LoveReading4Kids Says
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
Kiran Millwood Hargrave follows up her award-winning debut The Girl of Ink and Stars with a story set in the real world, though one still filled with a sense of wonder and the extraordinary. Set in the Philippines at the beginning of the last century it tells the story of a girl forcibly removed from her mother, as many were, because her mother has leprosy, or as those with the disease preferred, is touched. With the help of her friends Ami makes her way back to her mother and it’s a story of love, courage and hope, all of these symbolised by the butterflies that fill the pages and that are so important to the story. It’s passionately told, full of memorable scenes and characters, and the writing is beautiful.
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In addition to our LoveReading4Kids expert opinion some of our Kids Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can read their full reviews by clicking here.
Andrea Reece
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About Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Kiran Millwood Hargrave is an award-winning poet, playwright, and bestselling author. Her debut The Girl of Ink & Stars won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017 and the British Book Award's Children's Book of the Year, and was shortlisted for numerous awards including the Jhalak Prize, the Branford Boase Award and the Little Rebels Prize.
Her second novel The Island at the End of Everything was released in April 2017, and was shortlisted for both the Costa Book Award and Blue Peter Children’s Book Award. Her fourth poetry collection OE, a retelling of Orpheus and Eurydice in collaboration with the artist Tom de Freston, was published by Bloomsbury in October 2017.
Kiran lives by the river in Oxford with her husband, Tom, and their cat, Luna.
More About Kiran Millwood Hargrave
The Costa Judges say: ‘Entirely original with not a word out of place – as vivid and beautiful as the butterflies themselves.’
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.’
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In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Lovereading4kids Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. You can read their full reviews by clicking here.
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.'
Evie Aconley, age 10 - 'An enjoyable book that will interest you so much that you will find it hard to put down!'
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).'
Ella Meredith, age 10 - 'I think this is a very good book that gets better as you move further into it. I would recommend this book for ages 8+ and would give it 4/5 stars.'
Ellen Cox, age 10 - 'A brilliant book that captures your heart...There are such detailed descriptions I had very clear images in my head.'
Emma Corden, age 11 - 'If you are looking for a sad adventurous but exciting new book to read I would recommend this book!'
Bella Rix-Clanc, age 10 - 'A happy, sad, exiting and beautiful book. I read it with my mum and we both enjoyed it.'
Aoibhe Churcher, age 11 - 'I really enjoyed the book. It was exciting, griping, and mind blowing.'
Annie Sherratt, age 12 - 'This is my favourite book, based on history but with streaks of magic. It is a sad book, that often makes you smile, about friendship and reunions.'
Felicity Kerswell, age 14 - 'At the start I was unsure if I would like this book but as the story progressed and you found out more about the characters it grew on me and by the end I was crying.'
Humaira Kauser - 'There is not a lot to say other than read this book and anything else this author writes because it will blow you away.'
Charlotte Cassidy, age 11 - 'I loved this book because you could actually connect with the characters, and it keeps you wanting to know more.'
William Pasturel, age nearly 12 - 'I quite liked this book because it was very descriptive and captured the characters personalities perfectly.'
Rose Hopkins - 'It was a creative, emotional rollercoaster, butterflies woven through the story, like a ribbon, tying it all together. There were some very beautiful descriptions. I found it a very satisfying read.'