George's Secret Key to the Universe

The chapter on black holes is divided into five sections detailing what a black hole is, how it is formed and found, how you can fall into one, and how you can get back out again. George reads through them, learning that black holes have such strong gravity that light can’t escape and is pulled in, creating the dark appearance. It defines the edge of a black hole as a horizon and notes that, originally, people believed you couldn’t escape a black hole. 

In section 2, Eric describe how black holes are formed by condensing matter, which can occur through supernovas—when powerful stars explode. It talks about how galaxies, including the Milky Way, often have large black holes in their centers. 

The third section of Eric’s books explains that you can’t see a black hole, but you can see its impacts on surrounding objects. The fourth talks about falling into a black hole and how a person would be stretched into “spaghetti” and how time is warped. Then section five talks about Hawking Radiation—how particles are emitted from black holes like a slow leak—“So black holes aren’t eternal prisons after all” (238). While a person couldn’t come out intact, theoretically their particles could be gathered and reconstructed.

There is also a scientific aside on Neutron Stars, talking about how they are formed after a supernova. This aside also clarifies the size of stars and what they become—white dwarf, neutron star, black hole—based on their mass.

On the morning of the science competition, George leaves home early but rides his bike to Dr. Reeper’s house instead of the school. As he travels, he reflects that he understands why Annie invents stories and feels driven to save Eric.

At Dr. Reeper’s, he sees his teacher fighting with Cosmos, trying to unlock the computer. He watches as Dr. Reeper calls the school and says he won’t be coming in. Dr. Reeper then mocks Cosmos when he mentions the scientific “order” Dr. Reeper was kicked out of, with Dr. Reeper insisting, “‘Those silly busybodies who think they can save the planet and humanity! […] They should save themselves while there is still time. That’s what I intend to do. Forget humanity!’” (245).

George forms a plan and rushes to the school, where he meets up with Annie. George loudly announces that he wants to change his presentation topic to a presentation about how Cosmos works. Ringo overhears and makes a call. Not long after, Dr. Reeper appears, claiming he wants to ensure George’s topic change is approved. When he meets with the principal, Dr. Reeper is ordered to serve as a replacement judge. George tells Annie that Eric is in danger.

George and Annie sneak out of the school through a window in the coatroom after telling a teacher that Annie left something important in her coat pocket. Once outside, they run down the street. Annie calls her mother, Susan, who arrives in her small car, a “Mini”, sounding frustrated with Eric: “‘When will your father learn to stop doing silly things and behave like an adult?’” (256). George climbs into the backseat, which is crowded with musical instruments: Susan is a music teacher, not a Russian dancer, as Annie had said.

George and Annie tell Susan what happened to Eric and Cosmos. Susan drives toward Dr. Reeper’s house. She admits she knows him, though she refuses to explain how. When pressed, she only says it was, “‘something terrible […] Something none of us have ever forgotten’” (261). Before they can ask more questions, they arrive at Dr. Reeper’s house.

Peering through Dr. Reeper’s window, George, Annie, and Susan don’t see Cosmos. Initially worried, they soon hear him singing from somewhere inside. Susan walks around the house, and moments later she lets the children into the house, explaining she found the spare key under a flowerpot: “‘It’s what he always used to do. So I let myself in’” (263).

They find Cosmos in a closet, weak and running out of power. He asks to be plugged in. Once Cosmos is reconnected, George explains that Eric has fallen into a black hole and needs help. Cosmos searches his system but finds no information about black holes. Annie and Susan begin to cry, but George remembers Eric’s book. He retrieves it, and Annie connects the book to Cosmos and presses “ENTER.” 

Cosmos uploads the book, creates a portal to the black hole, then speeds up time and begins filtering Eric from the other particles leaving the black hole. Susan tells the children to cover their eyes just as the black hole explodes in a bright flash. When the light fades, the black hole is gone, and a man steps through the portal.

Confused, Eric asks what happened, noticing he isn’t wearing his own glasses. Cosmos’s screen is dark, and smoke is coming from the keyboard. Annie runs to Eric, explaining what happened. Eric listens in astonishment, thrilled that his theory about black holes has been proven right. Susan interrupts him before he can get carried away, handing him spare glasses and reminding him to thank the children for saving him. George asks about Cosmos, and Eric takes the computer, saying Cosmos will need rest. Eric wants to rush to share his news with the science community, but Susan stops him, reminding him about the science competition. Eric says he will help George on the way back to the school.

Before leaving, Susan points out that they are in Dr. Reeper’s home. Eric is shocked to learn that his former colleague deliberately deceived him. When George asks what happened between them, Eric shows the children a photo pf himself, Dr. Reeper, and an older man with a white beard—a cosmologist and their mentor. Eric explains that he and Dr. Reeper were once close friends who worked together, but over time, Dr. Reeper became “strange and cold” (277), focused on power and ambition. Susan stops the children from asking any more questions about Dr. Reeper.

At the school, Dr. Reeper is restless, frustrating the principal, who tells him to sit still and pay attention. When it is time for George to present, he is nowhere to be found. The principal announces that George has two minutes to arrive before being disqualified. He arrives just in time.

Nervous at first, George starts delivering his presentation, called “My Secret Key to the Universe” (283). Dr. Reeper cries out, attempting to leave, but falling silent and retaking his seat once he sees Eric in the audience.

George resumes, saying he wants to share what he has learned about the Universe and about science. He explains, “Some people think science is boring, some people think it’s dangerous […] But if you try and understand it, it’s fascinating, and it matters to us and to the future of our planet’” (285).

An educational aside focuses on Earth. It explains the planet’s position in the Solar System and its composition, and it notes that it is the only planet where life has been found.

George asks the audience whether science matters, then answers that it does. He explains science helps people understand the world and how everything came to be. He describes how the elements were formed inside stars and how long it took for life to develop on Earth, saying, “It took billions and billions of years for Nature to make us” (287). George says he is no longer embarrassed by his father’s activism, realizing the importance of saving the Earth. At the same time, he argues that people should continue exploring space and searching for other worlds that could sustain life. He concludes saying people don’t need a secret key to understand the Universe; they only need physics.

The audience cheers loudly when he finishes—everyone except Dr. Reeper, who breaks down crying and shouting about Cosmos. The principal announces George has won first place and presents him with his new computer. As Ringo passes by, he threatens George, but George ignores him.

George reunites with Annie, Susan, and Eric. To his surprise, his father appears and tells him that he is proud. George’s dad admits George is right about the value of science and agrees to let him keep the computer—with time limits on its use. Dr. Reeper leaves, followed by Ringo and his friends. Eric doesn’t intend to seek retribution, assuming he won’t see Dr. Reeper again. He also explains that the house he lives in once belonged to his tutor—the old man with a white beard, who had mysteriously disappeared. When George asks where the man went, Susan replies “Home,” changing the subject by offering George and his computer a ride home.

That evening, Annie’s family stays for dinner. Eric and George’s father talk about whether humanity should focus on saving Earth or finding a new planet. Annie goes outside to visit Freddy. After everyone leaves, George falls asleep while thinking about comets.