The way the title is displayed on the cover of this novel is intentional for several reasons. Yes, there are Monsters. Yes, it seems as if this is the
End of the World.
It’s 200 years into our future, and at least where our characters live, it’s pretty grim. The small seaside village of Seawaren is almost surrounded by land that is either poisoned and unable to bear anything edible, or it’s land they call Burnt Land, because the only thing left after the poisoning is grey ash. If you breathe in this ash, touch any water within these death fields or try to eat anything that struggles to grow, you will probably die.
Seawaren is a village in trouble with ever encroaching poisoned fields and smaller and smaller catches by their fishing boats every day. Sometimes they bring in nothing at all. They blame the Monsters for their fates, believing that they are the problem. After all, the Monsters take all the fish or attack their boats. The Monsters can grow incredibly big, making it impossible to fight back.
One girl in Seawaren isn’t scared of the Monsters. Even after they are blamed for sinking her father’s fishing boat and killing him and many of crew. Her name is Sunny, and she’s always been fascinated by them, wanting to see one up close. They blame her lack of alarm about the Monster that attacked the boat that day.
Now, out with her friends early one morning, they discover a small Monster in a trap. There is no way she can leave it in pain, frightened and alone. Her friends warn her to leave it be, but she has other ideas.
Breaking the rules once again, she gets to know this so called Monster. This threatens her friendships, and her very place in the community. She is too different for many, but it is her differences that might just save their village.
What begins as a creature / human friendship tale, (Think E.T, How to Train your Dragon, The One and Only Ivan, or The Never Ending Story), The Monsters at the End of the World is essentially a tale of Misconceptions, Prejudice, Friendship, Understanding and even Environmental Warning.
One girl imagines more than she has been raised to believe. She sees past the mantras of her life – “Monsters are dangerous.” “Monsters are evil.” “Monsters are to blame for everything.” Sunny’s nature is like her name, believing in a more positive outcome between humans and the strange creatures they share the sea with.
As in real life there are stubborn attitudes to overcome, some who bellow louder to drown out any other point of view, and some who will even use force. Monsters at the End of the World is ultimately a hopeful story of listening, co-operating and planning a possible new future.
Author – Rebecca Orwin
Age – 10+
(2026, Penguin Random House UK, Action, Animals, Conflict, Courage, Environment, Family, Future, Friendship, Prejudice, Secret, Misconceptions, Understanding, Patience, Trust, Hope, Poisoned Lands, Resource Competition, Food Scarcity, Fishing Village)