I did enjoy the book as it gave a point of view of a child in the circumstances presented and how it affected them. Most of the time children are not considered in theses type of situations. Millwood is very good on keeping the book to historical realism with also giving it an easy way to understand it. The book opened my eyes as I did not know how leprosy came about and where it started. The book made me want to find out more about the segregation of people with leprosy. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Island at the End of Everything' because it was a different sort of history book. It wasn't full of facts but I didn't forget that it was a history book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who doesn't really like long books. It is a perfect book to read in one sitting. Incredibly gripping.

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.The book did make me want to find more out about leprosy and the history of the Philippines in 1960. The Island at the End of Everything, a fictional book written by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, it is an exceptionally well written book which contains a very valuable moral.

The book charts the adventures of a young girl called Amihan who lives with her mother on Culion Island. Unfortunately for Amihan, her mother has been diagnosed with Leprosy, a disease that effects mucous membranes and nerves causing discolouration and lumps on her skin. Despite this, Amihan loves her home with its mazarine, blue seas and luscious and viridian forests. However, this is all threatened due to a confrontation with malicious government official and fierce lepidopterist called Mr. Zamora, who forces Amihan to be separated from her mother. Following this, Amihan goes to an orphanage and comes across Mariposa , thetwo of them become friends. The book I read was not my type but others might enjoy it if they like nature and weird creatures that take over islands. I first looked at the blurb that was what make me take it and read it. I particularly enjoyed the ending chapters when Amihan and her amiable companions are eventually reunited. Not only does Hargrave satisfy the reader through answering the questions that she has posed, she manages to end the story in an uplifting and positive manner.Poetic, bittersweet and full of heart, this has the feel and quality of an instant classic. Author Kiran Millwood Hargrave writes with a beautiful and gentle touch, evoking a lush and bountiful home for Ami in which disease is just another element to be balanced and lived with rather than separated from, while nature is as much of a character as the people. Bella Rix-Clanc, age 10 - 'A happy, sad, exiting and beautiful book. I read it with my mum and we both enjoyed it.' The use of Filipino words and phrases throughout was something I was especially glad the author decided to include. It gave the story a sense of truth and helped me transport to the setting of the novel. Culion Island is indeed a real place and it was turned in to a leprosarium in 1906, becoming known as 'the island of no return'. Millwood Hargrave has managed to create a beautiful story from a sad history which I think will be loved by readers of all ages. Many thanks to the publishers for providing The Bookbag with a copy. One of Our Books of the Year 2017 | Shortlisted for the 2018 Blue Peter Awards - Best Story | Shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book Award 2017 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2018 Book Award My favourite parts of the book were the imagery of the butterflies throughout the book. It was poignant.