Endling #1: The Last: An Epic Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure about Survival, Family, and Hope for Children (Ages 8-12)

According to the inside blurb, The Last is recommended for 8-12 year olds. I think it can be enjoyed by all ages but considering the amount of violence, I would actually recommend for age 12 and up. First, lets start with a briefing on the socio-biology of the world of The Last. The 6 governing races are the humans, raptiodons, felivets, terramants, natites and the dairne. The governing races can speak, make tools, learn, pass along learning and are capable of theurgy (magic). A human, the Murdano, excerts a great deal of power over all of the governing races. Mezzitti are the species like wobbyks, starlons, and gorellis. They can communicate with the each other and the governing races, use tools, but they lack the ability to do magic. Inferritti are the chimps, whales, crows, crickets and so on. They cannot communicate with the other species, use tools or do magic. Briefing done. Now, I will first say that I loved this story of the last dairne, a dog-like sentient race that possesses the ability to discern truth. This ability is both appreciated and feared by the 5 other governing races. I don’t think it is much of a spoiler to point out that the gift is the basis of so much of the conflict in this story. But the last dairne, Byx, is a young female. Her knowledge of the other sentient races and the dairne’s own skills is limited because her pack led a very secluded life. What she knows about the outside world is only through dairne word-of-mouth. She has no worldly experience whatsoever. Early in the story, Byx saves a wobbyk in a daring feat, while at the same time escaping some humans that were hunting dairnes. Byx saved the wobbyk, Tobble, so honor demands that Tobble must save Byx three times. Mind you Tobble is tiny (but stout). It is this trip away from the dairne nest that sets in motion the events that will drastically change Byx’s life. The hunters chasing Byx were being led by Khara – a girl that was masquerading as a boy and who also has a mysterious past. Later Khara will both save and capture Byx when Byx goes home to her nest and happens upon a group of the Murdano’s human troops massacring the very last dairnes, including her family. This makes Byx an Endling – the last of her race. The tragedy brings Khara and Byx together (and thereby, Tobble too). It is a strange relationship between the human girl, the dairne and the tobble. Byx believes herself to be a captive, along with Tobble. Khara believes she is doing what is right for everyone. Since Byx doesn’t really have any other options, she doesn’t put up much resistance (well maybe a little). Still, the odd family always looks after each other and also looks for other opportunties. There will be other additions to the family along the way, including Khara’s horse Vallino, the large cat-like felivet Gambler who would rather eat a dairne but refrains because Byx rescued him, and the thief who steals to feed himself Renzo. As Byx gets closer and closer to Khara’s goal, the city of Cora di Schola, her despair increases, as does the danger. Cora di Schola will not be the last stop on the journey of this amazing group of characters. Byx’s hand drawn Map of the First Colony, gives her hope that she is not truly the Endling. While the story is aimed at the young, it is told in a very adult manner. I loved the characters the most, but the adventure is what kept me reading and will, I suspect, convince me to continue with the series. Fair warning: There is no end of peril and action on this journey. It is not for the feint of heart! I won an advance copy from the publisher so that I could bring you this honest review. ********************* Favorite Quotes from The Last Because – Tobble “You save my life, I must save yours three time.” “Why thrice?” “Because that’s the rule.” “But why is that the rule?” “Because I have three tails.” I frowned. “But that doesn’t make any sense.” “I don’t make the rules. But I do obey them.” a conversation between Tobble and Byx “Let me just say this: you do not want to see me mad. I am a terrible sight behold.” Tobble “I’ll bet you can’t do this.” I turned my head to see his huge ears spinning like tiny cyclones, twisting and untwisting. “Intriguing,” I said. “What purpose does that serve?” “None whatsoever,” Tobble said with a grin. a conversation between Tobble and Byx

This is a very promising start to a new series by Katherine Applegate. I really enjoyed the characters she has created and already feel invested in what happens next. Byx is the main character, she looks like a dog, but is actually a Dairne. She has a marsupial pouch, can glide like a flying squirrel, can read people like a living lie detector and also might be the last of her kind. This hit me at a personal level, as Byx is dealing with sadness, but can't afford to slow down and process it. Still, it hits her now and again. I've been struggling with life becoming much more difficult recently. It's been painful, and I've had some amazing friends come and rally around me. I'm normally a positive, upbeat person, but I'm faced with something I can't just happy thoughts away and its been a bit of a struggle to learn to live under the weight of it. I think it's why I've read so many middle readers recently, because I want to stay upbeat. But this author always pushes readers to go hard places without over-doing it. At one Magical moment Byx opens up and it made me cry... "tears fell against my will... I felt guilty letting my pain show. These were my fellow travelers, taking risks for me, and it was my job to be strong. I wasn't the leader... but we'd all been through hardships..." 237 The guilt of sadness is new to me and this middle grade novel helped. This book isn't overly-sad. I promise, but seeing Byx struggle and keep going, I just related in a way I haven't needed to before. There's something so comforting, yet so guilt-ridden about letting others share in your personal suffering. It's life, it's real, but it's humbling and ultimately, there will be moments for all of us where our burden feels too heavy to carry alone. I'll definitely be awaiting the next installment. Also, for kids not dealing with sadness, there will be plenty of action and fight scenes to keep them happy. It just unexpectedly knocked me across the heart. Antsy kids will be able to breeze right by these moments and on into the sword fights and other awesome characters I didn't take time to mention.

...at age 7 and 9. Loved it. Great characters, relationships and adventures. Great lessons of courage honor, respect of living things.

I really liked this book. At first, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. Sometimes when an author "makes up" a world, the terms they give to things is too hard to follow. For instance, everyone has a clan name or, in this case, the animals have made up species names. I don't like when I have to keep referencing a glossary so I know who or what they are talking about. Although I still can't pronounce some of the species names in this book, it was soon easy to remember and I enjoyed learning about them. The plot is great and moves along really well. Not any filler in this book. Everything is needed and you want to read it. I kind of like the premise. I won't reveal too much about it but there is a sequel set to release in May and I am not sure I will buy it or read it. For me, this story was satisfying and I liked the ending. There is one thing I would like to know more about and that is Khara. I might read the second to find out more about her and her family. The characters are great and you will have fun learning about them. I think there are great messages in this book for kids too. Adults even! Loyalty, family, love, courage, truth....it is all in there. I highly recommend. I think 5th grade students would like this too.

Daughter devoured it!

The endLing is a fun enchanting, fairytale fantasy book. Having enjoyed other children’s books much like Harry Potter, old Classics, Harriet, the spy, water ship down. Well that’s not a kids book. This was a delightful find. I will enjoy finishing the other two in this series.

Great story writing kept my 10 year old hooked every night until we finished the book & then I had to order her the 2nd in the Series. The vocab is difficult to pronounce even for an adult but I guess because it's made up to go with the world there's no one to correct you. My sister & mom enjoyed reading it as well & then we all discussed the plight of the characters & the cute quirks of each character.

Wow. This is one of the best books I've read in a long while! Worth every penny, that's for sure! To be honest I didn't think staying up until 1:30 AM to finish this book would be worth it, but I am sitting here ashamed of myself for even thinking that. This book has left me shocked, sad, angry etc. And I don't usually feel that way with books. My one complaint is that it's too short. UGH. I have to wait until tomorrow to get the next book on my Kindle.

I usually don’t like to read books with “talking animals” but this book is superb. Although it’s marketed for young readers, it is very intelligently written. It does not “talk down” to young readers. I am an avid reader of YA fantasy and I loved Endling the Last! Action packed scenes woven with wonderful dialogue and well-placed humour have left me greatly anticipating the sequel! I highly recommend this book for approximately ages 9 and up. And up. And up!

My granddaughter is reading the book in school. She asked if I could read it with her. She loves in Canada and I love I'm Mexico. I love the book,me granddaughter loves the book too. It's a charming story of the maturing of a wonderful teenage character and her friends. All the different angles of their different personalities make this book amusing and light.

Quick delivery, great quality

Couldn't put it down! buy this book! I was intrigued by this book and was moved by the story and fell in love with the little runt, byx

Book had like zero illustrations which I was kinda disappointed about but the story was amazing and was addictive.