The Island at the End of Everything

by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

An alternative cover edition for this ISBN can be found here.

Shortlisted for the Costa Book Awards and the Blue Peter Book Awards 2017

From the author of the bestselling tale The Girl of Ink & Stars comes a beautiful new adventure about finding your way home.

There are some places you would not want to go. Even if I told you that we have oceans filled with sea turtles and dolphins, or forests lush with parrots that call through air thick with warmth... Nobody comes here because they want to.
The island of no return.

Ami lives with her mother on an island where the sea is as blue as the sky. It’s all she knows and loves, but the arrival of malicious government official Mr Zamora changes her world forever: her island is to be made into a colony for lepers. Taken from her mother and banished across the sea, Ami faces an uncertain future in an orphanage. There she meets a honey-eyed girl named for butterflies, and together they discover a secret that will lead her on an adventure home. Ami must go back to the island of no return, but will she make it in time?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Novels, Fiction, Young Adult, Childrens, Fantasy

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 4, 2017

About the author

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award winning poet, playwright, and novelist.

Her books include the bestselling winner of the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year and the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017 The Girl of Ink & Stars, and Costa Book Awards- and Blue Peter Awards-shortlisted The Island at the End of Everything, and The Way Past Winter, Blackwell's Children's Book of the Year 2018. A Secret of Birds & Bone, her fourth middle grade title, was published in 2020. Julia and the Shark, in collaboration with her husband, artist Tom de Freston, was Indie Book of the Month, Scottish Booktrust Book of the Month, and has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year 2021.

Her debut YA novel The Deathless Girls was published in 2019, and was shortlisted for the YA Book Prize, and long listed for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Her first book for adults, The Mercies, debuted as The Times number 1 bestseller, and at number 5 in the Sunday Times Bestseller Charts. Writing for the New York Times Book Review, Emily Barton called it 'among the best novels I've read in years', and it won a Betty Trask Award.

She is represented by Hellie Ogden (UK) and Kirby Kim (US) at Janklow & Nesbit. Kiran lives in Oxford with her husband and their cats, Luna and Marly.

Reviews

[Hannah Greendale (Hello, Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Amihan (Ami) Tala lives in a colony of lepers on an island in the Philippines. Ami’s Nanay (mother) is ‘Touched’ while Ami is not. When a malevolent government official arrives to separate the Touched from the Untouched, Ami is banished from the island. Desperate to be reunited with her mother, Ami prepares for a perilous journey across the sea.

Hargrave’s opening pages cast a line into the wide blue sea to reel in her audience with a compelling intro:

Nanay says that in the places outside, they have many names for our home. The island of the living dead. The island of no return. The island at the end of everything.

You are on Culioin, where the oceans are blue and clear as summer skies. Culion, where sea turtles dig the beaches and the trees brim with fruit.

Culion. Island of lepers. Welcome home.

Culion is the only home Ami has ever known. It’s a quiet place of refuge and comfort. The Touched are her neighbors. And the damaged flesh of her mother’s face does not phase her. “[Even] as her body melts away from her, down to its bones,” Ami explains, “she is still beautiful.”

For three summers, Ami and her mother plant flower seeds on the island’s wild land, hoping to cultivate a butterfly garden. Butterflies finally arrive, but in an unexpected fashion: in the form of a personal collection owned by the villanous government official, Mr. Zamora.

Butterflies remain a prominent symbol throughout The Island at the End of Everything. Nanay recalls a summer when her house was covered in butterflies. “They stayed for a whole week one year,” she says. “It was enough to see them for a few days alive. Better than seeing them forever but dead. Mr. Zamora, on the other hand, sees no value in butterflies beyond their use to him once they are dead and pinned behind glass. A damaged or imperfect butterfly, in his eyes, warrants destruction and dismissal – an attitude that mirrors his opinion of people with leprosy.

“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.”

Despite its universal themes and tender message of acceptance, The Island at the End of Everything is smooth sailing. Its predictability dampens the stakes, and a long lull near the midpoint slows the narrative.

The Island at the End of Everything is a sluggish yet sentimental story of friendship and family that occasionally sparkles with notably beautiful prose.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the young protagonist, and the similarly-aged audience it is aimed at, this book has a universal appeal due to the themes it focuses on. Written with an almost poetic penmanship, this features the recurring themes of love, loss and friendship. Both the themes and the storytelling unfolded beautifully, page after page, much like the wings of the butterflies that adorn the front cover.

Some of these themes can be universally acknowledged, and remain poignant even today. Many characters suffer from leprosy, and are treated as lesser because of that. Both the protagonist and the narration regularly calls out this ignorant thinking, and this novel works hard to denounce this hateful and incorrect commentary.

The hate that shadows much of this book culminates into an emotional end scene that sees both an encroachment of the outdated thinking and a growth in the character's outlook on life. This development is one that can be shared with the reader, as we too are invited to unfurl our own wings and take flight...

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the author's debut novel at the end of 2017 (The Girl Of Ink and Stars) and giving it three stars, I was still keen to give her second novel a try which is this one. The novel is under 300 pages long so is a strong choice if you have the urge to read something that's short and quick. But on finishing reading, I felt very torn over what star rating to give it. The plotline did tackle a lot of sensitive issues such as death, illness, being the victim of nasty comments, at the end of the edition I read from, I did mention that some of the background was actually inspired by true events that took place in the Philippines in the early 20th century.

The story follows our main character Ami who is living a relatively happy life until the day a government official Mr Zamora suddenly bursts onto the scene and announces those who are Lepers will remain on Ami's island and banned from seeing their younger and healthy loved ones who will be sent away to another island known as Culion Island. It's there that his hatred towards Ami comes to light. She and a new friend Mari plan an escape back home to be back with loved ones but must avoid getting caught by the government.

I liked the role of the butterflies, Mr Zamora collected them but didn't treat his collection well. However, I struggled to connect with the story visually. I felt the heartbreak and power of a strong friendship but as a reader who likes to immerse themselves well in a story, the writing style just didn't work for me. However, I strongly encourage anyone who reads this review to read all of the other reviews currently posted for this book since there are some ones very well-written by other reviewers!

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[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a stunning book. Even better than The Girl of Ink and Stars. Kiran's writing is luminous and exquisite. The story is moving and heartfelt, and filled with delicious images and imaginative writing. It is probably my favourite children's book of the year so far. On every single page there was at least one sentence I wish I had written. And be warned it will make you blub at the end.

[Ben Trevail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, a quite beautiful book. Written so poetically with recurring themes of love, loss and friendship stamped with a butterfly motif. This goes well beyond children's literature: I would / will urge everyone I know to read it. Stunning.

[Emma Carroll]

Exquisite. I adored Ami's story- in truth I didn't want to leave, so the ending jarred a little at first. But, oh, WHAT a final few pages. Joy.

[Diana · Rating 2 out of 5]

2'5-3
It was a beautiful book but quite simple and predictable, despite it tackling strong and important themes, such as family, illness, death, and how people who is different are treated.
I enjoyed reading it, but it wasn't a book that left me smitten or thinking about a re read, more like one time kind of deal.
I was interested about the author other books, but now I don't know if I should borrow them instead of buying...

[Robin Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiran is such a gorgeous writer, and this is a lovely adventure that shows off her fantastic storytelling skills. A story about beauty and friendship in unexpected places, this was a real treat to read. 8+

*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*

[Miniikaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reseña completa: https://letraslibrosymas.blogspot.com...

La trama es sencilla y puede que un poco previsible, pero el tema que toca, los valores impresos en sus páginas y la narración poética de la autora consiguen que brille con luz propia. A lo largo de toda la novela la protagonista es Ami, al principio nos cuenta cómo es su vida en Culión, como son sus habitantes, su día a día y la relación con su madre... luego la cosa se complica y es separada a la fuerza de su vida y sus seres queridos para ir a parar a un orfanato lejos de todo lo que ama, aunque allí se une a Mari y Kidlat (otro niño separado de su familia por estar enfermos). Así que se puede intuir lo que va a pasar, y la verdad es que cuenta con una parte más lenta a media lectura pero eso no le resta ni una pizca de brillantez, hermosura y despliegue de sentimientos porque los personajes son muy humanos y tiernos y porque las situaciones que viven te tocan el alma.

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ami is a young girl living on Culion Island where the sea mirrors the azure sky, a place she cherishes deeply, with her mother and their own found family. However, everything changes when the malevolent Mr. Zamora, a government official from Manila, arrives. He announces plans to transform their island into a segregated leper colony, shattering Ami's world. Separated from her mother and exiled across distant waters, Ami confronts an uncertain destiny within an orphanage. Here, she makes her first friend, a girl named after butterflies. Together, they unearth a hidden truth that sets the stage for an adventure back to Ami's homeland. Determined, Ami embarks on a journey to the island of no return, racing against time. Will she succeed?

I cried so many times while reading this book that I believe my tear ducts are in debt now! This was such an emotional read with characters that both warmed and broke my heart. Our protagonist, Ami, is strong-willed and resilient, navigating a world that is both unfair and unknown to her. She is one of those characters that you want to wrap in a hug and protect from the world. Yet, she also serves as an example of the many children who actually experienced the historical events fictionalized and depicted in this story. I was completely unaware of the history of leprosy, especially the history of the Philippines and the Filipino struggle with leprosy. I think this book provides an accessible and insightful context for readers of all ages. More importantly, it moves beyond the stereotypes and stigmatization, humanizing those who suffered under the cruelty of government policies during this time.

Furthermore, the writing in this story was truly beautiful. This is my first experience with this author's books, but the writing is both evocative and emotive, which might be why this was such an emotional reading experience. I felt like I could easily envision the entirety of the orphanage, Culion Island, and the people who co-habited these places with Ami. The beautiful cover certainly matched the even more beautiful world constructed inside its pages!

You might be wondering, after all this gushing, why is this not a five-star review? Well, this is mostly due to the way this story ended. The last thirty pages attempt a narrative device that was rather poorly executed and didn't fully make sense to me. It felt like a convenient way to info-dump a lot of information that I don't really think the reader needed. Most of this information could have been assumed, or the parts that we needed to know could have been better explained or explored through a bit more time and development at the end of the story. I understand that this is intended for a middle-grade audience, but I think the ending is too direct in telling the reader instead of showing.

Overall, this is still a novel I would recommend to readers of all ages, especially given the unique historical perspective that it can educate readers about and the messages of strength and resilience we can see from our main character's journey!

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kieran's second book follows the story of twelve-year-old Ami who is born into a leper colony. Although not affected by the disease herself, she lives happily on the island until Mr. Zamora, a government official whose own disease lies within his mind, has plans for separating the healthy from the unhealthy and calls for all children to be deported from the island and stay in an orphanage. With her mother's health declining, Ami will do all she can to return before it is too late.

As with The Girl of Ink and Stars, Hargrave's writing borders on the poetic and her crafting of character and place is streets ahead of many of her contemporaries: we're lucky to have her in the world of children's literature because I feel she could write for any audience she chooses to. Again, it is love, friendship and then natural world which are important themes to her and, unlike TGOIAS, she manages to set the story within a historical context which reads as palatable as much as it does believable (much of which is helped by Hargrave's use of Filipino words and phrases). An excellent second novel in which place and person burn with a realism which few writers can capture.

[Kate Ormand]

Ami and her mother have always been together, but when a new government take control of the island they live on, Ami is sent to an orphanage across the sea. She meets a girl who is named after butterflies and the two of them set out on an adventure to return to Ami’s home.

Another gorgeously written story from this author. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking – an absolute dream to read. The whole book is magic, from catching stars, to racing berries down a hill, to whispering to the wind. Absolutely beautiful!

[Eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

2018 CARNEGIE LONGLIST BOOK 7/20

3.75

This was really fun. One of the better books that I have read on this longlist so far, I think. But I do find it very interesting that two books on this list are about leper colonies - this one, and Beyond The Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk. And if we are comparing them, I'm going to have to say that I preferred this one. They are not really similar in any way - they are set in completely different places, and the only thing that ties them together is this idea, so I'm NOT going to use this review to compare them (but I think this one was better....).

Okay, so fine, the plot of this one is very simple, but still fast paced and enjoyable. It is more of an adventure story, and is definitely for younger teens/children. It follows our main character, Amihan, who lives on the island of Cuilion (please correct me if this is wrong, I don't have the book at hand) with her Nanay, who suffers from leprosy. At the beginning of the book, a government official name Mr Zamora tells them that the lepers, though in this book they refer to them as Touched, are going to be separated from the rest of the Islanders. Their children are taken to an orphanage on a neighbouring island, and this story is about Amihan trying to find her way back to her mother. It was very simple and straight forward, but it was fun and I really liked the writing style. It was pretty and delicate and was good at describing the setting, which was also really pretty. I also think that author did a really good job with the characters. I think that Amihan had a good balance of flaws, and Mari was really interesting to read about. But I think the most successful character in this book was Mr Zamora. He is extremely complex, especially as most other aspects of this book are pretty simple. You both pity him and hate him with a passion at the same time, and I think he was just really well written. He has some kind of illness, but it's never fully explained, and I would be interested to have been able to read more about him. I liked the theme of butterflies. I think it is clever how the butterflies are associated with both the good and bad parts of Amihan's life - her mother, the island, her father, but also Mr Zamora. I think it also tries to reflect the complexity of the character relationships, and though the two girls are pretty flat to begin with, we get this short bit at the end titled 30 years later which gives us even more insight into their characters. I really enjoyed this part of the book.

So all in all, this one was a success for me. It was enjoyable, and seemingly simple, but there is some complexity beneath the surface, and I think that this author could really go far with books aimed at older people. I am excited to see where she goes. I could definitely appreciate the possibility of this one getting onto the shortlist.

[Vendea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neuvěřitelné překvapení, které mě chytlo za srdce. Anotaci jsem nečetla, takže o to víc jsem byla překvapená, že je kniha o malomocenství. Autorčina prvotina u nás sice tolik nezazářila, ale to nemění nic na tom, že Ostrov je kouzelný. Nečekejte ale žádnou pohádku - je to dost brutální, smutné a depresivní.

4.5/5*

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a fantastic children's author. She conjures up such vivid imagery through her child narrator, I was amazed at her ability to continually capture the innocence of a child's mind.

'He walks like a marionette, picking his feet up high, then sits on one of the chairs, head-string pulled taught.'

The themes the book deals with were fantastic for our book club and I imagine would be great for schools. I think it's the most in-depth discussion we've had in our book club in the 3 years I've been running it. I didn't mind the happy ending, it's a children's book after all, but I actually thought the whole '30 years later' epilogue was a bit of a lazy plot device and far too 'quick I better end this book in the next few pages'. The first half of the book was far more rich in imagery and thought provoking than the rushed second half, which was a shame.

I recommend Moloka'i if you want to read an adult historical fiction on the same subject.

[Ginger (Sproutygamer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just meh for me. I don't know it it was my mood or the book or what. The main "adventure" of the book doesn't take place till over halfway through the book. The ending was somewhat disappointing. The characters I wanted to know more about what happened to them, we don't. The whole last section seemed like a weird recap of the beginning of the book with no satisfying conclusion. It was just meh to me.

[Avid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't really know what to say yet. Need some time to stew this over. One thing is for certain, Mr Zamora is a complete and utter *insert derogatory phrase of your choice here*. Kiran, and now we do too, that people like this actually existed, and do exist.

I want to share this book with everybody.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will review properly when I havd gone beyond the giddy response of "oh My goodness this was so wonderful" and have gathered my many thoughts into some semblance of coherence. Finished it last night and still have a bubble of excitement in my tummy and a lump in my throat. Children are so lucky to have writers of such high calibre writing for them.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm taken aback by how quickly this story worked its way into my heart. It was absolutely beautiful - told through the eyes of a child who was about to be separated from the one person in the world she loved and who loved her. Essentially, the story is set in an island leper (Touched) colony in the Philippines in the early 20th century, and tells how the government mistreated the patients and their families. It's also full of magic - Ami and her mother share beautiful stories on their last night together, a few revolving around butterflies. These butterflies, through the actions of a truly heinous government agent who cares nothing for any other living being, become a significant part of Ami's life. Their beauty and tranquility give her courage, and eventually become her life's work.

The sea and the island landscape are also a significant part of the story - the language used by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is beautiful, simple, and evocative. You can smell the sea breeze, feel it wafting through your hair. You can taste the salt of the sea on your lips. I've read 3 books by this author so far, and she's quickly become a must read for me.

[Karen Mace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that quietly lures you in with its' vivid descriptions, and characters that steal your heart.

Ami is the main character who lives on the stunning island of Culion, but it's a place that people don't visit as the majority of the inhabitants are lepers. Ami is a healthy child but her mother is 'touched' but they are settled in the way they live, but that is all set to change when the government decide to isolate the island even more by moving the healthy family members away - heartbreaking for Ami and her mother.

When Ami begins her new life away at the orphanage she makes new friends, but also makes enemies - Mr Zamora is a ghastly character who is heartless and derives his pleasure from collecting butterflies, and causing misery for those children in his charge.

Ami has such drive and determination in her quest to go home to be with her mother, and that makes her such a wonderful character to read about. She sees beauty all around her - from those 'touched' to the butterflies she seems to attract, and this book really is a stunning little story that had me captivated and utterly spellbound.

[Bethany Sawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything. The writing is incredible, no words I have will do it justice. A truly poignant story about friendship, adventure and differences. Ami lives on a beautiful island with her mother, who has leprosy, which is all she has ever known. I loved the insight into leprosy, which is something I know very little about, and I think it was done in a very respectful and educational way. When the government get involved and decide Ami would be 'better off' being sent away to an orphanage, her whirlwind adventure begins. There are some lovable and hate-able characters, spun with the magic of Kiran Millwood Hargrave. One of my favourite books of the summer.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book. The plot gripped me from the first chapter and made me want to find out what happened to the characters in the book. This book introduces and highlights some important themes such as segregation, discrimination, illness, leprosy, etc. I think this book could be linked to many cross-curricular subjects within the curriculum. I think it was great at the end the author included some background detail about the island of Culion and noted that the book was based on the truth that happened in the past. Although there was pain for all the characters throughout the book, I was glad that the 3 characters; Ami, Kidlat and Mari had a happy ending and found their way back to each other. I would highly recommend this book to children.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Moloka'iMoloka'i, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read another book about Hansen's disease, aka leprosy. I am so glad I did. Even though this is from the juvenile section of the library, it is a much better choice. I cared deeply about the characters- I was rooting for Amihan and against Mr. Zamora. Of course the same themes are in both books: shunning, fear, separation. While I appreciate all the researched fact and medical knowledge in Moloka'i, I feel like The Island at the End of Everything is a more satisfying story. And the butterflies are such beautiful imagery!

[Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devoured this! It includes some beautiful imagery and reminds readers of the dangers that come when individual lives and emotions are ignored; and instead people are summed up by one, indistinct characteristic.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Believathon II.
I've always loved Millwood-Hargrave's writing, and this was the only middle-grade/children's book of hers that I hadn't picked up yet! I'm so glad I did, her writing is so beauitful, and even though it made me cry, I really appreciated how beautiful the story was.

[Soumya Prasad (bluntpages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. Both literally and otherwise. The start of every chapter is strewn with butterflies! The story is beautiful and while it does have a very predictable ending, it does invoke a smile and a tear.

Detailed review coming soon.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just not the right time for me to pick up this book as I just couldn’t enjoy no matter how much I tried.

The writing is good, I like the characters and the plot seems good.

Maybe some other time.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite a disappointing read, I kept thinking about Victoria Hislop's classic The Island which dealt with the subject of Leposy. I didn't really enjoy this and I'm not sure if children would either.

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently went to a talk by Kiran, and when asked she said this was probably the book she was most proud of. Now that I've read it I can confirm this is my favourite of the books she has written. The themes are so so good and sad and beautiful.

[Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

So emotional!! Loved this, really surprised me in the best way and had such a good ending. Such an interesting setting and I’d love to read more about the leprosy colonies.