By Rebecca Orwin (author) , Oriol Vidal (illustrator) Part of the Monsters at the End of the World series
"Who are the real monsters in this dystopian thriller?"
Paperback Temporarily Out Of Stock £8.99 £8.09
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February 2026 Debut of the Month
This stunning dystopian debut delivers page-turning thrills, empathetic characters and thought-provoking moral dilemmas, with the added bonus of some really striking illustrations throughout. It is not overlong either and would make an excellent read aloud in class or at home, where there would be space to discuss and explore the issues raised.
This is a world in the aftermath of The Ruin. None of the surviving humans seem to know what caused it, but from the description of the burnt, poisoned land it seems most likely to have been a nuclear holocaust. Survivors are scratching an existence trying to grow crops on any clean land, but the poison continues to spread.
The only safe water falls from the skies or is distilled from sea water. The seas are the only source of uncontaminated food, but monsters lurk in the sea and are much feared. Children are forced to work alongside the adults, apprenticed to one vital task or another.
Our heroine Sunny is unusual, she is a complex character who always seems to find herself causing trouble, despite her good intentions. When she comes across a baby monster trapped in a cruel snare, she instinctively wants to help him, going against her friend’s advice. She discovers they can communicate and names him Mo, and this changes everything for her.
Together, they secretly set out to find the monster’s missing brother and as Sunny discovers that many of her established beliefs are wrong , so too are Mo’s beliefs about humans challenged. But will they ever be able to overcome prejudice and fear and convince their communities?
Sunny’s determination to sacrifice herself and stand up for the truth is really moving, as is the warmth of the relationship with Mo and the way her group of friends support her despite everything. We are definitely left with the feeling that there is more to come in this story and I, for one, will be raring to read any further instalments. Highly recommended.
Sunny waited until her mother was asleep before she went back for the monster . . .
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An astonishing debut novel about friendship, trust and survival - with a monstrously big heart. Perfect for fans of Kiran Millwood Hargrave and SF Said.
Two hundred years ago, the Ruin poisoned the land and caused never-before-seen sea creatures to claim the ocean as their own. To the coastal villages that are all that is left of humanity, they are precisely what they have been named: monsters.
But when Sunny discovers one of those monsters trapped on the beach, she realises everything she thought she knew about them is wrong. Mo is an intelligent, gentle creature, far more in tune with nature than humans.
Mo is searching for his lost brother and Sunny is determined to help him. As the two forge an unlikely bond, the possibility of peace grows. But not all humans can be trusted, and not all monsters want to be friends. Can Sunny and Mo overcome their families' mutual suspicion and persuade the two sides to work together to save their dying world?
‘A richly drawn study of empathy, curiosity and kindness – I loved every minute of it.’ - Beth Lincoln, NewYork Times bestselling author of The Swifts
‘A spectacular debut, full of adventure and bravery. Sunny and Mo have stolen a piece of my heart.’ - Clare Harlow, author of Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit
‘A heart-warming tale packed with mystery, magic and monsters. Tender and thought-provoking.’ - Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song and Saving Neverland
‘A superb new voice in children’s fiction, Orwin’s writing is beautifully balanced between clarity, heart-tugging emotion and grippingly tense action. Sunny is a memorable, loveable character, finding her way in an atmospheric post-apocalyptic world that might just be saved by her sensitivity and courage.’ Liz Flanagan, author o f Dragon Daughter
Rebecca Orwin was brought up in Chesterfield, by a mum who loves books and a dad who loves films and ended up loving stories in all their forms. She has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University, and lives in Sheffield with her husband and son.
Photo credit to Peter Hebden
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Sunny waited until her mother was asleep before she went back for the monster . . . An astonishing debut novel about friendship, trust and survival - with a monstrously big heart.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Monsters at the End of the World and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
The Monsters at the End of the World features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Adventure Stories, Fantasy / Magical, Animal Stories, Science Fiction, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Speculative, dystopian and utopian fiction
Paperback. £8.09, down from the £8.99 cover price. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
The Monsters at the End of the World was written by Rebecca Orwin and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
The Monsters at the End of the World has 291 pages
Yes it is part of Monsters at the End of the World series
£8.09, reduced from £8.99. Temporarily Out Of Stock.
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