Have You Read this Amazing Story? “The Quantum Realm Philly the Photon” Review

Inside:The Quantum Realm Philly the Photon review contains my own opinions and impressions.  I did, however, receive a complimentary publishers copy of the novel. Despite some minor weaknesses in character dialogue, it is a thoroughly engaging story that simplifies quantum physics for both kids and parents.   *Note: This Quantum Realm Philly the Photon review has an Amazon Affiliate link.

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The Writer of the Quantum Realm

Mark A. Montgomery

As of 2015, Mark lives in the San Francisco Bay area. He works for one of the leading Medical Research and Teaching Institutions—The San Francisco Veterans Hospital. He is passionate about Science and Technology in education and seeks to help all, especially children, have a deeper understanding of science, most particularly, quantum physics.

Mark struggled with mental health issues for fifteen years.  In 2010, he sought help through the Psychotherapy process called EMDR. He experienced near instantaneous relief from his symptoms and was inspired to understand how his mind had been changed. Mark studied Biology, Psychology, Neuroscience, Chemistry and, finally Quantum Physics. Through this journey, he felt compelled to understand the mysteries of Quantum physics and how it applied to the human mind and our relationship with everything. This novel was born from that healing process and his desire to share his understanding of quantum patterns with his son.

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The Quantum Realm Philly the Photon Review: Storyline

The focus of The Quantum Realm: Philly the Photon is a boy named Sebastian.  Sebastian has a terrifying experience during a lightning storm while out in the woods with his father.  After father and son make it home, Sebastian needs to come to terms with his ordeal.  He feels humiliation at his fear.  He talks with his father to process those feelings.

His father has a scientific mind.  He helps his son relax by encouraging him to ask questions. Eventually, Sebastian’s questions settle on the electrical storm, the source of his extreme fear.  Sebastian’s father tells him that questions are good.  His understanding hinges on not only asking questions, but in asking the right questions.

“We are seeking the Theory of Everything.  The problem is that in order to find an answer we must first ask a question.  The key is asking the right questions.  This is not as easy as it seems.” — Sebastian’s father

In so doing, the father outlines the scientific method for Sebastian:

• ask questions
• think critically
• look for evidence to support your ideas and assumptions
• you won’t always be right but that is part of gaining knowledge

In talking about the electrical storm, Sebastian’s,dad Emcie tells him that there’s more to lightning than meets the eye.  He asks Sebastian if he’s heard of photons, gravity, electrons?  Sebastian falls asleep with these ideas stuck in his brain and he has a dream….or is it?

Sebastian’s mind takes him on a quest of knowledge.  He finds himself in the quantum realm without the knowledge he needs to get home.  That great fear he experienced during the electrical storm is back.  He meets a number of characters from the quantum realm including Philly the Photon.  Each character gives him help and the knowledge he requires to get to the Great Gravitron and get home.

His quest is not easy.  It requires him to ask questions – the right questions – and analyse his actions.  He must dig deep for courage to face his fears.  And in the unknown realm of quantum there is plenty to fear.  His quest forces him to dig deep for courage his didn’t know he had.

Along the way, his powers of questioning and analysis of information are sharpened.  He begins to understand that which explains everything in our universe.  He begins to understand the quantum realm that links all matter and energy, even our thoughts and behavior.

Does Sebastian make it home?  You’ll have to read the story to find out.

Quantum physics is a challenging concept.  You’ll be rewarded at the end of your read by not only an engaging story but a deeper understanding of a complex physics concept made approachable in an engaging children’s story.

The Quantum Realm Philly the Photon Review:  My Impressions

This young adult novel has both strengths and weaknesses.  The weaknesses are few so let’s start there.

The story weakness, for me, lies in the dialogue. This weakness is especially clear at the beginning of the story where Sebastian and his father speak in his bedroom.  Sebastian’s fear of the storm and his relationship with his dog and father lead me to see him as a tween, 11 or 12 years old.  Sebastian’s language is often too advanced.  He uses word choices not typical for a pre-teen.

“However, it was so spectacular that I couldn’t help thinking how similar it was to the magic wielded by some of the characters in the fantasy books that I read.” — Sebastian

Because it was not language typical of a younger child, I was taken out of the story.  However, I persevered, got past chapter 2 and the pace and dialogue improved tremendously.

There were times, again in Chapters 1 and 2 of the story where I felt Emcie’s conversation with his son was much too formal.  When I spoke with my kids, even when they were very young, I didn’t use baby words but my word choices were age-appropriate.  There were words used by Emcie that most kids Sebastian’s age would not be familiar with.  His conversation with his son was also often much too formal.  Words like ‘attributed’ and ‘rooted’ are too advanced for Sebastian’s age group.  Those words also lend a too formal tone to the conversation between father and son.  Most often when we talk with close friends or family we use informal language, contractions and simpler words.  Emcie might be a scientist, but his formal language again took me out of the story and I had to bring myself back into the action.

However, once Sebastian falls asleep and then finds himself on his journey of discovery, the story ramps up, the language becomes much more age-appropriate for Sebastian and any minor deviations are lost in the drama unfolding.

The big strength of this story lies in a strong child protagonist.  Sebastian is a fabulous role model for children.  He’s a normal kid with regular fears.  How many kids are afraid of thunderstorms?  Lots of them.  But despite those fears, he faces another terrifying adventure in an unknown world.  During this quest, he uses his scientific curiosity and questioning skills taught to him by his dad and he is the master of his destiny. Sebastian’s dad is not present to get him out of his jam.  It is more frightening but shows young readers that they too have the skills needed to solve their own problems.

The Quantum Realm Philly the Photon has an added bonus for science educators like myself who love to integrate literacy skills in their science lessons.  Not only does Sebastian tackle his own problems but he does it using the scientific method.  What a great tool to introduce the scientific method in your literature circles.  For the science educator, any way to include more science into your teaching day while covering other curriculum requirements is a bonus!

I was amazed that concepts of quantum physics could be weaved into a very entertaining child’s story.  The unique characters Sebastian meets in his dream quest or real quest (perhaps to be revealed in a future sequel) lead the reader to an understanding of the basic concepts of quantum physics:

• stuff can exist as both waves and particles at the same time
• particles can affect each other over very long distances also known as quantum entanglement
• the act of measuring something determines its existence
• outcomes can only be predicted
• quantum physics is not magic – it does follow rules

A number of Mark’s ideas incorporated into the story I found very interesting.  In particular, his idea that human behavior has a quantum basis is supported in research.  It is believed that our thoughts can affect others at a distance.  This concept is known as quantum cognition.

Quantum physics is an important area of research.  Teleportation and quantum computers are only two areas of application.  As such, it is important that even a basic understanding of quantum physics be part of scientific literacy especially in our younger generations.  Mark Montgomery’s story of Philly the Photon is a fresh, entertaining story for young people.  It is a great tool not only to entertain but to inspire a love for scientific inquiry and give both kids and parents more than a basic understanding of quantum physics.

I highly recommend this book for fans of science fiction. It pairs science fact with an engaging fictional world.Teachers and home schooling parents will also find this novel a great resource to combine literacy with science education.

If you are a parent with younger children or a teacher looking for a great novel to spark scientific curiosity in your students I recommend you buy a copy today.  Buy it and read it.  You won’t be disappointed.