What do you think?
Rate this book
Izzy at the End of the World
The Last Kids on Earth meets Margaret Peterson Haddix in this middle grade adventure about fourteen-year-old Izzy, an autistic girl surviving the end of the world who must team up with her loveable dog to uncover the hidden truth behind her family and the rest of humanity's disappearance. Ever since Izzy Wilder's mom died, she's wanted life to feel normal. She plays video games with her little sister, helps her grandparents around the house, and takes care of her best dog, Akka. But losing her mom is far from normal, and for Izzy, who is autistic, it feels like the end of the world. When mysterious lights flash across the mountains outside Izzy's house one night, and suddenly everyone except her and Akka seem to have disappeared in an instant, Izzy is more alone than ever. But Izzy is a fighter and she won't lose anyone else in her family, even if it means battling terrifying gray, ugly monsters and decoding cryptic messages that seem a lot like her mom talking to her from beyond the grave. In the face of disaster, Izzy and Akka embark on an epic adventure filled with nail-biting suspense, unexpected allies, and life's greatest mysteries as they uncover the true endurance of the human spirit and save the world.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 21, 2023
17 people are currently reading
4286 people want to read
About the author
K.A. Reynolds
6 books261 followersK. A. Reynolds is an award winning author, writing books for kids and adults. Her latest upper middle grade book, IZZY AT THE END OF THE WORLD, was a YALSA/ALA best fiction for Young Adults 2024. She is an anxious, neurodivergent, widow and author writing mental health/neurodiverse positive books. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Canada, Kristin has a thing for dead poets, ushering creepy crawly things with numerous legs out of houses, and writing dark and magical tales for all. Despite her innocent appearance, she has been described on more than one occasion as the following: strange, grim, fierce, dreamer, poet, lover of the fantastic, indulger of the macabre, and more often than not, witch.
K.A has been published in several poetry journals and could wallpaper the universe in all the unread poems and stories hidden on her computer. When not buried under a mountain of books, she can be found enjoying the wilds of nature, and searching the world for old books. She is represented by a superhero otherwise known as Thao Le of SDLA.
K.A has been published in several poetry journals and could wallpaper the universe in all the unread poems and stories hidden on her computer. When not buried under a mountain of books, she can be found enjoying the wilds of nature, and searching the world for old books. She is represented by a superhero otherwise known as Thao Le of SDLA.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 23, 2023
*3.5
Izzy at the End of the world is a Middle Grade story with fantastic autism rep, that’s both light and cute, with some heavy and hard-hitting topics. This one was definitely enjoyable, and even though I had some issues with it along the way, I did overall like it. I will say that this book is more intended for younger audiences, which is apparent in the writing style and the MC’s voice, so if that’s not your thing, this probably won’t be the story for you. But if you’re like me and enjoy middle grades regardless of the age group, then I’d suggest picking it up!
The beginning of Izzy at the End of the world was a little slow, but once Izzy and her best dog Akka meet up with Raven—the only other person around after the lights appear—it picks up substantially, and adds a great mix of mystery and high stakes. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Izzy and Raven. Their communication with each other, while maybe not 100% accurate for kids their age, was very healthy and clear, which I think sets a great example for younger kids. Even when the stress of their situation got to them and they snapped, they were quick to apologize to each other and vocalize what was going on in their heads. And of course, Akka was the best boy who deserves all the treats.
Even though Izzy at the End of the World was a bit of an apocalyptic or dystopian story, there was a heavy emphasis on mystery elements. Izzy is convinced that her mom, who’d died a year before the events of the book takes place, is with her during this journey, and is leaving her clues to figure out how to find her family and save the world. Between her mom’s journal, the songs on her end of the world playlist, and other clues Izzy and Raven discover, they realize the coincidences are adding up and it’s something they can’t ignore. I loved this part of the plot, because while the story seems like it’s about Izzy, her dog, and her new friend battling aliens at the end of the world, it’s also a journey of grief and processing loss. This part was done excellently.
Really, the biggest issue I had with the story was some of the exposition. Some of this might be changed in the final edition, but there was a lot of telling instead of showing, especially in the beginning. A lot of the emotional parts in the beginning were also told instead of shown, which is a bit of a bummer because the experiences Izzy deals with are incredibly intense, and when it was told like that, it lost some of its depth. The other issue I had was the ending of the story. Throughout the entire plot, the mystery is woven so tight that I was practically on the edge of my seat, but it’s never really resolved. The way it happens felt so open ended and was a little disappointing to me.
However, I can’t mention this book without talking about the autism representation, because this was absolutely my favorite part. I’ve been seeing more and more books being released that follow autistic characters in a variety of situations instead of just contemporary books about autism, and I’m so excited for that variation in representation. Having an autistic MC lead the charge in saving the world made my heart soar, and I’m so glad autistic children today will be able to grow up with books like this. Even though Izzy was put up against situations that challenged her sensory issues, her sense of routine, and more, her love for her family persevered, and she did everything in her power to get to them. I just love this, because it shows autism authentically, in a way that it doesn’t hinder Izzy from being the hero of her story, but it’s also still part of her, and it doesn’t just go away for the sake of the plot. Also, I adored her bond with Akka, because it reminds me of my bond with my cat. I’m so glad he was with her on that journey.
Overall, I did really enjoy Izzy at the End of the World! While some of the writing choices might not have been for me, I still recommend checking this one out, especially for the autism representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Izzy at the End of the world is a Middle Grade story with fantastic autism rep, that’s both light and cute, with some heavy and hard-hitting topics. This one was definitely enjoyable, and even though I had some issues with it along the way, I did overall like it. I will say that this book is more intended for younger audiences, which is apparent in the writing style and the MC’s voice, so if that’s not your thing, this probably won’t be the story for you. But if you’re like me and enjoy middle grades regardless of the age group, then I’d suggest picking it up!
The beginning of Izzy at the End of the world was a little slow, but once Izzy and her best dog Akka meet up with Raven—the only other person around after the lights appear—it picks up substantially, and adds a great mix of mystery and high stakes. I particularly enjoyed the friendship between Izzy and Raven. Their communication with each other, while maybe not 100% accurate for kids their age, was very healthy and clear, which I think sets a great example for younger kids. Even when the stress of their situation got to them and they snapped, they were quick to apologize to each other and vocalize what was going on in their heads. And of course, Akka was the best boy who deserves all the treats.
Even though Izzy at the End of the World was a bit of an apocalyptic or dystopian story, there was a heavy emphasis on mystery elements. Izzy is convinced that her mom, who’d died a year before the events of the book takes place, is with her during this journey, and is leaving her clues to figure out how to find her family and save the world. Between her mom’s journal, the songs on her end of the world playlist, and other clues Izzy and Raven discover, they realize the coincidences are adding up and it’s something they can’t ignore. I loved this part of the plot, because while the story seems like it’s about Izzy, her dog, and her new friend battling aliens at the end of the world, it’s also a journey of grief and processing loss. This part was done excellently.
Really, the biggest issue I had with the story was some of the exposition. Some of this might be changed in the final edition, but there was a lot of telling instead of showing, especially in the beginning. A lot of the emotional parts in the beginning were also told instead of shown, which is a bit of a bummer because the experiences Izzy deals with are incredibly intense, and when it was told like that, it lost some of its depth. The other issue I had was the ending of the story. Throughout the entire plot, the mystery is woven so tight that I was practically on the edge of my seat, but it’s never really resolved. The way it happens felt so open ended and was a little disappointing to me.
However, I can’t mention this book without talking about the autism representation, because this was absolutely my favorite part. I’ve been seeing more and more books being released that follow autistic characters in a variety of situations instead of just contemporary books about autism, and I’m so excited for that variation in representation. Having an autistic MC lead the charge in saving the world made my heart soar, and I’m so glad autistic children today will be able to grow up with books like this. Even though Izzy was put up against situations that challenged her sensory issues, her sense of routine, and more, her love for her family persevered, and she did everything in her power to get to them. I just love this, because it shows autism authentically, in a way that it doesn’t hinder Izzy from being the hero of her story, but it’s also still part of her, and it doesn’t just go away for the sake of the plot. Also, I adored her bond with Akka, because it reminds me of my bond with my cat. I’m so glad he was with her on that journey.
Overall, I did really enjoy Izzy at the End of the World! While some of the writing choices might not have been for me, I still recommend checking this one out, especially for the autism representation.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 11, 2022
Thank you to KA Reynolds and Clarion Books for a free e-ARC of Izzy at the End of the World!
I really hesitate to rate this book only two stars because I was *super* excited to read it. When I saw on Reynold's Twitter that she wanted more ARC reviewers for this book, I jumped on it and was like "PLEASE YES SEND ME THIS BOOK!" I'm always hyped to read books by autistic authors featuring autistic/ND protagonists, and as an autistic book reviewer, I wanted to see myself represented in this story and be able to recommend it to my followers. But I did not enjoy this book very much.
Who is the audience for this book?
Well, I think autistic kids who are about Izzy's age (12-14) would enjoy this book, and that's what the intended audience is. I don't think they'd have the same irks with this book as I, an adult, would, so they would enjoy it more. And certainly this is a very important book because autism representation in SFF is rare. Kids deserve to have escapist fantasies featuring protagonists who think like them.
Things I liked
1. Autism rep
Reynolds is autistic herself, and this makes Izzy a wonderfully unique character to follow. Sometimes when a non-autistic writer is writing an autistic character, they inadvertently lean into ableist stereotypes that are damaging to the very youngsters they are trying to "help." But this is not so with autistic authors, and it is very refreshing whenever I dive into a story with an autistic character written by an autistic author, and the autism rep in Izzy is genuine and beautiful.
2. Akka is best boi
Need I explain more? Everyone needs an Akka in their life. And loyal doggos are one of my favorite tropes in stories.
3. Friendship!
The friendship between Raven and Izzy is so great and well-developed. I loved reading about them going on their adventure together, and autistic kids reading this book (hint: autistic kids don't know how friendships work and often get dragged into toxic or abusive friendships because they don't know any better) will see the friendship between Raven and Izzy and know that they deserve great friends like that.
What I didn't like
This is a specific pet peeve of mine but I'm not at all a fan of echo words. This is when the same word (eg. grinning) appears in subsequent paragraphs on the same page, and there were several of these in Izzy.
I enjoyed the anime references (over the course of the story, the characters make references to lots of anime such as Princess Mononoke, Fruits Basket, and Sk8 Infinity, which I've never heard of before now but hey points to Reynolds for pulling out a niche reference like that, as well as Izzy and her sister Maple playing Mario Kart with each other on a pretty much daily basis), at one point, Raven remarks that he's not interested in Star Wars because it's set in space and he prefers anime because it's grounded in reality and about the human relationships. Well, that may be true for some anime, but the way the dialogue was written sounded as if he/Reynolds was treating anime as a *genre* rather than a *medium*. Anime is a medium, just like books, movies, TV shows, etc. and there are lots of genres of anime. Raven seems to specifically be referencing shoujo anime here, which often is set on our Earth with minimal speculative elements (Fruits Basket is a very good example of a shoujo anime) and the main plot revolves around the relationships and conflicts among the characters. Whereas there's also lots of fantasy/science fiction anime, like Cowboy Bebop or Cyborg 009, which are in the shounen genre, and the main plot is about defeating the bad guy or going on an adventure to save the world. It just kind of irked me how Raven didn't even acknowledge that there were Star Wars-ish anime out there but he's only interested in the down-to-earth stuff.
The ending is what really made me mad about this book, because for the first 24 chapters or so, I was really enjoying myself for the most part. I was super invested in the story, and every opportunity she got, Reynolds seemed to be dropping seeds of Don't worry, everything will be explained in time. Though I was also not particularly a fan of how Izzy kept "sensing her mom" and how her mom's ghost seemed to be the reason Izzy and Raven always got out of trouble. But then I started hitting the end chapters. Izzy and Raven have gotten a hard-fought victory to the summit of a mountain where they think the UFO crashed. All three of them are weakened, and then they lose Bob, their trusty pickup truck that has been with them since the beginning. They climb the mountain and are like "The UFO is there. But how do we get to it?" Then they figure that out, and get into the UFO. At this point the other aliens have found the UFO as well, so I'm expecting maybe another battle to break out because we've had so many battle/action scenes up to this point. But Izzy and Raven just stroll through this UFO and *immediately* find the MacGuffin they're looking for because Izzy's mom had been abducted by the aliens years ago and written about it in her journal and so they know about it from her journal. Then they put the orbs back in their proper place, Izzy wakes up, everyone has been magically restored, everything is back to normal again, and it's as if no time has passed and no one else knows the amazing adventure Izzy just went on. The aliens are just magically banished without any sort of explanation as to why they invaded in the first place, why they've been sporadically kidnapping humans, and definitely without any sort of guarantee as to the fact that they won't come right back in a few weeks and the exact same thing will happen again. All this time I thought that we'd at least get an explanation as to *why* the aliens did this, or what they wanted from the humans, because after all, humanity is exceedingly stupid and we have nothing to offer to creatures who've already mastered interstellar space travel. But nope! Izzy just puts a magic ball into its little slot in the UFO, boom, all problems solved, everything is hunky-dory again, and they didn't even have to fight the alien captain of the UFO because he died on impact! It would have been so much cooler if the alien captain had suffered massive injuries but was still alive and trying to get his ship working again when Izzy and Raven came to make everything right again.
This entire story was just extremely disappointing to me. Also at one point, Izzy is like "We have to be quiet so the aliens don't find us" and I was like "That is *literally* the plot of A Quiet Place."
If you want a post-apocalyptic alien invasion story about a group of kids who band together to restore humanity that gives a satisfying conclusion, read Shade's Children.
I do have a copy of Reynold's debut, The Land of Yesterday, on my shelf and I really want to like her writing style (because OH MY GOD is that book gorgeous with its purple text and deckled edges!), so I'll still give that one a try and hope it's better than Izzy.
I really hesitate to rate this book only two stars because I was *super* excited to read it. When I saw on Reynold's Twitter that she wanted more ARC reviewers for this book, I jumped on it and was like "PLEASE YES SEND ME THIS BOOK!" I'm always hyped to read books by autistic authors featuring autistic/ND protagonists, and as an autistic book reviewer, I wanted to see myself represented in this story and be able to recommend it to my followers. But I did not enjoy this book very much.
Who is the audience for this book?
Well, I think autistic kids who are about Izzy's age (12-14) would enjoy this book, and that's what the intended audience is. I don't think they'd have the same irks with this book as I, an adult, would, so they would enjoy it more. And certainly this is a very important book because autism representation in SFF is rare. Kids deserve to have escapist fantasies featuring protagonists who think like them.
Things I liked
1. Autism rep
Reynolds is autistic herself, and this makes Izzy a wonderfully unique character to follow. Sometimes when a non-autistic writer is writing an autistic character, they inadvertently lean into ableist stereotypes that are damaging to the very youngsters they are trying to "help." But this is not so with autistic authors, and it is very refreshing whenever I dive into a story with an autistic character written by an autistic author, and the autism rep in Izzy is genuine and beautiful.
2. Akka is best boi
Need I explain more? Everyone needs an Akka in their life. And loyal doggos are one of my favorite tropes in stories.
3. Friendship!
The friendship between Raven and Izzy is so great and well-developed. I loved reading about them going on their adventure together, and autistic kids reading this book (hint: autistic kids don't know how friendships work and often get dragged into toxic or abusive friendships because they don't know any better) will see the friendship between Raven and Izzy and know that they deserve great friends like that.
What I didn't like
This is a specific pet peeve of mine but I'm not at all a fan of echo words. This is when the same word (eg. grinning) appears in subsequent paragraphs on the same page, and there were several of these in Izzy.
I enjoyed the anime references (over the course of the story, the characters make references to lots of anime such as Princess Mononoke, Fruits Basket, and Sk8 Infinity, which I've never heard of before now but hey points to Reynolds for pulling out a niche reference like that, as well as Izzy and her sister Maple playing Mario Kart with each other on a pretty much daily basis), at one point, Raven remarks that he's not interested in Star Wars because it's set in space and he prefers anime because it's grounded in reality and about the human relationships. Well, that may be true for some anime, but the way the dialogue was written sounded as if he/Reynolds was treating anime as a *genre* rather than a *medium*. Anime is a medium, just like books, movies, TV shows, etc. and there are lots of genres of anime. Raven seems to specifically be referencing shoujo anime here, which often is set on our Earth with minimal speculative elements (Fruits Basket is a very good example of a shoujo anime) and the main plot revolves around the relationships and conflicts among the characters. Whereas there's also lots of fantasy/science fiction anime, like Cowboy Bebop or Cyborg 009, which are in the shounen genre, and the main plot is about defeating the bad guy or going on an adventure to save the world. It just kind of irked me how Raven didn't even acknowledge that there were Star Wars-ish anime out there but he's only interested in the down-to-earth stuff.
The ending is what really made me mad about this book, because for the first 24 chapters or so, I was really enjoying myself for the most part. I was super invested in the story, and every opportunity she got, Reynolds seemed to be dropping seeds of Don't worry, everything will be explained in time. Though I was also not particularly a fan of how Izzy kept "sensing her mom" and how her mom's ghost seemed to be the reason Izzy and Raven always got out of trouble. But then I started hitting the end chapters. Izzy and Raven have gotten a hard-fought victory to the summit of a mountain where they think the UFO crashed. All three of them are weakened, and then they lose Bob, their trusty pickup truck that has been with them since the beginning. They climb the mountain and are like "The UFO is there. But how do we get to it?" Then they figure that out, and get into the UFO. At this point the other aliens have found the UFO as well, so I'm expecting maybe another battle to break out because we've had so many battle/action scenes up to this point. But Izzy and Raven just stroll through this UFO and *immediately* find the MacGuffin they're looking for because Izzy's mom had been abducted by the aliens years ago and written about it in her journal and so they know about it from her journal. Then they put the orbs back in their proper place, Izzy wakes up, everyone has been magically restored, everything is back to normal again, and it's as if no time has passed and no one else knows the amazing adventure Izzy just went on. The aliens are just magically banished without any sort of explanation as to why they invaded in the first place, why they've been sporadically kidnapping humans, and definitely without any sort of guarantee as to the fact that they won't come right back in a few weeks and the exact same thing will happen again. All this time I thought that we'd at least get an explanation as to *why* the aliens did this, or what they wanted from the humans, because after all, humanity is exceedingly stupid and we have nothing to offer to creatures who've already mastered interstellar space travel. But nope! Izzy just puts a magic ball into its little slot in the UFO, boom, all problems solved, everything is hunky-dory again, and they didn't even have to fight the alien captain of the UFO because he died on impact! It would have been so much cooler if the alien captain had suffered massive injuries but was still alive and trying to get his ship working again when Izzy and Raven came to make everything right again.
This entire story was just extremely disappointing to me. Also at one point, Izzy is like "We have to be quiet so the aliens don't find us" and I was like "That is *literally* the plot of A Quiet Place."
If you want a post-apocalyptic alien invasion story about a group of kids who band together to restore humanity that gives a satisfying conclusion, read Shade's Children.
I do have a copy of Reynold's debut, The Land of Yesterday, on my shelf and I really want to like her writing style (because OH MY GOD is that book gorgeous with its purple text and deckled edges!), so I'll still give that one a try and hope it's better than Izzy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2023
This was a fantastic middle grade sci-fi/dystopian novel featuring an autistic girl and her dog who wake up one day to find the rest of the world (including her family) have disappeared.
Left reeling from her mother's sudden death, Izzy takes comfort in her old disc man and together with her trusty dog Akka, try to solve the mystery of what happened.
Great on audio with excellent mental health and neurodiversity rep and perfect for fans of Alone by Megan E. Freeman. Highly recommended!
TW: death of a parent from suicide
Left reeling from her mother's sudden death, Izzy takes comfort in her old disc man and together with her trusty dog Akka, try to solve the mystery of what happened.
Great on audio with excellent mental health and neurodiversity rep and perfect for fans of Alone by Megan E. Freeman. Highly recommended!
TW: death of a parent from suicide
October 13, 2022
I adored this book. Izzy is so brave and wonderful and autistic and I loved everything about her! From the way she grapples with finding herself alone at the end of the world, to how she follows the clues and figures out what to do, it was fantastic. The story is fun at times and heartbreaking at others, fast paced and exciting and happy, yet also so spooky and scary. K.A. Reynolds manages to blend the moods together so well. I really enjoyed reading it.
And did I mention, the main character is autistic??? As an autistic reader myself, I LOVE seeing that rep in stories. So many little things ressonated with me, even as Izzy also had her own set of traits and habits far different than my own. I really love the vast variety of autistic rep we are seeing in the kidlit world lately, and Izzy adds her own unique self to that.
Young readers will love the fast pace of this story and the endearing voice, and it will be a perfect hit for fans of anything horror!
And did I mention, the main character is autistic??? As an autistic reader myself, I LOVE seeing that rep in stories. So many little things ressonated with me, even as Izzy also had her own set of traits and habits far different than my own. I really love the vast variety of autistic rep we are seeing in the kidlit world lately, and Izzy adds her own unique self to that.
Young readers will love the fast pace of this story and the endearing voice, and it will be a perfect hit for fans of anything horror!
March 17, 2023
Holy smokes! I finished this over the weekend and it was GREAT! Two besties and a dog save the world! It's wholeheartedly inclusive and deep and thoughtful and fun! 4.25 stars from me!
February 22, 2022
Within the pages of IZZY AT THE END OF THE WORLD readers will get to share the fear, anxiety and bravery that Izzy and Raven, with the help of good boy Akka, face when an alien invasion steals everyone they love. With rapid fire pacing this powerful book does not shy away from hard topics like grief and anxiety but instead shines a light on them, showing everyone that the key to facing the hardest truths is to do it with love in your heart. K. A. Reynold proves, once again, that if you listen to what the universe is telling you, you can do anything. Even save the world.
February 28, 2022
In Izzy At the End of The World, KA Reynolds weaves a heartfelt story of survival and perseverance. Shining a brave beautiful light on anxiety and fear, Reynolds does a magnificent job of telling the story of Izzy’s journey back to the ones she loves and saving the world along the way.
November 25, 2022
ARC --
auuughhh I really wanted to like this one!!!! But I just didn't. I'm always happy for neurodiversity rep, and gender identity, sexuality, etc. etc., and I know it's tricky to blend in some of those discussions in a casual way. Sadly, the writing reflects that -- felt didactic and stilted at times. I understand that particularly books for younger readers may need to be heavier-handed, but especially since Izzy is 14, the stiltedness of explaining neurodiversity, anxiety, etc. stood out even more. (Maybe if Izzy were aged down -- 12 or so? it might work, but this wanted to read on the higher end of middle-grades, and the writing didn't stand up to that imo.)
The CD as a plot device didn't make sense to me; she only listened to one track at a time, which is just not how a CD works? It's not like you pop it in, play one song, and turn it off again. Using it AS a plot device seemed to stretch out the storyline interminably when we could've skipped a lot of the down time? The pacing overall was weird; action seemed to happen in very short bursts followed by a lot of (predictable) lead-up to the next one-paragraph action scene.
Very very tiny nitpicky gripe: Akka being a "good boy" or "goodest boy" or "best boy" every time he's referenced got veryy annoying. I totally call my animals things like that, but sometimes I just refer to them by their names.
The issues I had with the pacing, writing, etc. might be cleaned up by a thorough edit by the time Izzy is published, but I unfortunately doubt they will be :( I'm happy that books with ND folks are being published more regularly and widely, and Izzy is great for that purpose -- but her story was overall underwhelming to me, and I personally have more-favorite ND characters/books to recommend.
auuughhh I really wanted to like this one!!!! But I just didn't. I'm always happy for neurodiversity rep, and gender identity, sexuality, etc. etc., and I know it's tricky to blend in some of those discussions in a casual way. Sadly, the writing reflects that -- felt didactic and stilted at times. I understand that particularly books for younger readers may need to be heavier-handed, but especially since Izzy is 14, the stiltedness of explaining neurodiversity, anxiety, etc. stood out even more. (Maybe if Izzy were aged down -- 12 or so? it might work, but this wanted to read on the higher end of middle-grades, and the writing didn't stand up to that imo.)
The CD as a plot device didn't make sense to me; she only listened to one track at a time, which is just not how a CD works? It's not like you pop it in, play one song, and turn it off again. Using it AS a plot device seemed to stretch out the storyline interminably when we could've skipped a lot of the down time? The pacing overall was weird; action seemed to happen in very short bursts followed by a lot of (predictable) lead-up to the next one-paragraph action scene.
Very very tiny nitpicky gripe: Akka being a "good boy" or "goodest boy" or "best boy" every time he's referenced got veryy annoying. I totally call my animals things like that, but sometimes I just refer to them by their names.
The issues I had with the pacing, writing, etc. might be cleaned up by a thorough edit by the time Izzy is published, but I unfortunately doubt they will be :( I'm happy that books with ND folks are being published more regularly and widely, and Izzy is great for that purpose -- but her story was overall underwhelming to me, and I personally have more-favorite ND characters/books to recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2023
TW:
pet in physical peril, depression & mention of suicide, mentioned cancer, mentioned parental abuse & homophobia
This was a sweet, apocalyptic middlegrade! It's always so amazing to me that kids can pick up a book and be met with characters like a bisexual autistic girl who struggles with anxiety and depression, and a gender nonconforming kid with Lyme's disease. It's so fantastic that representation can be so casual and yet impact the story in realistic ways. The grief and anxiety are important to the journey but they're balanced out with a lot of love, hope, and some sillyness. I think any kid who likes stories about kids facing down the odds, or saving the world, but not dark and gritty, will enjoy this
This was a sweet, apocalyptic middlegrade! It's always so amazing to me that kids can pick up a book and be met with characters like a bisexual autistic girl who struggles with anxiety and depression, and a gender nonconforming kid with Lyme's disease. It's so fantastic that representation can be so casual and yet impact the story in realistic ways. The grief and anxiety are important to the journey but they're balanced out with a lot of love, hope, and some sillyness. I think any kid who likes stories about kids facing down the odds, or saving the world, but not dark and gritty, will enjoy this
January 14, 2025
3.5! I was eating up the first 90% of this book. The autism rep was wonderful and much needed--more autism rep in SFF books, especially for young readers! There were some mysterious elements surrounding Izzy's late mother and the weird things going on in real time. The first 80-90% very much had the vibe of "everything will be explained in time, young one," but then...nothing was really explained?? I don't want to give away any major spoilers for the plot, but I was very frustrated by the end--it gave very "it was all a dream" vibes with little explanation of WHY the events that happened, happened, and what was preventing the events from happening again in the near future.
I know I'm not the target age group and probably thinking too hard about the end, but it bothers me because kids are smart! I would market this book for a 11-14 year old, maybe a mature 10 year old. The story is not particularly "mature," but handles heavy topics like grief alongside a potential end-of-the-world scenario that may scare younger middle grade readers. At age ~12, you are thinking about the logistics and "why" of things, and it felt frustrating that there is not a real conclusion. Though I loved the journey we went on, I find it hard to recommend because of the ending. This is similiar to how I felt about It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit. Maybe I just can't do middle grade end-of-the-world dystopia.
I know I'm not the target age group and probably thinking too hard about the end, but it bothers me because kids are smart! I would market this book for a 11-14 year old, maybe a mature 10 year old. The story is not particularly "mature," but handles heavy topics like grief alongside a potential end-of-the-world scenario that may scare younger middle grade readers. At age ~12, you are thinking about the logistics and "why" of things, and it felt frustrating that there is not a real conclusion. Though I loved the journey we went on, I find it hard to recommend because of the ending. This is similiar to how I felt about It's the End of the World and I'm in My Bathing Suit. Maybe I just can't do middle grade end-of-the-world dystopia.
April 26, 2023
Holy crow, holy crow, holy crow
This book is sooo good! The suspense in this makes you sit at the edge of your seat and wonder when the aliens will pop up next or what other new danger our team will face. They were so kind to each other even at the end of the world. If either one got too stressed and yelled or said something not kind they apologized.
I’m sad I finished this and now I have a book hangover.
This book is sooo good! The suspense in this makes you sit at the edge of your seat and wonder when the aliens will pop up next or what other new danger our team will face. They were so kind to each other even at the end of the world. If either one got too stressed and yelled or said something not kind they apologized.
I’m sad I finished this and now I have a book hangover.
April 7, 2023
This was my audiobook companion for a 4 hour drive!
This was a bit bonkers but a lot of fun and full of big feelings. Also very autistic and very queer. Overall a fantastic combo for me to enjoy a MG book
This was a bit bonkers but a lot of fun and full of big feelings. Also very autistic and very queer. Overall a fantastic combo for me to enjoy a MG book
May 6, 2023
Definitely read the trigger warning first.
This is a very, VERY representation, and how inclusive characters are, and how sweet the dog is! Definitely has some sad moments that had my heart aching.
This is a very, VERY representation, and how inclusive characters are, and how sweet the dog is! Definitely has some sad moments that had my heart aching.
August 16, 2022
I cried in the best way at the end of this book. It broke my heart, mended it, and broke it again and repeat. As an autistic AFAB person, I saw a lot of myself in Izzy, especially from when I was younger. There were so many times this book felt like a hug with a whisper, 'you are seen." Thank you.
The characters are well fleshed out, the story is gripping and immersive, the relationships are so real. There are indeed some very corny moments but I loved them for their corniness.
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. A must read for scifi, coming of age stories. Be mindful of the content warnings, of course (also thank you for those).
The characters are well fleshed out, the story is gripping and immersive, the relationships are so real. There are indeed some very corny moments but I loved them for their corniness.
If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. A must read for scifi, coming of age stories. Be mindful of the content warnings, of course (also thank you for those).
January 7, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Izzy has lived with her grandparents Grams and Pops, and little sister since her mother passed away, ostensibly from cancer. It was hard on Izzy, who is on the Autism Spectrum, and she is trying to take comfort in her routines, including taking care of Akka, her loyal dog. When lights flash in the sky around the family's somewhat remote house in the woods, it's alarming, but when everyone but Izzy disappears, it's terrifying. When shadowy creatures, the "gray uglies", emerge and Izzy's amythest necklace from her mother is hot to the touch, Izzy starts to wonder if her mother might have had contact with aliens. Luckily, Izzy has an emergency plan, so tries to stick to that and try to figure out what has happened. There seem to be messages coming from her mother, but they don't make a lot of sense. Eventually, she finds a truck that will turn on, and uses this to get around. She also finds a boy, Raven, who is also on the lookout for his family, was drawn to follow the lights to Brattleboro, and helps her follow the clues. Between the "Playlist for the End of the World that her mother has left, and her mother's journal, there are a lot of clues to be followed. Will these give Izzy and Raven the information they need (bolstered with some research at a local library!) to save the world?
Strengths: This starts with trigger warnings for issues that don't show up very soon in the book, but come into play in full force at the end of the story, and in the author's note, where big twists occur and all becomes clear. Raven was an interesting character, and I liked the relationship that the two had. Akka is definitely a great addition to the story, as well as a good boy! The idea of driving around in a truck, searching for clues leading to space aliens while dealing with the "gray uglies" will appeal to readers who like some adventure with a lot of links to various fandoms.
Weaknesses: I'm never sure how much vintage music will appeal to readers. The playlist of older titles features largely in the plot, and while some readers will love this, others might not.
What I really think: This reminded me a lot of Freeman's Alone, and would be a good choice for readers who wanted an updated, mental health version of Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City and O'Brien's Z for Zachariah. I preferred Smith's The Switch, for a Where Have All the People Gone feel. Do not be surprised if this makes a lot of lists for suggestions for the Newbery award. Like Malinenko's This Appearing House, it is an allegory of the author's recent, devastating circumstances.
Izzy has lived with her grandparents Grams and Pops, and little sister since her mother passed away, ostensibly from cancer. It was hard on Izzy, who is on the Autism Spectrum, and she is trying to take comfort in her routines, including taking care of Akka, her loyal dog. When lights flash in the sky around the family's somewhat remote house in the woods, it's alarming, but when everyone but Izzy disappears, it's terrifying. When shadowy creatures, the "gray uglies", emerge and Izzy's amythest necklace from her mother is hot to the touch, Izzy starts to wonder if her mother might have had contact with aliens. Luckily, Izzy has an emergency plan, so tries to stick to that and try to figure out what has happened. There seem to be messages coming from her mother, but they don't make a lot of sense. Eventually, she finds a truck that will turn on, and uses this to get around. She also finds a boy, Raven, who is also on the lookout for his family, was drawn to follow the lights to Brattleboro, and helps her follow the clues. Between the "Playlist for the End of the World that her mother has left, and her mother's journal, there are a lot of clues to be followed. Will these give Izzy and Raven the information they need (bolstered with some research at a local library!) to save the world?
Strengths: This starts with trigger warnings for issues that don't show up very soon in the book, but come into play in full force at the end of the story, and in the author's note, where big twists occur and all becomes clear. Raven was an interesting character, and I liked the relationship that the two had. Akka is definitely a great addition to the story, as well as a good boy! The idea of driving around in a truck, searching for clues leading to space aliens while dealing with the "gray uglies" will appeal to readers who like some adventure with a lot of links to various fandoms.
Weaknesses: I'm never sure how much vintage music will appeal to readers. The playlist of older titles features largely in the plot, and while some readers will love this, others might not.
What I really think: This reminded me a lot of Freeman's Alone, and would be a good choice for readers who wanted an updated, mental health version of Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City and O'Brien's Z for Zachariah. I preferred Smith's The Switch, for a Where Have All the People Gone feel. Do not be surprised if this makes a lot of lists for suggestions for the Newbery award. Like Malinenko's This Appearing House, it is an allegory of the author's recent, devastating circumstances.
April 4, 2023
Izzy at the End of the World was a unique take on the apocalypse survival story, being led by Izzy, a 14 year old girl on the autism spectrum, which is what drew me to this story in the first place. Izzy’s dealing with the death of her mother when her family disappears and the alien invasion begins. It’s up to Izzy to travel rural Vermont and put an end to it. I related to Izzy’s point of view, her thinking patterns and her geeky interests, and loved her determination in general, even though she stands out in more ways than one. I also loved that she named a car Bob. Along the way, Izzy meets a new friend and discovers some life changing revelations. I’m sure mainstream music lovers will squee over the almost bottomless references, as many of them serves as journal clues, but explained enough to even someone like me that mostly listens to video game OSTs can understand the the trail. The setting was intriguing and it felt very end of the world, and the twists were executed well. Most of the paranormal elements made sense, but I felt some aspects could have been expanded a bit more, and the story slow down slightly to not have 15 things thrown in at once as it felt like late in the book. The ending was totally wholesome despite a couple of nitpicks. I’ll recommend this if you’re looking for a middle grade journey book that’s a little scary and deals with heavier topics (mental health, depression, suicide) in a way that kids and teens can understand. Due to Izzy’s age (14), this could be also considered younger YA.
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and HarperCollins. All opinions are my own.*
*I received an ARC from Netgalley and HarperCollins. All opinions are my own.*
March 15, 2023
OMG this book does SO MUCH. The introduction is so powerful and important and a clever way to introduce possible content warnings, demonstrating to the readers that the author truly cares for them and will take them on a journey with scares, danger, but with care through out. And WHAT a journey!! Aliens invade the country, zapping everyone on Earth into oblivion with only Izzy and her dog Akka remaining. The author does an incredible job with demonstrating how truly terrifying such an event would be, with a clearly tight out plan and SO MUCH ALIEN ATTACKS!! This book takes you through so many fights that are gripping and intense and has me squeezing the book and flipping through pages in a rush to see what would happen!! Akka (the goodest boy!!!) is such a highlight of the book and although I was thrown off a bit by his borking, I love that “meme talk” was still used despite the high tension and stages of the book (because if you used meme speak before the end of the world, it’s not like you would stop!!) I positively loved the ending. Felt like a call back to The Neverending Story (where a simple connection to a parent is able to heal the entire world).
Possible (further?) content warnings on bodily fluids.
Possible (further?) content warnings on bodily fluids.
September 13, 2023
For readers who like Stranger Things.
Super scary monsters from space. Definitely for readers who don't get scared easily.
Fast-paced and plot-driven. Main character Izzy is autistic and finds herself alone (with her dog Akka) after everyone else has vanished in a blaze of light.
She goes in search of other survivors, guided by a journal and CD her mom made before she died. These items hold songs, clues, and cryptic messages that Izzy must work out before the alien invasion becomes permanent, and all of earth dies.
FYI: This book has some heavy topics like suicide, depression, anxiety and mention of child abuse.
Super scary monsters from space. Definitely for readers who don't get scared easily.
Fast-paced and plot-driven. Main character Izzy is autistic and finds herself alone (with her dog Akka) after everyone else has vanished in a blaze of light.
She goes in search of other survivors, guided by a journal and CD her mom made before she died. These items hold songs, clues, and cryptic messages that Izzy must work out before the alien invasion becomes permanent, and all of earth dies.
FYI: This book has some heavy topics like suicide, depression, anxiety and mention of child abuse.
March 6, 2023
Really enjoyed this middle grade alien end of the world novel by author K.A. Reynolds!!
Izzy is such a strong, autistic character, and I love how much she cares about her family and her dog! She perseveres even when dealing with aliens!
This story is ultimately about hope and I really enjoyed it.
Izzy is such a strong, autistic character, and I love how much she cares about her family and her dog! She perseveres even when dealing with aliens!
This story is ultimately about hope and I really enjoyed it.
January 4, 2023
Special thanks to Harper Children's and Goodreads Giveaways for the ARC of Izzy. It was a cute story, interwoven with insecurities and trying to deal with life's crises. Izzy learned to process through a trip and dealings with aliens. The reader will see the world through Izzy's eyes and experience the trauma but always with a positive outlook on what could be and what she could do and the fact that the strength is in her. It was a great ending in finding those she loved, waiting for her to come back.
August 26, 2025
If you like apocalyptic alien invasion stories where the ending is all wrapped up and you understand everything, this book is probably not for you. I thought it might bother me, but I ended up being okay with the ending! While the story is an end of the world survival, the focus seems to really be on Izzy and her journey of self-discovery. I think that’s why it doesn’t bother me that I know almost nothing about the aliens, spore dust, and how the amethyst broke an invisible force field. I was just cheering for Izzy and Akka the whole time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2023
Amazing! Fantastic! Fast paced!! Spooky!! Fun!! Sad!! I loved that the main character was autistic. I love the focus on my favorite color (purple!). I love the casualty of Izzy being bi and Raven being nonbinary. It’s a part of the book but not the focus. Definitely a favorite book and one I’ll be recommending!
December 21, 2023
A young teen and their dog as the protagonists of a story are some of my favorite types of books to read. Izzy and her dog Akka were a charming duo to follow at the end of the world. They’re thrust into a world without people one night when mysterious lights flash across the mountains near Izzy’s grandparents' home, and she watches as her grandparents and sister disappear before her very eyes. In the morning, she vows to find her missing family no matter what, and ends up running into a teen her age named Raven, who plans to do the same. The two team up and become a trio with Izzy and her dog Akka.
This world without people is bizarre and silent because it’s missing all the animals too. There is a silence that makes everything feel extra eerie, and a weird black haze pollutes the sky. The black haze is killing the Earth and Izzy and crew decide to not only find their missing family but save the Earth from destruction too. It’s not an easy feat for two young teens and a dog but they’re a tenacious bunch. There are lots of trials and tribulations along the way, but as they work together and open up their plans to save their family and the world fall together.
I found this to be a well-written middle grade fantasy book that I think is perfect for pre-teen readers. Some parts were a bit repetitive and felt a little redundant at times, but that might be helpful to some younger audiences. I did wish we had some more explanation for the weird black haze and monsters that came to Earth. But, the book gave just enough to still be understandable and enjoyable. This is a great introduction to science fiction for young readers.
Another thing I thought was well done in this book was the depiction of neurodivergence in young teens. I wish I had more books with these depictions when I was younger and I’m glad to see this representation occurring more often in all kinds of books including Middle Grade ones. There was also a nice touch on grief and how one experiences the loss of a parent. Some tough topics were tackled in this book and I thought the author handled them very well and with care.
I highly recommend this book for fans of science-fiction and end of the world type books especially if you enjoy the Middle Grade genre. It’s also a great introduction for younger readers as I stated previously. There were some minor things I thought could have been expanded on but the book was overall well done. I think this is great for young and older readers alike. Izzy, Raven, and Akka are great characters to read and follow at the end of the world.
This world without people is bizarre and silent because it’s missing all the animals too. There is a silence that makes everything feel extra eerie, and a weird black haze pollutes the sky. The black haze is killing the Earth and Izzy and crew decide to not only find their missing family but save the Earth from destruction too. It’s not an easy feat for two young teens and a dog but they’re a tenacious bunch. There are lots of trials and tribulations along the way, but as they work together and open up their plans to save their family and the world fall together.
I found this to be a well-written middle grade fantasy book that I think is perfect for pre-teen readers. Some parts were a bit repetitive and felt a little redundant at times, but that might be helpful to some younger audiences. I did wish we had some more explanation for the weird black haze and monsters that came to Earth. But, the book gave just enough to still be understandable and enjoyable. This is a great introduction to science fiction for young readers.
Another thing I thought was well done in this book was the depiction of neurodivergence in young teens. I wish I had more books with these depictions when I was younger and I’m glad to see this representation occurring more often in all kinds of books including Middle Grade ones. There was also a nice touch on grief and how one experiences the loss of a parent. Some tough topics were tackled in this book and I thought the author handled them very well and with care.
I highly recommend this book for fans of science-fiction and end of the world type books especially if you enjoy the Middle Grade genre. It’s also a great introduction for younger readers as I stated previously. There were some minor things I thought could have been expanded on but the book was overall well done. I think this is great for young and older readers alike. Izzy, Raven, and Akka are great characters to read and follow at the end of the world.
February 22, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.
CW: Mental health, suicide, depression (also, the way the trigger/content warning was Izzy introducing herself and the CW was AMAZING).
The representation in this is beautiful, and it is done so nonchalantly and does a fantastic job of destigmatizing mental health, gender, autism, etc., in society. Izzy is a lovable protagonist who, in the midst of an alien invasion, also learns more about herself and deals with the grief from losing her mother a year ago. Izzy's mother's death changes how she sees the world, and there are some revelations about it that fundamentally change Izzy. Oh, and there's a massive alien invasion in Vermont that leaves Izzy suddenly by herself with her dog, Akka...and the mysterious boy, Raven, who was also left alone by the aliens.
Izzy and Raven set out to save everyone else, following clues and a journal and a magical, ghostly radio and playlist (also, shout out to the playlist) Izzy's mom left in a closet that predicted, well, the end of the world. Oh, and a truck that was inevitably prepped out with exactly what the aliens hate that Izzy names Bob.
This was just a delight to read. Some of the pacing felt rushed and it is definitely middle grade in terms of the writing style, but I could see high schoolers enjoying this as well (Izzy is 14).
CW: Mental health, suicide, depression (also, the way the trigger/content warning was Izzy introducing herself and the CW was AMAZING).
The representation in this is beautiful, and it is done so nonchalantly and does a fantastic job of destigmatizing mental health, gender, autism, etc., in society. Izzy is a lovable protagonist who, in the midst of an alien invasion, also learns more about herself and deals with the grief from losing her mother a year ago. Izzy's mother's death changes how she sees the world, and there are some revelations about it that fundamentally change Izzy. Oh, and there's a massive alien invasion in Vermont that leaves Izzy suddenly by herself with her dog, Akka...and the mysterious boy, Raven, who was also left alone by the aliens.
Izzy and Raven set out to save everyone else, following clues and a journal and a magical, ghostly radio and playlist (also, shout out to the playlist) Izzy's mom left in a closet that predicted, well, the end of the world. Oh, and a truck that was inevitably prepped out with exactly what the aliens hate that Izzy names Bob.
This was just a delight to read. Some of the pacing felt rushed and it is definitely middle grade in terms of the writing style, but I could see high schoolers enjoying this as well (Izzy is 14).
August 27, 2022
Izzy At the End of the World
By K.A. Reynolds
Middle grade
Publishes in February 2023
I read this as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) on Netgalley as I am a fan of @krisrey19, and she has done it again.
Izzy is a 14yo, autistic girl who is trying to survive the end of the world armed with only her dead mom's journal & discman, her Pops' bowie knife, and her beloved dog Akka. She is trying to discover the source of the UFLs (Unidentified Flying Lights) that appeared over her Vermont home the night her family, and it seems everyone else, disappeared. Using the super powers only the neurodivergent possess, she sets out on an adventure she never wanted to have and finds strengths and truths she never knew she needed.
Well done, Kristin. Bob is an amazing character. He stole my heart as I'm sure he did yours.
My pre-order will go straight to the library at school.
By K.A. Reynolds
Middle grade
Publishes in February 2023
I read this as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) on Netgalley as I am a fan of @krisrey19, and she has done it again.
Izzy is a 14yo, autistic girl who is trying to survive the end of the world armed with only her dead mom's journal & discman, her Pops' bowie knife, and her beloved dog Akka. She is trying to discover the source of the UFLs (Unidentified Flying Lights) that appeared over her Vermont home the night her family, and it seems everyone else, disappeared. Using the super powers only the neurodivergent possess, she sets out on an adventure she never wanted to have and finds strengths and truths she never knew she needed.
Well done, Kristin. Bob is an amazing character. He stole my heart as I'm sure he did yours.
My pre-order will go straight to the library at school.
October 30, 2022
I enjoy a good end of the world story and Izzy at the End of the World seemed to fit that well. I admit, the end of the world coming due to aliens was a bit outside my normal reading niche but that being said, I'm glad I gave this book a go!
I think K.A. Reynolds did a great job with the development of the characters - Izzy's desires to feel normal while dealing with the death of her mother are put to the test when the world as she knows it ends. Izzy embarks on a mission to figure out just where everyone else has vanishes to with her dog, Akka, at her side. Along the way they are joined by Raven (and Bob) as they face together a lot of unknown, mysterious connections and a leap into trust. I loved how we explored Izzy's relationship with her mom and her grandparents as well. I also enjoyed the world building that occured as we explored Earth after an alien invasion.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and it's unique twists and turns. It is not quite what I normally would pick up but I am glad I gave it a go!
I think K.A. Reynolds did a great job with the development of the characters - Izzy's desires to feel normal while dealing with the death of her mother are put to the test when the world as she knows it ends. Izzy embarks on a mission to figure out just where everyone else has vanishes to with her dog, Akka, at her side. Along the way they are joined by Raven (and Bob) as they face together a lot of unknown, mysterious connections and a leap into trust. I loved how we explored Izzy's relationship with her mom and her grandparents as well. I also enjoyed the world building that occured as we explored Earth after an alien invasion.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and it's unique twists and turns. It is not quite what I normally would pick up but I am glad I gave it a go!
May 18, 2023
Izzy, a self-proclaimed autistic, anxious, and depressed teen is living with her younger sister and grandparents in Vermont. They are also trying to come to terms with the recent death of Izzy’s mom. One night Unidentified Flying Lights appear in the sky over the nearby mountains while Izzy and her dog are out on their deck. When she heads back inside, her family has vanished leaving only the contents of their pockets behind on the floor. Izzy soon realizes that aliens have abducted her family and she sets off on a journey to rescue them. Before leaving, she discovers a journal and playlist left behind by her mother and uses them to guide her on her hunt. With the help of a friend she meets and her dog, she bravely sets off. Readers will enjoy the old school playlist and the characters Izzy and Raven.
January 1, 2024
Content warnings for: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, abuse, death, cancer, suicide.
(Amazingly these are all summed up through an in-character foreword by the main character! This was amazing to see and i hope other authors take note.)
This book was another brilliant read by someone that is fast becoming a favourite author of mine.
I loved how much music worked its way into the story, about words, messages, and strength in harrowing situations.
A story about being yourself, fighting FOR yourself and your loved ones no matter the circumstances. I would definitely recommend this upper-middle-grade book to anyone looking for a great sci-fi adventure against aliens and the end of the world.
(Amazingly these are all summed up through an in-character foreword by the main character! This was amazing to see and i hope other authors take note.)
This book was another brilliant read by someone that is fast becoming a favourite author of mine.
I loved how much music worked its way into the story, about words, messages, and strength in harrowing situations.
A story about being yourself, fighting FOR yourself and your loved ones no matter the circumstances. I would definitely recommend this upper-middle-grade book to anyone looking for a great sci-fi adventure against aliens and the end of the world.
July 28, 2024
Izzy is autistic. This is, as stated in the prologue, the most important thing you should know about her. Also, her family has been abducted by aliens, and as she tries to survive and make sense of the chaos of this apocalyptic event, she discovers clues that her mother left behind before her death.
I think this book has a good concept. However, I'm not at all taken with the writing style. It's so expository? I can appreciate Izzy's character for who she is, but she spends an awful lot of time explaining things for someone who "doesn't open up easily" about her own experiences. You know, maybe it's just the prologue that really didn't do it for me. Since I don't particularly enjoy apocalypse novels, it should come as no surprise that this one isn't for me.
I think this book has a good concept. However, I'm not at all taken with the writing style. It's so expository? I can appreciate Izzy's character for who she is, but she spends an awful lot of time explaining things for someone who "doesn't open up easily" about her own experiences. You know, maybe it's just the prologue that really didn't do it for me. Since I don't particularly enjoy apocalypse novels, it should come as no surprise that this one isn't for me.
February 20, 2023
This inclusive and affirming upper mg novel is like a beautiful letter from a loved one who has passed on to a family member still living, encouraging them to live on…mixed with an alien invasion survival novel. It addresses topics like death, betrayal, autism, anxiety, healing, perseverance and more.
There’s even some fun pop culture references and a CD playlist!
I especially loved how at the end of book, the author discusses connections to her own life when developing parts of the story.
This one will easily become a favorite for kids and adults alike!
There’s even some fun pop culture references and a CD playlist!
I especially loved how at the end of book, the author discusses connections to her own life when developing parts of the story.
This one will easily become a favorite for kids and adults alike!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews