The Permafrost is melting, just as the scientists always said it would. The predictions now are much worse than in the beginning. In only months, it will release deadly gases into the atmosphere, so much so that humanity now has a time limit. The birds and small animals will go first, then the oxygen for humans will… run out.

Nicknamed ‘The Creep’, some people are panicking about it, some are ticking off bucket lists, some are looking for answers in religion, but most are carrying on their normal routine as if the scientists will fix it and everything will be fine.

At 16, Olivia (Libby) isn’t sure what to think. She has been incredibly shy her whole life, so she doesn’t join her classmates in the parties every night of the week. She’s never gone to parties, has only one sort-of-friend (whom she deems as weird as she is) and has adored a girl from afar, but is still too scared to say something. Olivia is more worried about her young step sibling’s future than her own. Thinking they may never grow up is too hard to imagine.

A phone call from her father changes everything. Her uncle has just died and left them a LOT of money. Libby never even knew she had an uncle and soon learns her father and his brother had been estranged for years. He won’t tell her why. Along with an uncle comes a cousin she never knew about either. Contact is soon made and Natasha is everything Libby is not. With the buffer of a world between them (Natasha lives in the US), Libby is more open with this new family member over the internet.

Natasha begins to draw Libby out of herself, daring her to do things to help build her confidence around people. When Libby, her mum and stepdad decide to grab a holiday in Spain, Natasha eventually joins them.

Natasha is amazing, making everyone she meets love her in minutes. Taking up her mum’s offer to travel and have some fun, Libby and Natasha go to Madrid.

When on their own, Natasha is even more… everything! More vibrant, more likeable, confident, popular, and… cunning. Libby becomes more and more like Natasha, following her instructions on how to make money, then change her hair, and wear similar clothes. Libby is suddenly wary, but is it too late?

With the backdrop of impending doom for the entire world, this novel is always ominous. The gradual drawing out of a mid-teen’s confidence is believable and a light against the dark of world oblivion. Her vibrant cousin is helpful, kind, friendly and believable until an over heard phone call – then everything comes tumbling down. Hang on, maybe we got it wrong?

My intrigue and suspicion grew as gradually as the main character’s confidence. I felt myself looking for clues as I read, wondering if I was going to guess the motives of the flashy, confident cousin. All the while I wondered whether the world really was going to end. Then birds began to fall from the sky, my suspicion’s were muddied, then dumped on me like a landslide.

Great read.

Author – Emily Barr

Age – 13+

(2021, Penguin Random, End of the World, Apocalypse, Permafrost, Climate Change, Glacial Melt, Bucket List, Travel, Spain, Madrid, Paris, Confidence, Shyness, Family, Siblings, Cousins, Street Performers, Magic Tricks, Psychic, Suspicion, Lies, Truth, Plans, Rescue, Abandoned, Parties, Secret, Growing Up, Thriller)