Cajsa Jonsson, age 12 - 'an amazing book that told a heart-warming story about friendship. It takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to end and I really recommend it.' The historical aspect of this novel has been written with great skill, both informing and capturing the reader'sattention. Even though Amihan's tale has been dramatised with political villainy it is one that can still make the reader want to explore further into the historical depths of the novel as well as the fictitious parts.

William Pasturel, age nearly 12 - 'I quite liked this book because it was very descriptive and captured the characters personalities perfectly.'I liked this book because it showed me that people with diseases like leprosy still have lives and families. I liked the character Ami because she had a strong heart and even thugh her mother was a leper, she still loved her and looked after her. I do think that the history in this book is realistic because I can see that the author has spent a lot of time and effort researching these colonies of epers and actually finding out about their lives. When I had finished reading this book it made me really want to read another book by this author because it was so realistic like but with her own characters in it. My favourite part of this book was where she made a lovely friend even though she was different. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for adventure.

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

Video

A message from the author: ‘At a time when the world seems to be moving deeper towards intolerance, the message that we should be together but not the same, was at the forefront of my mind when writing this book. It’s easy to label people, and labelling means reducing them to one attribute, which in turn makes it easier to dismiss, dehumanise, and persecute. In The Island at the End of Everything, it is down to Ami, and her friend Mari, to find a way home in a society that tells them they are only children, only girls, and so are not in control of their own lives. But of course, this is far from the truth.’

Felicity Wilcox, age 14 - 'A great emotional rollercoaster adventure story...It made you grip the edge of your seat (or bed if you read it at night).' I absolutely loved the prominent symbolism of butterflies and the powerful, meaning behind it. Nanay mentioned butterflies surrounding her house one summer. They stayed for a whole week one year, compared to Mr Zamora who sees no value in them but, just to be dead and behind glass. 'Take these butterflies', he says, gesturing at the walls. 'They have never known disease or danger. I even give them a clean death - is that not a kindness? They are beautiful. Clean. Untouched by the world.' There are also recurring themes of love, friendship and loss. More than Amihan it is Mariposa (which in Spanish means 'butterfly') who is my favourite character in the book. Despite being a fictional character, I wouldn't mind having her as a role model, particularly as she has an injured hand but comes across as tough and resilient. Hargrave has weaved some very important topics into the novel, such as melancholic issues that relate to death, disabilities, illness, mental health and prejudice. Hargrave has handled all this with care. Therefore, not only is the book gripping but it also raises the reader's awareness of these issues. Major highlights of the book are how Hargraves very effectively (through use of providential and humorous situations) explored the themes in the book.One day a man named Mr Zamora comes into the church and during their congregation and states that he has been sent by the government to separate those with and without leprosy so that they can give a better life to those without it. His plans succeed, anyone under 18 without leprosy has to go out to another island named Coron whilst those who are over 18 with and without leprosy have to stay in permitted areas to stop the spreading of disease. The Island At The End Of Everything by Killan Millwood Hargrave is a charming rites of passage novel following the protagonist, Amihan, as she goes through a traumatic and invigorating childhood. It is based around the true event of Culion Island becoming a leper colony, although the characters are entirely fictitious. Charlotte Cassidy, age 11 - 'I loved this book because you could actually connect with the characters, and it keeps you wanting to know more.'

Ellen Cox, age 10 - 'A brilliant book that captures your heart...There are such detailed descriptions I had very clear images in my head.'

The main island in the story is named Culion which is where people at the mainland send people with leprosy. Amihan [the main character] lives with her mother whom she calls Nanay. Her mother is 'touched' and she is 'untouched' - this is there way of saying ones who have leprosy and those who don't. The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a book that I would definitely read again! This book is set in the early 1900s when people didn't accept other people who were different to themselves. Ami and her Nanay live on the island of Culion which is a leper colony, though they prefer to call themselves touched. Although one day a man called Mr Zamora comes to Culion to announce some changes that will change Ami's life forever. Along the way Ami makes some new friends and gets torn away from people that she loves. The author creates very vivid images throughout the stories using similes, metaphors and various other techniques. I love how the author manages to thread the theme of butterflies in to the book; from the beginning of the book where Ami and her Nanay never see any butterflies in their butterfly garden, till the end of the book where butterflies are swarming around the island of Culion. In my opinion, the butterflies are just there for symbolism. They symbolise hope and the beauty that lies within the people of Culion. I would rate this book 5/5 and recommend it to both boys and girls who are interested in history and heart-felt stories. This book is written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. She is a poet, playwright and novelist. Kiran is very young with the success she has had. She is the author of the bestselling book The Girl of Ink and Stars. Millwood was born in London in 1990. She studied at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities.