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

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Twelve-year-old Ami lives on Culion Island, the world's largest leper colony, with her mother who is 'touched'. Following the arrival of Mr Zamora, a sinister government official and the decree that all healthy children must leave the island, Ami is banished to an orphanage. But can she find her way home before her mother dies? 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!

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 Yes, you heard us right - The Way Past Winter by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave is now sporting a brand new cover. 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).' 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 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.

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. Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments The Island at the End of Everything is a book well worth reading, I had me captured from the start to the end and I would recommend it to children aged 10-14 who love History and books. My favourite characters were Mari and Ami. I really liked Mari because although she looks different from everyone else she is just the same on the inside, I liked her as well because she was really kind to Ami when she was at the orphanage. I like Ami as well because she was quite determined to see her mother again and she is not selfish at all and never once worried about herself. I think the History in the book was realistic for that time period, but it must have still been horrible for families with people who were 'touched'. Now I have a basic understanding of the Leper Colony I would really like to learn more about it and I would also really love to read The Girl of Ink and Stars which is by the same author. 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.'

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. From the bestselling author of The Girl of Ink & Starscomes an irresistibly poetic, bittersweet and heartbreaking tale of finding your way home. The Costa Judges say: ‘Entirely original with not a word out of place – as vivid and beautiful as the butterflies themselves.’ 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)The use of Filipino words and phrases throughout was something I was especially glad the author decided to include. It gave the story a sense of truth and helped me transport to the setting of the novel. Culion Island is indeed a real place and it was turned in to a leprosarium in 1906, becoming known as 'the island of no return'. Millwood Hargrave has managed to create a beautiful story from a sad history which I think will be loved by readers of all ages. Many thanks to the publishers for providing The Bookbag with a copy. 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. 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. Humaira Kauser - 'There is not a lot to say other than read this book and anything else this author writes because it will blow you away.'

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 enjoyed the Island atthe End of Everything because it is a really good historical fiction. It is based on an island for lepers and an orphanage. It is fascinating and I simply couldn't put it down. This book wants me to read more of Kiran Hargrave's books because it is such a good read. It describes the cruelty of lepers. It is a good historical fiction and alot of people can learn how lepers were treated from this book. This book also opened my mind.Evie Aconley, age 10 - 'An enjoyable book that will interest you so much that you will find it hard to put down!' 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.