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

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Hargrave spins a delightful world of golden beaches and lush plants, so much so that the reader feels as though it is their own island being given over to a leper colony. The description in this book is by far the most endearing part and it provides a platform for the rest of the novel to build on. This lends itself in favourable ways to the book, however it does leave the reader with a sense that without the vivid description the rest of it would perhaps fall short. Whilst the characters themselves evoke sympathy and pity , they don't quite reach the demands that you might expect a protagonist or supporting characters to reach; the reader is rooting for them but does not feel inspired or empowered, leaving much to be desired. 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. Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning poet, playwright, and bestselling author. Her debut The Girl of Ink & Starswon the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017 and the British Book Award's Children's Book of the Year, and was shortlisted for numerous awards including the Jhalak Prize, the Branford Boase Award and the Little Rebels Prize.

Amihan and her Nanay live together on Culion, a gorgeous island that is blessed with gorgeous weather and features stunning greenery and beautiful beaches. But life on Culion is not as desirable as the divine setting would have you believe: it is, in fact, an island for lepers. Amihan and those other children without leave for the orphanage on Coron but soon find out that Mr Zamora [who is running and teaching at the orphanage] has been intercepting their letters home. Soon after the realisation of this, Amihan and her friend Mari devise a plan to escape from the orphanage and return home. I thought that the book was very well written and uses a variety of vocabulary to make you feel sad for Amihan and the other children and their parents. I really liked the book because it was so well written and has a great story and meaning behind it. I would recommend this to girls and boys of around 12 years plus. 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) Before reading this book, I did not know that Culion Island is a real place. or that it was once the largest colony of lepers in the world. I also liked how words from the Philippines were used throughout out the story, for example Ami clalls her mother Nanay, meaning 'Mother' in the local language. The book I read was not my type but others might enjoy it if they like nature and weird creatures that take over islands. I first looked at the blurb that was what make me take it and read it.I loved this book. It only tooks me about one to two hour(s) to read as I was so engrossed in the story line and its increadable imagery. The characters had such exspressive and large personalitys it was as if they were real people. The only bad thing about this book is that it isn’t long enough 😜. 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.' My favourite parts of the book were the imagery of the butterflies throughout the book. It was poignant. Secondary Year 6 leavers - Covid-safe transition activities and ideas It's been a chaotic year but Year 6 children still deserve the best ending to their primary journey Ellen Cox, age 10 - 'A brilliant book that captures your heart...There are such detailed descriptions I had very clear images in my head.'

The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a book that I would definitely read again! This book is set in the early 1900s when people didn't accept other people who were different to themselves. Ami and her Nanay live on the island of Culion which is a leper colony, though they prefer to call themselves touched. Although one day a man called Mr Zamora comes to Culion to announce some changes that will change Ami's life forever. Along the way Ami makes some new friends and gets torn away from people that she loves. The author creates very vivid images throughout the stories using similes, metaphors and various other techniques. I love how the author manages to thread the theme of butterflies in to the book; from the beginning of the book where Ami and her Nanay never see any butterflies in their butterfly garden, till the end of the book where butterflies are swarming around the island of Culion. In my opinion, the butterflies are just there for symbolism. They symbolise hope and the beauty that lies within the people of Culion. I would rate this book 5/5 and recommend it to both boys and girls who are interested in history and heart-felt stories. Bella Rix-Clanc, age 10 - 'A happy, sad, exiting and beautiful book. I read it with my mum and we both enjoyed it.' The island at the end of everything is a book about lepers and leprosy and a story about how a 12-year-old girl must leave her mother and go to another island for six years to be able finally to return. I absolutely loved the prominent symbolism of butterflies and the powerful, meaning behind it. Nanay mentioned butterflies surrounding her house one summer. They stayed for a whole week one year, compared to Mr Zamora who sees no value in them but, just to be dead and behind glass. 'Take these butterflies', he says, gesturing at the walls. 'They have never known disease or danger. I even give them a clean death - is that not a kindness? They are beautiful. Clean. Untouched by the world.' There are also recurring themes of love, friendship and loss.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. A message from the author: ‘At a time when the world seems to be moving deeper towards intolerance, the message that we should be together but not the same, was at the forefront of my mind when writing this book. It’s easy to label people, and labelling means reducing them to one attribute, which in turn makes it easier to dismiss, dehumanise, and persecute. In The Island at the End of Everything, it is down to Ami, and her friend Mari, to find a way home in a society that tells them they are only children, only girls, and so are not in control of their own lives. But of course, this is far from the truth.’ Charlotte Cassidy, age 11 - 'I loved this book because you could actually connect with the characters, and it keeps you wanting to know more.'

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. Education Shed Ltd, Severn House, Severn Bridge, Riverside North, Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK, DY12 1AB Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the 2018 Blue Peter Awards - Best Story | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award Cajsa Jonsson, age 12 - 'an amazing book that told a heart-warming story about friendship. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to end and I really recommend it.'The book charts the adventures of a young girl called Amihan who lives with her mother on Culion Island. Unfortunately for Amihan, her mother has been diagnosed with Leprosy, a disease that effects mucous membranes and nerves causing discolouration and lumps on her skin. Despite this, Amihan loves her home with its mazarine, blue seas and luscious and viridian forests. However, this is all threatened due to a confrontation with malicious government official and fierce lepidopterist called Mr. Zamora, who forces Amihan to be separated from her mother. Following this, Amihan goes to an orphanage and comes across Mariposa , thetwo of them become friends.

Her second novel The Island at the End of Everythingwas released in April 2017, and was shortlisted for both the Costa Book Award and Blue Peter Children’s Book Award. Her fourth poetry collection OE, a retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice in collaboration with the artist Tom de Freston, was published by Bloomsbury in October 2017.The historical realism is shown a lot through the way that Amihan talks about the world around her there is no mention of anything that is in the modern world. She says that the “church is the most beautiful building on the island” showing that religion is a big thing during those times. Many churches are not the best looking showing that the island must be run down. This can show the values of the people which is another way that is different from modern times showing the history behind the book. Millwood also uses some Pilipino words like nanay is mother and ama is father, using the language were it is set can draw people into reading the book. 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).' 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. 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.