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mj56_3's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
asimilarkite's review
4.0
Copied from the review I did of this book on the library's Teen Tumblr page:
I have to admit, even though they’ve basically saturated the market, I still can’t resist a good dystopian novel. Even better, a well done post-apocalyptic book. But possibly the BEST, and hardest to find — a great book about the apocalypse at its inception. I can’t resist reading about the BEGINNING of the end of the world.
So I was ridiculously happy to find this book: Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan. It’s set in Hawaii (which would be a really scary and isolating place to be during the apocalypse), and is about a girl named Leilani who happens to be epileptic. She lives on the Big Island, but in order to try out a new experimental medicine, she travels with her father to Oahu. While they’re in Oahu, everything goes insane. Satellites stop working. The internet goes away. No one knows what’s going on, but EVERYONE is freaking out. Planes stop traveling between the islands, and everyone is terrified. And Leilani and her dad have to figure out how to get home.
Aslan does a REALLY great job of creating an atmosphere of intense suspense — it was one of those, “Well…just ONE more chapter before I go to sleep…” books. I also really loved how you never knew more about what was going on than the characters did. Leilani and her dad have no clue why the power has gone out and no one’s cell phones are working? Neither do you, as the reader. I also knew next to nothing about Hawaiian folklore and mythology before reading this, and there’s a lot of cool Hawaiian spirituality and stories in this book. I felt really steeped in the culture of Hawaii while I was reading, and am now really intrigued to do some research to learn more about it.
Also exciting, there’s a sequel coming out (called The Girl at the Center of the World), but we’ll have to wait ‘til next August. Boo!
I have to admit, even though they’ve basically saturated the market, I still can’t resist a good dystopian novel. Even better, a well done post-apocalyptic book. But possibly the BEST, and hardest to find — a great book about the apocalypse at its inception. I can’t resist reading about the BEGINNING of the end of the world.
So I was ridiculously happy to find this book: Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan. It’s set in Hawaii (which would be a really scary and isolating place to be during the apocalypse), and is about a girl named Leilani who happens to be epileptic. She lives on the Big Island, but in order to try out a new experimental medicine, she travels with her father to Oahu. While they’re in Oahu, everything goes insane. Satellites stop working. The internet goes away. No one knows what’s going on, but EVERYONE is freaking out. Planes stop traveling between the islands, and everyone is terrified. And Leilani and her dad have to figure out how to get home.
Aslan does a REALLY great job of creating an atmosphere of intense suspense — it was one of those, “Well…just ONE more chapter before I go to sleep…” books. I also really loved how you never knew more about what was going on than the characters did. Leilani and her dad have no clue why the power has gone out and no one’s cell phones are working? Neither do you, as the reader. I also knew next to nothing about Hawaiian folklore and mythology before reading this, and there’s a lot of cool Hawaiian spirituality and stories in this book. I felt really steeped in the culture of Hawaii while I was reading, and am now really intrigued to do some research to learn more about it.
Also exciting, there’s a sequel coming out (called The Girl at the Center of the World), but we’ll have to wait ‘til next August. Boo!
trisha_thomas's review
1.0
"We're all werewolves under a green full moon."
Wow, what a huge disappointment.
I have to admit, this cover totally sold me on wanting to read this. THEN, add into realizing it's a apocalyptic event and YOU ARE STUCK ON A SMALL TOURIST HAWAIIAN ISLAND!! I mean, come on, this is the perfect set up for a nightmare situation! And it was really good. Horrific and crazy and just...I enjoyed the story until about....270 pages in
Now, through out the book, there are some hints that this is going to take some kind of turn in the story. That this isn't strictly an apocalyptic event type book...but that we're going to get into fantasy/mythological realms.
And WOW, when we cross that line.. HUGE SPOILER
So sad because this had such potential. I won't read book 2. ever.
Wow, what a huge disappointment.
I have to admit, this cover totally sold me on wanting to read this. THEN, add into realizing it's a apocalyptic event and YOU ARE STUCK ON A SMALL TOURIST HAWAIIAN ISLAND!! I mean, come on, this is the perfect set up for a nightmare situation! And it was really good. Horrific and crazy and just...I enjoyed the story until about....270 pages in
Now, through out the book, there are some hints that this is going to take some kind of turn in the story. That this isn't strictly an apocalyptic event type book...but that we're going to get into fantasy/mythological realms.
And WOW, when we cross that line.. HUGE SPOILER
Spoiler
but really COSMIC SEA TURTLES WHO EAT RADIATION AND ONLY SHE CAN COMMUNICATE WITH IT?!? JUST...WTH!?!?So sad because this had such potential. I won't read book 2. ever.
megatsunami's review
3.0
Enjoyable though fairly predictable. I kind of wondered where the occasional bits of mysticism were going but I liked what the author did with this plot element.
harmony323's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
tiffym's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
canadajanes's review against another edition
3.0
Very enjoyable end of the world reading about a very unique place. Glad this book was written and that I read it!
bookcub's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
joolz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
***5 Stars***
Leilani Milton is a sixteen year old hapa girl living with her parents, brother, and grandfather in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She loves everything about her home-- the landscape, mythology, Hawaiian language, and surfing. However, she's an epileptic so she does have some disadvantages. At the beginning of the book, Lei and her father fly to the island of O'ahu so she can be tested for a new medication for her epilepsy, but not long after she is there, everything changes. Everything that runs on electricity stops, newer cars don't work, phones, laptops, and tvs have no service, and a huge tsunami hits the eastern coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. Oh, not to mention a giant green cloud, nicknamed the Emerald Orchid, now appears in the sky every night. Stuck on O'ahu, Lei and her father must find a way to get home to the Big Island. But the Emerald Orchid is causing chaos, and turning the islands, or world, into a real life Lord of the Flies and everyone is for themselves. Also, is the Emerald Orchid actually a cloud?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The idea is original and it's a definite page-turner. It's so easy to connect with Leilani. I haven't read many YA books with the protagonist having a disability, especially one that plays such a big part into the story. Not to mention Lei having a disability (epilepsy) makes her feel even more authentic. Aslan beautifully mixes the Hawaiian mythology and language along with modern technology and distopian situations into the book, making a refreshing new type of distopian YA. I can't wait to finish the sequel!
Hawai'i and it's culture has always intriqued me, and I would one day like to pay a respectful visit to the Islands. Reading this book has only sparked my interest even more. I feel like it helps show the true Hawai'i (besides trying to survive on the islands through an unexpected Apocalypse) to a limit, speaking of the mythology, culture, and language of the original people who inhabited the Islands. To me, this shows the amount of respect Aslan has for Hawai'i and it's people. Such an amazing book!
Note: on page 85 a character gets a nosebleed, and leans their head back. I'd just like to say not to do this if you ever get a nosebleed, as it will not help. Tilt your head foreward!
Leilani Milton is a sixteen year old hapa girl living with her parents, brother, and grandfather in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai'i. She loves everything about her home-- the landscape, mythology, Hawaiian language, and surfing. However, she's an epileptic so she does have some disadvantages. At the beginning of the book, Lei and her father fly to the island of O'ahu so she can be tested for a new medication for her epilepsy, but not long after she is there, everything changes. Everything that runs on electricity stops, newer cars don't work, phones, laptops, and tvs have no service, and a huge tsunami hits the eastern coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. Oh, not to mention a giant green cloud, nicknamed the Emerald Orchid, now appears in the sky every night. Stuck on O'ahu, Lei and her father must find a way to get home to the Big Island. But the Emerald Orchid is causing chaos, and turning the islands, or world, into a real life Lord of the Flies and everyone is for themselves. Also, is the Emerald Orchid actually a cloud?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The idea is original and it's a definite page-turner. It's so easy to connect with Leilani. I haven't read many YA books with the protagonist having a disability, especially one that plays such a big part into the story. Not to mention Lei having a disability (epilepsy) makes her feel even more authentic. Aslan beautifully mixes the Hawaiian mythology and language along with modern technology and distopian situations into the book, making a refreshing new type of distopian YA. I can't wait to finish the sequel!
Hawai'i and it's culture has always intriqued me, and I would one day like to pay a respectful visit to the Islands. Reading this book has only sparked my interest even more. I feel like it helps show the true Hawai'i (besides trying to survive on the islands through an unexpected Apocalypse) to a limit, speaking of the mythology, culture, and language of the original people who inhabited the Islands. To me, this shows the amount of respect Aslan has for Hawai'i and it's people. Such an amazing book!
Note: on page 85 a character gets a nosebleed, and leans their head back. I'd just like to say not to do this if you ever get a nosebleed, as it will not help. Tilt your head foreward!