The Quiet at the End of the World: TikTok made me buy it!

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A dazzling, feminist retelling of Greek myth from the internationally bestselling author of The Miniaturist, stunningly illustrated by Olivia Lomenech Gill. Lowrie is far from perfect. She admits her flaws right from the beginning, but she knows her worth too. Handy with tools, and openly bisexual, she constantly reflects on who she is. Her relationship with Shen is nicely complicated too. There’s just the right balance of sweetness and edge. The Twists She did it again! As I loved The Loneliest Girl in the Universe, I had high hopes for Lauren James's new book. And it's so good!! Lauren James' writing style is perfect for this sort of book. It's conversational, contemporary, and talks about science in an accessible way. It took a while for the story to really take off, but when it did, it was one surprising twist after the other, some of them amusing (wait until you find out Lowrie's last name!) and others mindblowing. I love when books pose ethical questions, and this does just that.

I love post-apocalyptic novels, but they are always very grimdark - depressing and tragic. I wanted to subvert that trope and write a kind of soft apocalypse, with an uplifting look at humanity and kindness in the small community that would result from a large population loss (it's a very English kind of village, and book). Armistice Day: A Collection of Remembrance - Spark Interest and Educate Children about Historical Moments It’s a huge burden, one that begins to increasingly weigh on Lowrie who fears not only failing to keep the flame of sentient life alight, but is afraid of what happens when their parents, who are into their 80s, die and she and her best friend are left alone in a great big, empty world.The Quiet at the End of the World has more twists than a bowl of spaghetti with one major turn that changes the whole course of the novel. It’s a testament to Lauren James that she manages to weave this surprise into the plot so deftly. I only guessed before it happened which doesn’t happen very often these days! All the Extras

There is also the underlying theme of acceptance and love and family; of what even as humans or robots - what lasting impression do we want to leave for our off-spring - what do we want to be remembered by - what legacy will you leave for future generations and civilizations to know of your existence? Human or meta-human? Who is there left to question what is truly human nature? Biological or artificial - will there be a substantial difference between the two in the end, when we all equate to share the the same feelings and experiences that are one and the same? It is a challenge, but the way the story concluded - not with silence, but with a tangible hope, there is the promise that the end of the world will not be a quiet one. 🙏🏻🙏🏻 A virus outspread the world causing global infertility. Lowrie and Shen are the youngest people on earth before the end of the human race. Lowrie is sixteen years old who enjoys fixing mechanical things. While Shen is a seventeen year’s old who enjoys learning about technology and computers. They live in a community where everyone was aging and there was no cure to infertility yet. They both love digging up drains for artifacts and learning about everything.It took a long time to decide on a title for this book, but in the end we settled on The Quiet at the End of the World because that's what the book is about - the time after the apocalypse, when there's no hope, and nothing to do but wait and try to enjoy life at the end of the world (also, let's be honest - I just wanted a longer title than The Loneliest Girl in the Universe). They live in a small community of the only remaining humans on Earth - all of whom are in their 80s. They spend their days exploring, while their parents are still researching a way for humanity to reproduce, to keep going. The Quiet at the End of the World is about Lowrie and Shen, the youngest people alive in a time after humans go infertile. They have grown up knowing that they are going to watch their species face extinction, and spend their time exploring the crumbling remains of civilisation, treasure-hunting for things their ancestors have left behind. Due to the existential nature of the story, it is recommended for mature readers, 15 years and above. It has challenging concepts so many students would struggle with it as a set text, but it would be an excellent addition in the school collection as a wide reading or literature circle text. The novel would also suit a thematic unit based on ‘The Human Condition’, and students should be given the opportunity to discuss their reactions, thoughts, and fears. Admittedly, this is a text made just for them; the social media and world view of politics, economy and environmentalism suits the climate they are making, and it is clear old ways of thinking will soon be abandoned.

A sense of secrecy and impending doom fill the first half of the novel, and it is soon evident that the character found in the internet archives will teach Lowrie and Shen more than what their parents ever shared with them. There is a sense of mirroring as both timelines struggle with their infertility, and how they can find meaning in their lives. This is not the only problem to solve, as a crisis soon forces Lowrie and Shen to put their life’s learning to use, and save themselves and everyone they love. There’s great representation here too - bi and trans, deaf, Chinese characters. So good to see so much.

Lauren is the founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League, and member of the Society of Authors’ Sustainability Committee. She works as a consultant on climate storytelling for museums, production companies, major brands and publishers, with a focus on optimism and hope. She runs a Queer Writers group in Coventry.