--- product_id: 58826527 title: "Island at the End of Everything [Paperback] [May 04, 2017] KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE" price: "R677" currency: ZAR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/58826527-island-at-the-end-of-everything-paperback-may-04-2017 store_origin: ZA region: South Africa --- # Island at the End of Everything [Paperback] [May 04, 2017] KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE **Price:** R677 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Island at the End of Everything [Paperback] [May 04, 2017] KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE - **How much does it cost?** R677 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/58826527-island-at-the-end-of-everything-paperback-may-04-2017) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering. Review: A piece of magic in book shape that will win the hearts and imaginations of many readers - Ami lives on a beautiful island in the middle of the ocean. Except, while the vegetation might be lush and the ocean full of fish, the island and the people on it are shunned by the outside world. Culion is a leper colony, and while Ami doesn't suffer from this her Nanay (mum) does. Ami was born on the island and doesn't know anything different than living with her Nanay in the small community. It's a place mostly made up of people who suffer from leprosy in various stages of the disease, though rather than refer to them as lepers, they say that they're 'touched'. The disease isn't contagious in a controlled environment, and so Ami isn't in any danger, but the government decides to make a big change. People who suffer from the disease from all over will be brought to the island to remove them from society. To make space, the children that don't have the disease will be brought to an orphanage on another island. The government official in charge is the cruel Mr Zamora who avoids those that are touched and abuses his power over the children. His arrival announces the end of Ami's life as she knows it, and her journey afterwards, both physically and mentally, is both heartrending and inspiring. I was very excited to read this novel after falling in love with Kiran's debut The Girl of Ink and Stars and wasn't disappointed. Equally beautifully written with a touch of magical realism, this is a book that tugs at the heartstrings as it deals with mental health, loss and acceptance in the most enlightening of ways. It was far from an easy read, as many things within the pages felt unfair, but rooted as it is in real historical events it made it all the more evident that life is unfair, and it's about how you deal with it that makes a difference. Just like Isabella in A Girl of Ink and Stars, Ami is a bad-ass girl who we can all aspire to be like. She's having the worst of times but it doesn't make her cruel or give up hope, it gives her courage and wisdom to power through. I doubt I would've been as strong and forgiving had I been put in a similar position, but Ami is certainly an inspiration to readers. And Kiran is an incredible writer to bring Ami's story to life; her words flowing together into beautiful prose while not distracting from the tale she is telling. There were many moments I reread a sentence or paragraph because I found it being told so wonderfully, for example: 'Nanay kisses both hands and blows them to me. I catch them fast as falling stars and pocket them.' How beautiful is that? From now on I will always try to think that kisses from loves ones are falling stars that I can pocket, it certainly makes the idea of saying goodbye and being far away just that little bit easier. The Island at the End of Everything is a difficult novel to read at times (water spilled out of my eyes on more than one occasion), but it's also incredibly rewarding. Ami's kindness and courage are a huge inspiration, after all if after the hardship she goes through she can still be forgiving and brave there is absolutely no excuse for us to not do the same when faced with challenges in our own lives. And wrapped up in Kiran's beautiful words, this is yet another piece of magic by her hand in book shape that will undoubtedly win the hearts and imaginations of many readers. ♥ 4.5 stars Review: Beautiful - Ami has fond memories of Culion where she's living with her Nanay, her mother. However, Culion isn't just a regular island, it's a leprosy colony and Ami's mother is infected. So far Ami has managed to remain healthy and she's taking care of her mother. There's much love between them, but then all islanders who aren't sick are being forced to leave and Ami will be separated from her beloved Nanay. She finds comfort in beautiful butterflies, but they can't replace the feeling of home. Will she be able to say goodbye to her mother before it's too late? The Island at the End of Everything is a beautiful story about illness, love, loss and butterflies. I was immediately captivated by Ami's story. She's such a strong and resilient girl and she has a lot of love to give. Reading about how people saw Culion and its inhabitants broke my heart. I had tears in my eyes due to the unfair circumstances the people there were forced to live in and Kiran Millwood Hargrave's emphatic descriptions of both the illness itself and the people who are infected made me fall in love with the book even more. The Island at the End of Everything is a captivating and poignant story. Being separated from the only family you know is heartbreaking, especially when that person is ill and will most likely die soon. Even though it's a sad topic the story is filled with hope as well. Ami has a future ahead of her, she's smart and capable and she has the butterflies to bring her beauty in her time of despair. I couldn't wait to find out where that would lead and if she'd have a chance to be reunited with her mother, which made it impossible for me to stop reading. Fortunately the quality of the story remains high from beginning to end and everything comes together in a brilliant way. I highly recommend The Island at the End of Everything, it's a fantastic thought-provoking story, an absolute must-read. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #914,134 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 996 Reviews | ## Images ![Island at the End of Everything [Paperback] [May 04, 2017] KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71ndFcEuLyL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A piece of magic in book shape that will win the hearts and imaginations of many readers *by Z***R on January 27, 2018* Ami lives on a beautiful island in the middle of the ocean. Except, while the vegetation might be lush and the ocean full of fish, the island and the people on it are shunned by the outside world. Culion is a leper colony, and while Ami doesn't suffer from this her Nanay (mum) does. Ami was born on the island and doesn't know anything different than living with her Nanay in the small community. It's a place mostly made up of people who suffer from leprosy in various stages of the disease, though rather than refer to them as lepers, they say that they're 'touched'. The disease isn't contagious in a controlled environment, and so Ami isn't in any danger, but the government decides to make a big change. People who suffer from the disease from all over will be brought to the island to remove them from society. To make space, the children that don't have the disease will be brought to an orphanage on another island. The government official in charge is the cruel Mr Zamora who avoids those that are touched and abuses his power over the children. His arrival announces the end of Ami's life as she knows it, and her journey afterwards, both physically and mentally, is both heartrending and inspiring. I was very excited to read this novel after falling in love with Kiran's debut The Girl of Ink and Stars and wasn't disappointed. Equally beautifully written with a touch of magical realism, this is a book that tugs at the heartstrings as it deals with mental health, loss and acceptance in the most enlightening of ways. It was far from an easy read, as many things within the pages felt unfair, but rooted as it is in real historical events it made it all the more evident that life is unfair, and it's about how you deal with it that makes a difference. Just like Isabella in A Girl of Ink and Stars, Ami is a bad-ass girl who we can all aspire to be like. She's having the worst of times but it doesn't make her cruel or give up hope, it gives her courage and wisdom to power through. I doubt I would've been as strong and forgiving had I been put in a similar position, but Ami is certainly an inspiration to readers. And Kiran is an incredible writer to bring Ami's story to life; her words flowing together into beautiful prose while not distracting from the tale she is telling. There were many moments I reread a sentence or paragraph because I found it being told so wonderfully, for example: 'Nanay kisses both hands and blows them to me. I catch them fast as falling stars and pocket them.' How beautiful is that? From now on I will always try to think that kisses from loves ones are falling stars that I can pocket, it certainly makes the idea of saying goodbye and being far away just that little bit easier. The Island at the End of Everything is a difficult novel to read at times (water spilled out of my eyes on more than one occasion), but it's also incredibly rewarding. Ami's kindness and courage are a huge inspiration, after all if after the hardship she goes through she can still be forgiving and brave there is absolutely no excuse for us to not do the same when faced with challenges in our own lives. And wrapped up in Kiran's beautiful words, this is yet another piece of magic by her hand in book shape that will undoubtedly win the hearts and imaginations of many readers. ♥ 4.5 stars ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beautiful *by S***R on September 17, 2017* Ami has fond memories of Culion where she's living with her Nanay, her mother. However, Culion isn't just a regular island, it's a leprosy colony and Ami's mother is infected. So far Ami has managed to remain healthy and she's taking care of her mother. There's much love between them, but then all islanders who aren't sick are being forced to leave and Ami will be separated from her beloved Nanay. She finds comfort in beautiful butterflies, but they can't replace the feeling of home. Will she be able to say goodbye to her mother before it's too late? The Island at the End of Everything is a beautiful story about illness, love, loss and butterflies. I was immediately captivated by Ami's story. She's such a strong and resilient girl and she has a lot of love to give. Reading about how people saw Culion and its inhabitants broke my heart. I had tears in my eyes due to the unfair circumstances the people there were forced to live in and Kiran Millwood Hargrave's emphatic descriptions of both the illness itself and the people who are infected made me fall in love with the book even more. The Island at the End of Everything is a captivating and poignant story. Being separated from the only family you know is heartbreaking, especially when that person is ill and will most likely die soon. Even though it's a sad topic the story is filled with hope as well. Ami has a future ahead of her, she's smart and capable and she has the butterflies to bring her beauty in her time of despair. I couldn't wait to find out where that would lead and if she'd have a chance to be reunited with her mother, which made it impossible for me to stop reading. Fortunately the quality of the story remains high from beginning to end and everything comes together in a brilliant way. I highly recommend The Island at the End of Everything, it's a fantastic thought-provoking story, an absolute must-read. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Story of Strength and Perseverence *by E***. on March 21, 2018* The description of this book intrigued me, because, while I knew there'd been an island leper colony somewhere, at some point in history, that was the extend of my knowledge; I thought I'd like to learn more about it. The novel begins by telling the main character's mother's story, how she was taken from her family against her will after contracting leprosy. However, it's also clear that, although most of the inhabitants of Culion are terminally ill, it's not a place of complete despair. Rather, the island is full of natural beauty, and many of the islanders live relatively normal lives. They have a strong sense of community; Ami is dedicated to her mother, and they're frequently helped out by the brothers Bondoc and Capuno. It would've been easy for these characters to come across as victims, but they are all strong people who are not afraid to fight. I liked the balance of vulnerability and determination in the protagonist, Ami; she's naturally devastated at being separated from her mother and the only home she's ever known, but doesn't succumb to her situation. It helps that she makes a friend at the orphanage where she's sent to live, fellow outcast Mari. This is definitely not a case where two people come together seek each other out simply because they don't have anyone else-- Mari is bright, funny, and knows her own mind; I found myself liking her character quite a bit. Our villain comes in the form of Mr. Zamora, a government agent who despises the Touched (this is what they prefer to be called) and seems to take pleasure in disrupting their lives. I wasn't sure how I felt about this character. He's an obsessive-compulsive hypochondriac, and I was a little uncomfortable with how this was linked with his hateful attitude. I kind of wished he'd been a more ambivalent character, someone who fears and looks down on the Touched, but who isn't so intentionally cruel. On the other hand, I'm sure many Touched were discriminated against in exactly this manner, so... Again, I wasn't quite sure how to feel. The storyline is evenly paced and interesting enough. I especially enjoyed the use of butterflies throughout, how they're compared to the Touched, how different characters' treatment of them shows what kind of people they are (Mr. Zamora, for example, kills them for study and display). IN SHORT: Overall, this seems like a great read for kids. The strong and proactive heroine is inspiring, as are her bonds with the people who are important to her. I like the focus on an often forgotten group; the story does a good job of showing their humanity. Far from seeming like victims, their portrayal shows how brave and resilient we can be, and what beauty we can find in even our darkest hours. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/58826527-island-at-the-end-of-everything-paperback-may-04-2017](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/58826527-island-at-the-end-of-everything-paperback-may-04-2017) --- *Product available on Desertcart South Africa* *Store origin: ZA* *Last updated: 2026-07-05*