The Island at the End of Everything: from the bestselling author of The Girl of Ink & Stars

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Ella Meredith, age 10 - 'I think this is a very good book that gets better as you move further into it. I would recommend this book for ages 8+ and would give it 4/5 stars.' I particularly enjoyed the ending chapters when Amihan and her amiable companions are eventually reunited. Not only does Hargrave satisfy the reader through answering the questions that she has posed, she manages to end the story in an uplifting and positive manner. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing - Felicity Wilcox, age 14 - 'A great emotional rollercoaster adventure story...It made you grip the edge of your seat (or bed if you read it at night).'

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Island at the End of Everything' because it was a different sort of history book. It wasn't full of facts but I didn't forget that it was a history book. The book is set in 1906 in the Culion Island, Philippines. The book is about the segregation of people with leprosy and how the government tried to get rid of the disease by separating the clean people and the people who are 'touched' (the name given to people with leprosy in the book) and getting them treated with professional doctors help. The perspective is in the 1 st people of a young girl Amihan, 11, and about her journey in being separated from her mum and taken to another island and put into an orphanage.This book is written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. She is a poet, playwright and novelist. Kiran is very young with the success she has had. She is the author of the bestselling book The Girl of Ink and Stars. Millwood was born in London in 1990. She studied at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. I did enjoy the book as it gave a point of view of a child in the circumstances presented and how it affected them. Most of the time children are not considered in theses type of situations. Millwood is very good on keeping the book to historical realism with also giving it an easy way to understand it. The book opened my eyes as I did not know how leprosy came about and where it started. The book made me want to find out more about the segregation of people with leprosy. Felicity Kerswell, age 14 - 'At the start I was unsure if I would like this book but as the story progressed and you found out more about the characters it grew on me and by the end I was crying.' More than Amihan it is Mariposa (which in Spanish means 'butterfly') who is my favourite character in the book. Despite being a fictional character, I wouldn't mind having her as a role model, particularly as she has an injured hand but comes across as tough and resilient. Hargrave has weaved some very important topics into the novel, such as melancholic issues that relate to death, disabilities, illness, mental health and prejudice. Hargrave has handled all this with care. Therefore, not only is the book gripping but it also raises the reader's awareness of these issues. Major highlights of the book are how Hargraves very effectively (through use of providential and humorous situations) explored the themes in the book.

I liked a lot the character relations that are written. The main character has a very good relationship with her mother but every time Amihan tried to talk about the past and her father her mum would close up. The last night together she opens up and tells the story of her father showing that the mother was afraid that Amihan would never know because her mum might die. They both try to hold onto the last moments because they might never see each other again. Amihan thinks "I don't want to fall asleep because when I wake up it will be tomorrow, and Nanay seems to feel the same because she suggested we tell stories" showing that they are trying to hold onto every single moment before it ends. Bella Rix-Clanc, age 10 - 'A happy, sad, exiting and beautiful book. I read it with my mum and we both enjoyed it.' Poetic, bittersweet and full of heart, this has the feel and quality of an instant classic. Author Kiran Millwood Hargrave writes with a beautiful and gentle touch, evoking a lush and bountiful home for Ami in which disease is just another element to be balanced and lived with rather than separated from, while nature is as much of a character as the people. The historical aspect of this novel has been written with great skill, both informing and capturing the reader'sattention. Even though Amihan's tale has been dramatised with political villainy it is one that can still make the reader want to explore further into the historical depths of the novel as well as the fictitious parts. Kiran Millwood Hargrave was born in Surrey in 1990, and her earliest ambition was to be a cat, closely followed by a cat-owner or the first woman on Mars. She has achieved only one of these things, but discovered that being a writer lets you imagine whatever you want.

Young Quills 2018 winner, Ages 10-13 category

The book was very enjoyable it was adventurous, exciting and at some stages tense. The history in the book was not realistic as in the book it says the houses were made in a day and that's not really possible. Also, the book made me want to read more as the story really hooks you in and make you feel like you are in the book and it makes you imagine that you are speaking to the characters and listening to their problems and thoughts. Also in parts the story the settings are very creative and the characters in the book are very well thought out and planned to have their own personalities and to be an individual person which adds to that perfect finish to the book. I give this book a 4 to 5 star rating as the book is a great adventure. I advise that any reader who is capable of reading a higher level of words I recommend they try the book and see what they think!

This is a book that had adventure and sadness. I didn't know much about the time period but I did learn that the time was hard. (1906 Culian Islands The Phillippines) This book allowed me to see a new world I didn’t know anything about. (Score: 4.4) I liked this book because it showed me that people with diseases like leprosy still have lives and families. I liked the character Ami because she had a strong heart and even thugh her mother was a leper, she still loved her and looked after her. I do think that the history in this book is realistic because I can see that the author has spent a lot of time and effort researching these colonies of epers and actually finding out about their lives. When I had finished reading this book it made me really want to read another book by this author because it was so realistic like but with her own characters in it. My favourite part of this book was where she made a lovely friend even though she was different. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for adventure.

Extract

One day a man named Mr Zamora comes into the church and during their congregation and states that he has been sent by the government to separate those with and without leprosy so that they can give a better life to those without it. His plans succeed, anyone under 18 without leprosy has to go out to another island named Coron whilst those who are over 18 with and without leprosy have to stay in permitted areas to stop the spreading of disease. I really enjoyed this book it was really fascinating. My favourit character was Mari because she was reaky sweet and kind. This book made me want to read more books by this author. I think that history of this book was quite realistic and it made me want to learn more about history. Xxxx was another favourite character of mine as he is really adorable and funny Absolutely a book that should be a staple for every family’s coffee table! A pleasure to have read. I enjoyed every word of 'The Island at the End of Everything' although I wish the book were longer! It has an original plot, strong characters, and shows not to judge a person by their disability; a book I'd recommend everyone to read!