George's Secret Key to the Universe

Dr. Reeper greets the boys saying, “‘I like to see young people enjoying themselves’” (153). He tells them he is in the middle of an experiment and needs to return to his work. Ringo mentions a letter Dr. Reeper asked him to deliver to Eric’s house. As Dr. Reeper goes to retrieve the letter, the boys decide to sneak into the house and look for something to steal. Dr. Reeper catches them. At first, he is furious. The boys lie, saying they are only curious about his experiment, and adding that Tank wants to be a scientist. Delighted, Dr. Reeper invites them into his lab to share his research with them.

Inside Dr. Reeper’s laboratory, Ringo and his friends look at glass instruments and strange chemicals. Dr. Reeper explains he is recreating Earth’s atmosphere from billions of years ago, explaining the foul smell. He shows them a model volcano that produces smoke and lightning. When lightning strikes the gases, he says, it forms amino acids—the chemical building blocks of life on Earth. Whippet asks why Dr. Reeper is conducting this experiment, and the teacher admits, “‘I am trying to create life itself’” (163).

He tells the boys he hopes to seed another planet with life, believing humans would become “masters” of that planet. Showing them a photograph of outer space with a small spot marked, he explains he has spent his life searching for new planets that could support life. Whippet keeps asking questions, earning teasing from the other boys for being a “teacher’s pet.” Dr. Reeper says he has found a distant planet that might be habitable, insisting he must visit it. He almost went to space once, but was stopped, and he has been trying to get into space ever since. He tells them he may have another chance if they successfully deliver the letter, which contains information about the planet he has found, to Eric. He promises to reward them on Monday if they complete the task.

Three educational sections accompany the chapter. The first—“The Early Atmosphere”—explains that billions of years ago, Earth’s atmosphere was unbreathable, lacking oxygen but rich with hydrogen sulphide, which smells like rotten eggs. The second describes the 1953 Miller-Urey experiment, in which scientists electrified gases to produce organic compounds—the first steps toward understanding how life began. The final section discusses exoplanets, explaining that these are planets orbiting stars outside our Solar System. It notes that 240 had been discovered at the time and describes how they are detected through studying their gravitational effects on their stars and through satellite missions like Corot that search for new planets.

George reflects on how frustrated he feels with his parents’ lifestyle and how it sets him apart from the other children. Although George agrees that protecting the environment is important, he wishes he could help in his own way instead of following his parents’ strict rules. He suggests to his father that having a computer would let him help spread environmental awareness, but his father refuses: “‘We’re not getting a computer and that’s final’” (171).

George decides on his topic for the science competition—“My Amazing Rock from Outer Space” (172). When he goes to officially sign up, the principal encourages him, hopeful George will win. However, when George reaches into his pocket for the rock, he discovers that it has crumbled to dirt. The principal tells him to dispose of the dirt and head to lunch, which George does, planning to return for it later.

At lunch, Ringo steals a broccoli muffin from George’s lunchbox, takes a bite, and spits it out in disgust before reaching for more food. George slams the lid shut on Ringo’s fingers. Dr. Reeper steps in, sending Ringo to the nurse but not scolding George. Instead, he questions George about whether Eric has gone on any trips. George says no—that he saw Eric that morning—and Dr. Reeper angrily leaves.

After lunch, George goes to retrieve the dirt from the garbage can, but it has already been emptied. He overhears Dr. Reeper scolding Ringo for not delivering the letter. Ringo insists they did deliver it.

Walking home in the rain, George decides to stop by Eric’s house to talk about his presentation. He hesitates before ringing the doorbell, but when Eric answers, he invites George inside. George immediately apologizes for what happened with the comet, but Eric apologizes as well, saying Annie told him what happened. Eric explains that he is hosting a science conference and invites George to stay and listen, saying Annie is at her grandmother’s.

A red-haired woman named Professor Crzkzak gives a presentation about the possibility of life on Mars. She discusses her research, then opens the floor for questions. At first, she overlooks George’s raised hand but circles back when she notices him. Nervous, George asks why Mars is red. Crzkzak explains the color comes from the planet’s iron content: “‘When iron becomes oxidized, which is another way of saying that it has rusted, it becomes red’” (187). She adds that the reddish layer is thin and that while no liquid water has been found on Mars, there is ice at its poles.

Eric addresses the group, reminding them that they have taken the Oath of the Scientist and must keep Cosmos secret. He introduces the main question of the event: Should humanity prioritize saving Earth, or finding a new habitable planet? When the group votes, the results are divided. Crzkzak suggests asking George, as “‘We may lack a bit of perspective on this matter’” (191). George questions why they can’t do both.

An educational section focuses on Mars, providing details about the planet’s size, position, structure, and temperature. It also notes that Mars has the Solar System’s largest volcano—Olympus Mons—and that evidence suggests it may have once had liquid water on the surface and may yet have liquid water underground.

After the conference ends, Eric tells George he was right; they should focus on both saving Earth and searching for new worlds. Eric wants to invite George’s parents to the next meeting, arguing despite George’s protestation that it will take everyone working together to save the planet.

George explains he actually came for help with his science presentation, wanting to make sure he hasn’t made any mistakes. Eric offers him a cookie and says he is writing a book to help George and Annie learn more about the Universe. Before helping him, however, Eric asks George to assist with cleaning the library.

As they tidy the room, George finds a letter on the floor. When Eric reads it, he becomes overjoyed and begins rushing around, preparing to travel into space. George recognizes the handwriting but doesn’t remember where he has seen it. He grows uneasy and warns Eric not to trust the letter, but Eric doesn’t listen. Instead, he enters coordinates shared in the letter into Cosmos, who then opens a portal into space. Eric insists George won’t need his help with the presentation, and he goes through the doorway to space.

George asks Cosmos where Eric went. Cosmos stops singing to say Eric went to look for a new planet. George shouts in frustration, and Cosmos explains that although he doesn’t know exactly where Eric went, he will now be able to map that part of the Universe since Eric has gone there.

George considers following Eric but hesitates, afraid of getting into trouble. As he turns to leave, he remembers he wanted to tell Eric about Dr. Reeper’s questioning. The memory sparks a realization—the handwriting looked familiar because it was Dr. Reeper’s. He finds the letter to confirm. Reading it, he sees that it contains the coordinates of a potentially habitable planet. Alarmed, George asks Cosmos to locate Eric, but Cosmos begins talking about the Milky Way Galaxy.

George shouts at Cosmos, and the image Cosmos shows him of the galaxy zooms in, and an arrow labeled with Eric’s name appears. George orders Cosmos to open a portal, and he puts on Annie’s old pink space suit, though he tries to find one of the newer ones. He puts his head through the portal and calls for Eric, who calls back. Eric is headed toward George on an asteroid, looking “relaxed.” He tells George to close the portal, but George stays, trying to warn him about Dr. Reeper—“‘It must be a trap! Come back now! Please!’” (211). When Eric still doesn’t listen, George jumps out the portal.

Eric catches George. When Eric tries to send him back, George shouts over him that what he has to say is important. Eric is taken aback and listens. George tells him about Dr. Reeper, and Eric says he knows him. They worked together, and they got into an argument, Dr. Reeper was badly burned—accounting for the scars on his hands—and they removed Dr. Reeper from their organization because of his questionable endeavors. Eric is still excited, assuming Dr. Reeper has gotten over his anger and is genuinely sharing a positive discovery with Eric. George insists it’s a trick, but Eric remains unconcerned.

Eric explains Cosmos couldn’t drop him closer to the planet because they haven’t mapped that location, but they are actively mapping it now. The asteroid’s path changes, worrying Eric, and Eric tells George to scan for dark areas around them. He spots one that is growing larger, and Eric shouts for Cosmos to create a portal back. Cosmos says he is trying. A doorway appears, and George is able to go through. Eric shouts at him, “Find my book on black holes!” (219).