By Katherine Applegate (author) Part of the Endling series
"Fearlessness, friendship and finding a way to fight for what matters"
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Brave Byx and her band of buddies are back in their second anthropomorphic fantasy adventure that sees them journey to the snow-capped mountains of Dreyland to discover whether she really is the last of her kind.
Fast-paced and thrilling, Byx’s courageous quest is also underpinned by emotion. Middle Grade readers will identify with her self-effacing protestations that she’s “not brave. Not bold. Not a leader”. But of course, she is, and battles much danger and a swelling sense of darkness as she and her friends realise that revolution is the only way her species will survive.
Alongside the action, the writing is cinematically atmospheric and lyrical: “Grey clouds encircled the mountains, groping for the peaks. Our breath hovered before us like ghosts from our tangled pasts”.
This is perfect for fans of Brian Jacques , Robin Jarvis and The Legend of Podkin One-Ear.
Byx might be the last dairne alive. Together with her companions - loyal Tobble, brave and resourceful Khara, wise but deadly Gambler, and Renzo the thief - she is following a perilous path out of Nedarra and into the snow-covered mountains of the northern country of Dreyland. The threat of war is growing, and with it, the possible extinction of all Byx's dreams.
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Just as the group make a hopeful discovery in their quest to find more dairnes, things grow dark. And a terrifying encounter with the terramants, another of the powerful governing species, uncovers a treacherous plan that could bring devastation to all the creatures of Nedarra.
But Byx and her friends are determined to never give up, and find themselves the unlikely leaders in a simmering rebellion that threatens all they hold dear.
Applegate effortlessly constructs her fantasy world, briskly moving readers through its imaginative details while creating winning, unique characters... A bracing, propulsive read that will be a challenge to keep on the shelf. - Booklist (starred review)
A sweeping fantasy epic for the middle grade set that will have readers clamouring for a follow-up -- starred review - School Library Journal
Readers will fall in love with Byx and race with her through Nedarra, breathless and eager, thinking deeply all the way - New York Times
The gripping first instalment of Applegate's new fantasy trilogy assembles a motley crew in a suspenseful, tautly drawn quest. - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Applegate skillfully builds a fully realized world of intrigue and wonder without ever letting up on the story's quick pace. A savvy choice for readers of fantasy. - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Katherine Applegate is the author of The One and Only Ivan , winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal. Her novel Crenshaw spent over twenty weeks on the New York Times children’s bestseller list, and her first middle grade standalone novel, the award-winning Home of the Brave , continues to be included on state reading lists, summer reading lists, and class reading lists. She lives with her husband, the author Michael Grant, who she co-wrote the Animorphs series with, and their two children in Northern California.
the best books for 9-12 year olds · the best books for teenagers
The November Witches
Endling will draw you into an amazing adventure with fantastical creatures. You will fall in love with Byx, the main character, as she loses her family and finds a new one, human and other.
Endling is a truly wonderful book. It will make you laugh and cry and draw you into an amazing adventure with strange, fantastical creatures such as felivets and wobbyks, but also a human girl named Khara. Most of all, you will immediately fall in love with the main character, Byx, a dairne, which is a dog-like creature, apart from their preference to walk on their hind legs and the fact that they can communicate with humans and other species.
After losing her pack to humans, who hunt the dairne, Byx fears that she is the last of her kind. She starts a terrifying quest to seek out the answers to her pack’s rumours: that there are more dairnes on the ‘living island’.... Read Full Review
Byx might be the last dairne alive. Together with her companions - loyal Tobble, brave and resourceful Khara, wise but deadly Gambler, and Renzo the thief - she is following a perilous path out of Nedarra and into the snow-covered mountains of the northern country of Dreyland.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Endling: Book Two: The First and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Endling: Book Two: The First features in the following genres: Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Recommendations, Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. Not Available.
Endling: Book Two: The First was written by Katherine Applegate and published by Andersen Press Ltd
Endling: Book Two: The First has 348 pages
Yes it is part of Endling series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. Not Available.
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