and I like science fiction novels. I personally don't read a lot. It took me months to find a book I want to read.As soon as i opened the book I would not put it down.

I would definitely buy this book!!!

Simon, for some unexplained reason, has been bestowed with the power to alter the universe. The story moves along at a good pace and the characters are likable. Some things are really annoying though: the author chose to puncture the fourth wall and it's kind of disruptive to the book; character dialog isn't natural and is painfully awkward at times; and finally, the author had a really good opportunity to pass along science concepts in a palatable format for kids but really didn't follow through. Maybe its the editor's fault but you can tell the author intended to use the premise of the book to educate in an entertaining manner but the execution is really weak, even if the audience is kids. I'll keep reading the series though because I'm a sci-fi junkie and maybe the next installment will be even better.

The following review is by my 10-year old son.

Most of the time, new books don't usually strike the shelves with as big of an impact as this. It usually takes them a few months before the book is brought up to one of the greats. But the series beginning of Simon Bloom was a great Sci-Fi book, and people were attracted to it very quickly, apparently. The characters are great, the syndicated items are great, the organizations are great, it's just GREAT. Michael Resiman is an author that can write quite enthralling novels, and I can barely wait to see what comes next after this book.

Simon Bloom's life is turned upside-down when he discovers the "Teacher's Edition" of his classroom physics textbook, which magically gives him power over the laws of physics. He manipulates gravity and friction, allowing him to float, fly, zoom or slow down. After accidentally eavesdropping on a group of excessively silly senior wizards sporting wacky psuedo-medieval names, he finds himself unavoidably caught up in the action.

The evil Sirabetta is able to control several different branches of science (magically) with various tattoos that seem to writhe all over her body. Of course, she is hoping to add the book of physics to her collection. Simon's two best friends, Owen and Alysha join him in trying to keep the magic book out of the hands of villains.

Owen has a rather annoying habit of speaking-so-quickly-that-all-of-his-sentences-are-rendered-in-dashes, and Alysha is a bit of an outsider at school who joins them in their expeditions to Dunkerhook Woods. Only towards the very last third of the book do Owen and Alysha start to come in to their own, gaining the power of velocity and electricity, respectively. In a way, I was disappointed to see Owen and Alysha lose their powers so quickly.

Plenty of inside-jokes seemed geared towards Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fans, which might go over the heads of the intended audience of 9 to 12-year-old boys. In many ways, Gravity Keeper reminded me of the Angie Sage's Septimus Heap books, but with a more scientific bent. An omniscient narrator, similar to one in The Series of Unfortunate Events provides comic relief. Fast-paced, inventive and fun, I'd recommend this new series to any budding science-fiction fan.

I read it, my son read it - (he was 14 at the time)and we both really liked it, but there was something missing - when Simon and his friends find out who the bully's dad really is - there is no reaction anywhere!????? This was missing, and I thought it should have been addressed - know what I mean?

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

I bought this book for a Christmas present for my grandson who is in 6th grade. He loves science and he loves to read. He almost read the whole book in one setting after school one day! He said it was a real page-turner and that he couldn't put it down. Now he can't wait to start the next book in the series, the Octopus Effect, which I also gave him. It's great to see kids get excited about reading!