Simon Bloom: the Octopus Effect

by Michael Reisman

Reviewed by: Ramya Paravastu

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Simon Bloom: the Octopus Effect by Michael Reisman

ISBN#:9781101082324

THE STORY:

Simon Bloom is a gifted middle schooler who has the power to control physics formulas. He and his friends, Owen and Alysha, are part of the Union, in which there are Keepers of Books of different branches of science. Keepers can bestow scientific formulas to certain deserving people, who in turn can use them to control specific aspects of science for the greater good. Though most Union members
conform to this rule, some do not, and one of these exceptions is Sirabetta, the powerful villain. She and her supporters use their formulas for their own personal benefit, and to harm others, which goes strictly against the rules of the Union. Simon, having previously defeated Sirabetta in a different book of the same series, must defeat her once more as she has risen to power once again. To do this, Simon and his friends are forced to venture to the Order of Biology where Sirabetta seems to be hiding. The Order of Biology is where the Keeper of the Book of Biology resides, and is concealed from the rest of the world underwater. It also houses exact replicas of every biome found on Earth.  There, Simon attempts multiple times to find Sirabetta and fight her, but he has boulders in his way in the form of disloyal allies and harsh environments, and therefore ultimately fails to finish her off. Simon, Owen, Alysha, and their few trustworthy friends from the Order of Biology come back above water to land in order to fight an engaging and skillful battle against Sirabetta and her talented squadron of friends. (264)

MY OPINION:

As soon as I had finished the very first chapter, I knew this book would be a relatively easy read, though I felt that the plot was extremely intriguing. The vocabulary used was very simple, though it was used in such a way that it showed the reader in their mind's eye what was happening in the story. This made me feel that the book would appeal to most middle graders, and that having a smaller vocabulary would not affect the reader's understanding of the book. However, I did not notice many literary techniques being used, except for an occasional simile or metaphor, none of which really stood out to me. This was the only weaknesses of the book, in my opinion. I thought that the plot itself was extremely interesting, and that it pulled the reader in from the very start. The book was a science fiction novel, and I learned a lot about both biology and physics. I felt that it was appreciable that the author included a "Scientific Terms" section at the end of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed accompanying Simon on his quest to defeat Sirabetta. Out of ten stars, I would give this book seven, mainly because the writing was not as eloquent as I would have liked it to be. I probably would read it again, and I feel that I would enjoy other books in the same series as well. (237)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. What can Simon do with his gravitational powers, and how can he do it?

1a. Simon can "fly" by recalibrating the point from which his gravitational pull is coming from to one in mid air, then "fall" to that point. (pg. 11)

2. What sacrifice does Ralfagon make for Simon, and why is he somewhat pressurized to make the sacrifice?

2a. Ralfagon steps down from his position as Co-Keeper of the Physics, because the Board of Sciences insisted that there be only one Keeper, and hinted that they liked Simon better. (pg. 54)

3. Who is Sara Beth Doe revealed to be, and who brings her memory back?

3a. Sara Beth Doe is Sirabetta, the dreaded villain, and the trio's gym teacher, Willoughby Wanderby tells Sirabetta her story to remind her who she is. (pg. 86-87)

4. Who is Mrs. Fanstrom, and why does she become the principal at Simon's school?

4a. Mrs. Fanstrom is a Keeper and a Union member, and she becomes the principal of Simon's school to make sure that the trio are unhindered in their quest to subdue Sirabetta. (pg. 91)

5. Where is the Order of Biology located?

5a. It is under the sea, housed inside a huge dome, which contains exact replicas of every biome found on Earth. (pg. 106)

Tomes (pg. 7)

Grousing (pg. 48)

Liaison (pg. 51)

Vengeance (pg. 87)

Glacial (pg. 93)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. Who is Phineas, and how is he able to breathe out of the water?

6a. Phineas is one of the fish guardians ot the Order of Biology, and he  is able to breathe out of the water in a bubble which can expand to make pseudopods- temporary limb-like structures. (pg. 124)

7. What octopus-related powers do the three kids acquire, and what is  the process required for transfer of powers?

7a. Owen can camouflage, Alysha can jet-propel through her nose, and Simon has hyper-flexibility. They absorb the octopus traits by touching specific strands of octopus DNA drawn on a power by the Keeper of Biology. (pg. 161))

8. What is the extra power Simon is revealed to have, and how does he acquire it?

8a. Simon can breathe underwater, and he acquires this through accidentally touching the entire octopus DNA, instead of just one specific strand. (pg. 210)

9. How does Aleadra fail Sirabetta?

9a. Aleadra is supposed to return Sirabetta in her 12-year-old form to her 33-year-old form, and she does this, but the process goes badly wrong, and within a minute, Sirabetta is back to her 12-year-old form. (pg. 230)

10. What animals do Najolo and Demara control?

10a. Najolo controls gibbons, and Demara can control insects. (pg. 254)

Bulbous (pg. 114)

Plasma (pg. 175)

Warbled (pg. 216)

Abuzz (pg. 220)

Platter (pg. 262)

                               

LAST SECTION

11. What does Sirabetta expect La Curru to do, and what is he described as by the Narrator?

11a. Sirabetta wants La Curru to rid her of her current formula tattoos, and replace them with more powerful ones. La Curru is described by the Narrator as a mad scientist. (pg. 283)

12. What is revealed about Loisana's position in the war?

12a. Loisana is, in fact, on Simon's side. She is sent by Ralfagon to tail Simon to see if he is worthy enough to be a Keeper.  (pg. 303)

13. What is revealed about Aleadra's role in Sirabetta's life?

13a. Aleadra is revealed to be Sirabetta's mother, whom she loves a lot and is very close to. She is enraged at Simon for "daring to harm [her] mother." (pg. 319)

14. Who comes to give Simon some advice, and pauses time in the middle of the big battle?

14a. Simon's future self comes to give Simon some advice on how to defeat Sirabetta, and gives him water and a breath mint to wash out the taste of octopus ink. (pg. 334)

15. Who does Mrs. Fanstrom defeat, how does she do it, and where does it happen?

15a. Mrs. Fanstrom defeats WIlloughby Wanderby in the Narrator's kitchen by walloping him with her towering column of hair piled high on her head. (pg. 351)

Dissent (pg. 289)

Detonated (pg. 310)

Ricocheted (pg. 323)

Uptight (pg. 334)

Ruffian (pg. 350)