The Island at the End of Everything

A lovely, descriptive read, which I thoroughly enjoyed, at the age of 59! Great to hear of a piece of history which I knew nothing about. Just beautiful and I look forward to reading more from the author.

I bought for a gift for an 11 year old girl. I went by the reviews, which gave this book a very good write up and that it would be suitable for this age. The recipient was very happy with it.

reader happy with book

A beautifully written book, The Island at the End of Everything is a wonderful story. Having loved The Girl of Ink and Stars, I wondered if I’d love this as much, but dear reader, I did. Maybe even a little bit more. Ami lives with her mother on the beautiful island of Culion. Despite its stunning scenery, no one ever visits. For this is the island at the end of everything. An island for those who are ‘touched’ by leprosy. When Ami is forced to leave her mother behind and sail to nearby Coron, she knows that she may never see her again. When threatened with the workhouse, Ami decides to escape and make her way back to her mother, despite the perilous journey that lies ahead. The Island at the End of Everything not only showcases Hargrave’s talent for story writing, but also her vivid descriptions. Ami’s love for her mother shines through this story like the flame of a burning candle. Not even the evil Mr Zamora can extinguish it, no matter how hard he tries. It’s the love for her mother and her hatred of Mr Zamora that pushes Ami forward and keeps the story moving at a wonderful pace. I admire authors who can move you to tears with their prose. Carefully chosen words, beautifully woven together, describe the most poignant parts of this story. I can visualise the silence in a classroom as the story reaches its climax, all eyes on the storyteller, all ears straining to hear every detail. I highly recommend this book to Year 6 teachers and to people who simply love a well-told story. Get reading it!

I read this book to my class and it is a wonderful read. It was slow going at first, and I had to explain a bit if background but they were soon hooked. A really good read for tackling wider social issues and having discussions about morality. Great for 11-14

Bought for my daughter not sure if she has started to read it but she said the drawings are lovely

It was so beautiful I cried myself to sleep.I love the choice of words, like Touched or Untouched. This is one of my favourite books along with Percy Jackson and the olympians

Though I didn't really like it at the start , when I got to the middle of the book I couldn't put it down, so I definitely recommend it. At the end it is very well written but I don't want to spoil it! The language in it was amazing and inspired me to write like this. That is why I gave it four stars. My favorite character is Kidlat because he's kind and I find him adorable. my favorite part is when he gives Ami a weed that he thought was a flower and helps Ami along the way back home to Culion. My least favorite character is Mr Zamora because he treats Ami horribly because her mums a leper. I really think you should read this Book. By Eva age:11

Es una pasada

My second book from Kiran Millwood Hargrave. After The Girl of Ink and Stars, story I loved, I wanted to try another of her book. With this one, I was not disappointed at all. The story is great, beautiful, moving. It gives lots of feelings. A children's book, definitely also for adult.

Sensitive beyond words. Kiran brought a story that puts you in the center of many emotions, joy, sadness, anger and hope. A book worth reading a thousand times.

Excellent

The description of this book intrigued me, because, while I knew there'd been an island leper colony somewhere, at some point in history, that was the extend of my knowledge; I thought I'd like to learn more about it. The novel begins by telling the main character's mother's story, how she was taken from her family against her will after contracting leprosy. However, it's also clear that, although most of the inhabitants of Culion are terminally ill, it's not a place of complete despair. Rather, the island is full of natural beauty, and many of the islanders live relatively normal lives. They have a strong sense of community; Ami is dedicated to her mother, and they're frequently helped out by the brothers Bondoc and Capuno. It would've been easy for these characters to come across as victims, but they are all strong people who are not afraid to fight. I liked the balance of vulnerability and determination in the protagonist, Ami; she's naturally devastated at being separated from her mother and the only home she's ever known, but doesn't succumb to her situation. It helps that she makes a friend at the orphanage where she's sent to live, fellow outcast Mari. This is definitely not a case where two people come together seek each other out simply because they don't have anyone else-- Mari is bright, funny, and knows her own mind; I found myself liking her character quite a bit. Our villain comes in the form of Mr. Zamora, a government agent who despises the Touched (this is what they prefer to be called) and seems to take pleasure in disrupting their lives. I wasn't sure how I felt about this character. He's an obsessive-compulsive hypochondriac, and I was a little uncomfortable with how this was linked with his hateful attitude. I kind of wished he'd been a more ambivalent character, someone who fears and looks down on the Touched, but who isn't so intentionally cruel. On the other hand, I'm sure many Touched were discriminated against in exactly this manner, so... Again, I wasn't quite sure how to feel. The storyline is evenly paced and interesting enough. I especially enjoyed the use of butterflies throughout, how they're compared to the Touched, how different characters' treatment of them shows what kind of people they are (Mr. Zamora, for example, kills them for study and display). IN SHORT: Overall, this seems like a great read for kids. The strong and proactive heroine is inspiring, as are her bonds with the people who are important to her. I like the focus on an often forgotten group; the story does a good job of showing their humanity. Far from seeming like victims, their portrayal shows how brave and resilient we can be, and what beauty we can find in even our darkest hours.