This was a great alien invasion book. I loved going on this journey with Raven and Izzy. I also really liked the representation of an autistic character and LGBTQ characters. It did feel that it wrapped up a bit to quickly and cleanly at the end.

This was an incredible read and very relatable.

Izzy Is a wonderful character. She's strong, independent and autistic, a subject close to my heart. When the world ends, Izzy finds herself alone. Chaos ensues and a wonderful story emerges.

I loved the pacing of this story and the writing. K.A. Reynolds has a wonderful way of painting a story, one that sucks you in and takes you along for the ride. The mystery elements and the scarry scifi elements all weave together well. This was an awesome story, one of my last 5 stars of the year.

This is the first book I've read from K.A. Reynolds and I loved it. The representation in this book was what caught my eye. When I saw autism and queer rep, I hit the request button at top speed, so thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for a chance to read an early copy!

I am a queer adult with autism and Izzy’s portrayal made me feel seen even as an adult. Her stims and triggers were mentioned multiple times throughout the book and added a lot of depth to her character.

Though this is a middle grade book, it does not shy away from heavy topics like grief and mental illness. I think readers will appreciate a book that doesn't try to shield them from these topics. However, there is a content warning in the forward in case a reader is not in the right headspace to read about them.

This story means a lot to me. I saw myself in Izzy and I can’t wait for kids to be able to do the same. I can’t wait until I have a physical copy on my shelves!

I think the best way to really describe the book is that it is gorgeous. A well crafted story, with eager and hopeful young characters who are just trying to figure things out. I found myself fully engrossed immediately and loved the novel. Truly a book that will leave you crying but in the best way.

I enjoy a good end of the world story and Izzy at the End of the World seemed to fit that well. I admit, the end of the world coming due to aliens was a bit outside my normal reading niche but that being said, I'm glad I gave this book a go!

I think K.A. Reynolds did a great job with the development of the characters - Izzy's desires to feel normal while dealing with the death of her mother are put to the test when the world as she knows it ends. Izzy embarks on a mission to figure out just where everyone else has vanishes to with her dog, Akka, at her side. Along the way they are joined by Raven (and Bob) as they face together a lot of unknown, mysterious connections and a leap into trust. I loved how we explored Izzy's relationship with her mom and her grandparents as well. I also enjoyed the world building that occured as we explored Earth after an alien invasion.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and it's unique twists and turns. It is not quite what I normally would pick up but I am glad I gave it a go!

What worked:
The end-of-the-world atmosphere described by the author will immediately draw readers in. There’s purple smoke in the air, ash collects on everything and is inhaled by the characters, nothing is moving, and there are no animal sounds, not even birds and summer insects. Izzy moves through her empty house, various objects evoking past happy memories. Then, reality jerks her back to the present and reminds her she’s alone. Unanswered emergency phone calls and a lack of radio and television broadcasts force her to acknowledge there’s a high probability she’s the last living human on earth. That’s not to say other living creatures aren’t wandering her town; it’s just they all arrived with the UFL’s, unidentified flying lights, and are trying to kill her.
Izzy’s mother dies and she’s dearly missed. However, Izzy’s exploration of the house uncovers a diary that reveals her mother had past experiences with aliens that are probably connected to the invasion. The creative twist to the plot is a CD playlist created by Izzy’s mother that seems to be more than just a collection of songs. Izzy also thinks she hears her mother’s voice, smells oranges, and gets a sense that her mother is watching over her. Izzy’s family has a plan in case of emergencies but the CD may hold clues and instructions to follow when the glowing lights in the sky return. The music becomes Izzy’s guide as she begins her journey to find her missing sister and grandparents. The author expertly develops moods and feelings by deftly using adjectives that appeal to all of the senses. The color purple is important.
Truth be told, Izzy finally meets another boy her age so she has another character to accompany her. The author can’t have Izzy talking to herself and her dog Akka too long before readers lose interest. My immediate question upon Raven’s appearance is how does he survive the invasion when everyone else, except Izzy, disappears? The kids have a theory later on to explain that. Izzy has her mother’s amethyst necklace that protects her from vanishing and it also warns her of impending danger. The story includes a number of coincidences that may puzzle readers. Is it luck when Izzy finds her mother’s diary and CD hidden in a closet? What are the odds the boy’s name is Raven and the first song on the CD is Blackbird? Izzy and Raven find an overturned truck that provides them with useful, common objects just when they’re most needed. Other strange incidents occur in the library. Readers will wonder how all of these odd occurrences are happening and how everything fits together. Gotta love a mystery.
What didn’t work as well:
At times, the plot slows as the kids try to figure out what to do next. These moments allow for character development and backstories, so they add to the story while not always helping the plot move forward. The parts all work together to create an intriguing, imaginative story.
The Final Verdict:
The book is inventive and entertaining as it blends science fiction, mystery, and humanity into an emotional story. The characters are well-developed and the author delves deeply into Izzy’s thoughts and feelings. I recommend you give this book a shot.

Izzy At the End of the World
By K.A. Reynolds
Middle grade
Publishes in February 2023

I read this as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) on Netgalley as I am a fan of @krisrey19, and she has done it again.

Izzy is a 14yo, autistic girl who is trying to survive the end of the world armed with only her dead mom's journal & discman, her Pops' bowie knife, and her beloved dog Akka. She is trying to discover the source of the UFLs (Unidentified Flying Lights) that appeared over her Vermont home the night her family, and it seems everyone else, disappeared. Using the super powers only the neurodivergent possess, she sets out on an adventure she never wanted to have and finds strengths and truths she never knew she needed.

Well done, Kristin. Bob is an amazing character. He stole my heart as I'm sure he did yours.

My pre-order will go straight to the library at school.

I cried in the best way at the end of this book. It broke my heart, mended it, and broke it again and repeat. As an autistic AFAB person, I saw a lot of myself in Izzy, especially from when I was younger. There were so many times this book felt like a hug with a whisper, 'you are seen." Thank you.

The characters are well fleshed out, the story is gripping and immersive, the relationships are so real. There are indeed some very corny moments but I loved them for their corniness.

If I could give this book 6 stars, I would. A must read for scifi, coming of age stories. Be mindful of the content warnings, of course (also thank you for those).

I wanted to love this book based on the description, but ultimately just liked it. It’s full of action but the dialogue seems a little long and drawn out at times. I think many of my students wouldn’t finish it because of that.